Astros: Let the Alex Bregman Watch Begin After Futures Game

A Promotion to the Astros is not imminent, but Alex Bregman opened some eyes in the MLB Futures game.

I know I’ve written about the Houston Astros calling up Alex Bregman a few times now, but he impressed national media and scouts alike with his performance last night. Bregman started at third base for the U.S. Team in the 2016 MLB Futures Game where all the top prospects around baseball show off their talent. The 2015 second overall pick for the Astros did not disappoint and made the froot office think hard about when to promote him.

Bregman was a homer away from hitting for the cycle, finishing the game at shortstop and going 3-5 with a single, double, and triple. He was the storyline of the early parts of the game going 3-3 but was retired during the final two at-bats. I am not going to give my opinions on why Bregman should get the call soon. I am not even sure he will get the call soon.

I wanted to expose you to what baseball experts had to say about Bregman during and after the game.

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Jim Callis

“They need to let @ABREG_1 stay in the Futures Game for a 4th AB so he can try for a HR & a cycle. That dude can rake.”

Ken Rosenthal 

“Just asked a scout what stood out most to him at the Futures Game. His response: ‘Bregman is ready.'”

Richard Justice

“Alex Bregman has single, double, triple in

#

FuturesGame. Color us impressed. What say you,

@

jluhnow?”

Ben Badler

“I like Dansby Swanson. I’ll take Alex Bregman.”

Buster Olney

“Sat with a bunch of scouts raving about Astros phenom Alex Bregman. And that was before the Futures Game.”

Keith Law

“I don’t see any reason for Bregman to still be in the minors.”

Daren Willman

“Alex Bregman with 107.2 MPH rip off the bat into the gap… HR and a single shy of the cycle. I think he’s ready.”

Jon Heyman

“Alex Bregman has triple, then double in futures game. Astros’ 3B of future?”

Brady Rodgers on Talking Stros

“That guy is playing on a whole other level right now. He’s a guy that you definitely want in your clubhouse. He comes off as very self-confident, he believes in himself, and the other players believe in him when he’s coming up to the plate or on defense. As a pitcher, having him behind me is amazing, he has played shortstop mostly, but whether he is playing third or second, if a ball is hit to him, he will make the play. He is a smart and confident baseball player. I think he will do good things for the Astros and help them win a few ballgames and get them in the playoffs this year.”

Preston Tucker on Talking Stros

“He’s a fan favorite, in the short time that I have played with him, Bregman has impressed. He is a solid player, and he’s hitting is a lot better than people thought at the beginning of the year. He’s hitting .400 something, and it’s not a soft .400, he’s been crushing the ball. I think he’s going to be a big part of the Astros future, but I’m not sure when they will give him the opportunity. I think he will have a lot of success and contribute to many wins up there.”

Jeremy Booth – Program 15

“After being drafted, a year later, he is ready. He could come up and impact the lineup, and he’s a hitter first and a power guy second. Bregman is just a hitter; he’s not going to take a long time to be ready. Bregman has the potential to be another franchise cornerstone with Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve, and George Springer. Not yet, though, he may come up in September or the pennant race, but when he comes up, he’s here to stay.”

I agree that Bregman is ready, he’s been ready, but I don’t see a promotion imminent. As you can see from Kaplan’s Tweet above, Bregman is expecting to report to New Orleans with the Fresno Grizzlies on Thursday after a few days off.

Next: Astros: Alex Bregman is Raking While Danny Worth Rides the Pine

While I don’t think Bregman’s promotion depends on the success of A.J. Reed, but he and Marwin Gonzalez would lose some playing time with Luis Valbuena moving to first base. As I wrote the other day, Reed and Evan Gattis could share playing time at designated hitter, with Gattis starting three games a week behind the plate. Let the Bregman watch begin, but don’t expect it right away. The Astros are winning without him, but there will be a time where he will be needed.

***Stats from MLB.com***