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Astros Prospects: Looking at the top five starters in the system

By Eric Huysman |
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Astros prospects: Who are the current Top-5 starting pitchers?

Sep 16, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Michael Feliz (68) reacts to hitting Texas Rangers right fielder Shin-Soo Choo (not pictured) with a pitch during the fifth inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Rangers defeat the Astros 14-3. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The strength of the Astros farm system over the past couple of years has been the depth of the starting pitchers in the pipeline. With the trades to compete in 2015 and get ready for the 2016 season, the Astros have traded a lot of that depth away. Luckily, they did not lose any of that talent in the Rule V draft earlier in December in Brady Rodgers, Chris Devenski, and Reymin Guduan (viewed as a reliever at this point).

Players that they have traded away in trades are Nick Tropeano,, Josh Hader, Adrian Houser, Vincent Velasquez, Mark Appel, and Brett Oberholtzer. Lance McCullers rose up to dominate the big leagues earlier than expected, but the Astros still have talent in the minors. While the fifth spot in the rotation has Scott Feldman penciled in there following Velasquez’s trade, he may not be ready for spring training in 2016.

Who are the Houston Astros top five starting pitching prospects, let’s take a look below?

Next: The #5 Astros Prospect Starting Pitcher

#5: David Paulino

Paulino was the player to be named later in the Jose Veras trade, the trade that keeps on giving, along with top outfielder prospect Danry Vasquez. Both players were signed out of the Dominican Republic at the age 16 and 17 respectively. When drafted, Paulino was a skinny pitcher but has added some weight since then which has allowed him to add some more oomph on the ball as he throws in the mid-nineties.

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He did have Tommy John surgery before the 2014 season, but the Astros were aware of the situation, but he has responded well post surgery. This surgery has set his career back a little with the Astros unable to stretch him out. Last season, he started in the Rookie-level ValleyCats, Low-A River Bandits, and then High-A Jethawks. He struggled a little in Lancaster, but that is understandable with it being a hitter friendly location. Even McCullers struggled there.

Last season, he had a combined record of 5-3/ 2.81 ERA/ 72 strikeouts in 67 1/3 innings. He has had issues with wildness in the past, look for him to be stretched out to 80-90 innings in 2016. The Astros will be careful with this arm because he could be a starter or a hard-throwing reliever. Look for him to make an impact in 2018, his role will be determined by what the Astros decide to do with Collin McHugh.

Next: The #4 Astros Prospect Starting Pitcher

#4: Chris Devenski

While this is not totally a surprise, Devenski following his dominating effort in the Triple-A World Series experience moved up in the rankings of Astros prospects. I interviewed catcher Trent Woodward, and he mentioned that Devenski has the best changeup. While Devenski wasn’t as sought after in the trade discussions or claimed in the Rule V draft, he still has a bright future with the Houston Astros. He has become a fan favorite in Corpus Christi with his pitching; the 16th ranked Astros prospects represents a possible Collin McHugh type of surprise impact with the Astros.

Maybe we should call Devenski Mr. Playoffs because between Double-A and Triple-A playoffs, Devenski pitched 15 innings in four games (two starts) with two wins, 1.20 ERA, and 21 strikeouts. Minor leagues or not, that’s impressive numbers. Looking at his last start specifically, he dominated the game keeping a perfect game into the sixth inning. He ended up the night pitching seven innings, allowing one hit, and no runs in that clinching win. When will he make his impact with the Astros? I think that it would

When will he make his impact with the Astros? I think that it would be after Dan Straily, or Brady Rodgers gives a chance. If he reproduces the success he did in Triple-A in his brief time there, he could be one of the Lance McCullers types of surprises for the 2016 season. A surprising fact is that Devenski was what the Astros received from the White Sox in the Brett Myers trade.

Keeping up with the Astros Prospects: RHP Chris Devenski

Next: The #3 Astros Prospect Starting Pitcher

#3: Joseph Musgrove (Joe)

Joe Musgrove Photo Credit by Tammy Tucker

If this were really my list, he would be number one on this list after what he did in 2015. Not to say that he came out of nowhere, he was a first round pick in 2011 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, but injuries limited his success for a few seasons. Musgrove was the Astros minor league pitcher of the year with what he did between three levels in 2015. In 2015, Musgrove went 12-1/ 1.88 ERA/ 99 strikeouts in 100 2/3 innings between Quad Cities, Lancaster, and Corpus Christi.

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Musgrove was part of the mega-trade that sent J.A. Happ and more to the Blue Jays in 2012. His control is way above some of the other prospects, as he only allowed eight walks all season. He has a tall and imposing presence on the mound and throws the ball with a downhill movement that leads to plenty of groundballs. He would play well in Houston with that great defense behind him. He throws a fastball, curveball, and changeup.

Most likely, he will need a stop at Triple-A to stretch him out for the 2017 season. However, Musgrove was placed on the Astros 40-man roster, so he does have that advantage over Devenski and Rodgers. He will be coming into the 2016 season a little more stretched out than McCullers was last season. McCullers ended up pitching 125 plus inning last year, not including the playoffs, which is something the Astros could do with Musgrove if the situation presents itself.

At this time, I am not sure if Musgrove will get an invitation to Spring Training, but if he does, it could be an interesting storyline as he could be the better version of the Asher Wojciechowski surprise for the Astros. Musgrove has been often written about, read them below.

2016 Houston Astros Breakout Rookie: Joe Musgrove

Keeping Up with the Astros Prospects: (RHP) Joe Musgrove

Next: The #2 Astros Prospect Starting Pitcher

#2: Francis Martes

Another prospect that the Astros acquired from outside the organization, Martes has the best stuff of the group. Should Musgrove not have the season he had, Martes would have been the pitcher of the year. He was acquired in the Jarred Cosart trade that netted the Astros Jake Marisnick, Colin Moran, and a pick that ended up being Daz Cameron in the 2015 draft. That’s a pretty good haul for a pitcher with control problems and betting habits, just kidding.

Martes is an imposing presence on the mound, not because he is as tall as Musgrove, but because he can throw in the high 90’s and drop in an 80ish mph curveball that will throw hitters off. He has the makings of being an ace pitcher with further development.

The sixth top Astros prospect does have control issues, but he was able to limit the walks to 28 in 101 plus innings in 2015. Like Musgrove, he went through Quad Cities, Lancaster, and Corpus Christi. He pitched well in Lancaster (4-1, 2.31 ERA), but struggled in his time with the Hooks (1-0, 4.91 ERA). To be fair, he only pitched in 14 2/3 innings with the Hooks.

Overall, Martes had a 8-3 record/ 2.04 ERA/ 98 strikeouts in 101 2/3 innings. He could be an ace for the Astros soon, but will probably spend 2016 between Double-A and Triple-A.

Next: The #1 Astros Prospect Starting Pitcher

#1: Michael Feliz

Sep 7, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Michael Feliz (68) pitches the ball against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Last season Feliz was almost not protected in the Rule V draft by the Houston Astros, but he was added before the deadline after so many experts said he would be the first player taken. Feliz enjoyed the benefits of being on the 40-man roster as he learned the route from Corpus to Houston with his frequent stints with the Astros in 2015. With the trade of Velasquez, Feliz could be in the mix for the fifth starter in this Astros’ rotation.

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Feliz, despite being in the bullpen with the Astros in 2015, pitched his last season in Lancaster and Corpus Christi out of the rotation and bullpen. Feliz did not disappoint in either role in 2015. The Astros used the tandem starter system where Feliz could be the second guy going four innings out of the bullpen.

In the minors, Feliz went 7-4/ 2.83 ERA/ 103 strikeouts in 111 1/3 innings. With the Astros, he showed some tendency to walk hitters and give up deep blasts. He had a 7.88 ERA in five innings, so it’s a small sample size, not enough to prove that he’s a bust.

Next: Astros: Comparing year one of the Biggio/Bagwell to Altuve/Correa era

Coming into the 2016 season, Feliz could use some time in Triple-A to refine his stuff, but he could win a job out of spring training in the bullpen or rotation. According, the MLB Pipeline, he is the Astros top pitching prospect with the departure of Mark Appel. All these guys should have success with the Astros, but will there be open roster spots for them?

**Stats from Baseball-Reference**

**Top five list from MLB Pipeline**

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