Astros Minors: Triple A Fresno looks to be loaded with MLB Talent

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Mar 15, 2017; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (59) delivers a pitch against the Washington Nationals during a spring training game at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

When the Astros hired Jeff Luhnow to be the team’s General Manager in 2011, the team began an era of rebuilding. Luhnow made it a point to stock up on prospects and rebuild from the ground up. Many of the prospects he gathered in those first few years have now reached the point in their careers where they are ready to make the jump to the bigs.

However, with the 2017 team being set, many of those players will be at Triple-A Fresno, where they will attempt to prove their worth, and this bodes well for Grizzlies fans. On many teams, these players would be starting. Championship teams are built on adding depth in the minor league system and big league roster.

Luhnow can use this depth to fill a need towards the trade deadline. Until then, these players will get a chance to play for the Astros at some point. The big difference is, this team has options if a player is not performing well.

Outfield

The spot that the Grizzlies look to have the most talent is in their outfield. Teoscar Hernandez appears to be the center fielder for the team. Hernandez saw time in Houston in 2016 and played well enough even to be considered for the 24th or 25th roster spot going into 2017. Derek Fisher, the Astros #4 prospect according to mlb.com, will also more than likely be in Fresno to start the year.

Fisher is an exciting guy with plus speed and the potential to hit 20-25 home runs in a season. The outfielder hit .290 with five home runs in 27 games last season for the Grizzlies. A solid campaign in 2017 could land Fisher a chance at some playing time in Houston. Both Hernandez and Fisher are in a situation where they are playing to prove they belong in the Majors, and both also have solid trade value and could be used to bring in the starting pitching Houston needs.

The other outfielders that we will see in Fresno are no slouches either.

Andrew Aplin is a defensive minded outfielder that will look to show his ability at the plate. Minor League journeyman Jon Kemmer will play one of the corner spots for the team. Kemmer a career .282 hitter in 4 seasons in the Astros minor leagues, the 26-year-old outfielder has spent most of his time under the radar as far as prospect lists go. He has shown solid power and ability to hit for average.

Taking a page from the Tyler White notebook, Kemmer has hit his way through the minors, and could potentially contribute in Houston if needed. Ramon Laureano is another guy that only recently got press as a prospect.

Laureano will probably start in AA Corpus Christi, but the 22-year-old will get time in Fresno if he continues his torrid rise through the Astros organization. A 16th round pick in 2014, Laureano hit .319 at A ball Lancaster and Double-A Corpus, and he also stole over 30 bases while hitting 15 home runs.

He showed glimpses of being a solid five-tool player. Following Laureano play this season should be fun. Fresno could also potentially see the Astros #2 prospect Kyle Tucker if he tears up Double-A Corpus and pushes his way to Fresno, so the outfield for the Grizzlies will be a fun group to watch.

Corner Infield

Mar 14, 2017; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; Houston Astros third baseman Colin Moran (19) fields a ground ball against the New York Mets during a spring training game at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

Colin Moran has looked fantastic in Spring Training for the Astros and may make the opening day roster, but he will more than likely start the year in Fresno. The former 6th overall pick has had an interesting career so far. After being a part of the Jarred Cosart trade that brought Jake Marisnick and Colin Moran to Houston, Moran has fallen under the radar as he has been overshadowed by the emergence of superstar prospects Carlos Correa and Alex Bregman.

The 24-year-old Moran still has a very high ceiling and has shown the ability to be a solid player. Fielding has never been a problem for the former Tar Heel. It’s his bat that has kept him from being a staple major leaguer. His lack of real power limits him to being a high average, gap to gap hitter, and his average numbers haven’t been quite what you expect from that type of player.

Moran spent most of 2016 at Fresno, other than a short stint in Houston, and hit .259 with ten home runs and an On-Base Percentage of .329.

Who’s on first?

First base looks to be the home of Top first base prospect A.J. Reed. The left-handed slugger struggled to get it going in the majors in 2016 and spent the majority of his year in Fresno. He has hit better to this point in spring training, and looks to be poised to make the opening day roster, but could also start the year at Fresno. Reed will look to tear up AAA pitching and return to the Astros a better player than what we saw in 2016.

Fellow first basemen Tyler White will also be at Triple-A Fresno and may see time all over the field. The versatile 26-year-old can play third, first, second, and maybe even the corner outfield spots. The Great White will look to find the stroke he had in early 2016, where he won AL player of the week in the first week of the 2016 season.

If he can do so, he will be a big part of the major league roster, but until then, he will be a fun player to watch at Fresno. Slugger J.D Davis, who has looked solid in spring training, will also get time at first and second in Fresno.

Middle Infield

Feb 26, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Houston Astros third baseman Colin Moran (19) warms up before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /

Moran, who I mentioned in the last slide, will get time at shortstop for Fresno. He has played a couple of games at short already this spring. The ability to play different positions make him valuable. Tony Kemp, a speedy left-handed hitter, could also get time at second if he doesn’t make the major league roster, which I predict he will.

Spring Training hero Jack Mayfield will get the majority of the at-bats at second base for the Grizzlies. Mayfield has been in the Astros organization for some years and may have value as a utility player.

Seeing that the cornerstones of the Astros franchise are at shortstop and second, the prospects at that spot are few, and the ones that Houston does have, are not in Triple-A ball yet.

Catcher

Catcher is an interesting spot for the Grizzlies as they will see several different guys here throughout the season. To start the season, the two guys who will be in Fresno will be the newly acquired Juan Centeno, and former top catching prospect Max Stassi, assuming he gets through waivers, as he is out of minor league options. Both these guys have major league experience and will be emergency catchers if either Evan Gattis or Brian McCann suffer an injury.

Centeno was acquired coming from the Twins this past off-season. He looks to see if a change of scenery can spark his career. At one point, Centeno was supposed to be the heir to the catcher throne in Minnesota, where legend Joe Mauer is aging. Centeno never lived up to his prospect hype, and at 27, is now a career back-up.

Will the real Stassi turn up?

Stassi was in the fast lane to stardom when he was hit in the face by Rangers pitcher Tanner Scheppers. Since then, he has struggled to find his stroke, and injuries have plagued him. 2017 is a big year for Stassi. It’s the year that he needs to prove he has potential as a major league catcher.

Magician Tyler Heineman will be at Fresno looking to show that he has major league potential. His ability to hit from both sides of the plate makes him an exciting player. Top catching prospect Garrett Stubbs will probably start the year in AA Corpus Christi, but if he continues to play like he has, the 22-year-old will see time in Fresno.

Pitching

Mar 17, 2017; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Francis Martes (79) throws against the Boston Red Sox in the fifth inning at JetBlue Park. The Astros won 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

The pitching staff will be an electric group and will be led by the most electric arm in the Astros system. The Astros #1 prospect according to mlb.com, Francis Martes will look to continue his development in 2017. Hopefully, he can contribute in Houston at some point. Martes possesses an electric fastball that can reach 98 MPH, and has a devastating curveball off of that. He has worked on developing a third pitch change-up and can throw a slider. His arsenal is like that of current Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. Grizzlies fans should watch him pitch and prepare to be blown away by his ability.

Fresno’s rotation will be full of guys who have seen time at the Major League Level. Brady Rodgers will pitch at Fresno to start the year, and despite struggling in 2016, has a solid arsenal to work with. David Paulino, a top pitching prospect for Houston, will start the year on the Disabled List.

He will join Fresno when he is healthy, and he will be looking to get back to Houston. Joe Musgrove appears to be poised to take the 5th rotation spot for the Astros, but if he falls short, He is an exciting player that Fresno fans should be overjoyed to watch. Journeyman Aaron West will also look to pitch in the Fresno rotation.

Outlook

The Fresno Grizzlies will be a very exciting team to watch in 2017. They will send many of their players to the majors throughout the year. Such is the life of a minor league club, and this team looks to be a major one in 2017.

Next: Astros: David Paulino to begin season on DL

If you can, go and watch these young guys in their attempts to prove they belong in the majors. The Grizzlies will be a fascinating minor league team to follow in 2017.

***Statistics courtesy of baseballreference.com & www.mlb.com/prospects***