Astros: Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks Preview

Every Tuesday we will mosey-on-down to the farm and check up on some of the Houston Astros prospects that are stationed in Corpus Christi.

With The Show well under-way, the young guns in the minors are just on the verge of starting up their own seasons. The quest to grab the proverbial brass ring and prove that a player can make a difference with the Major League Astros starts tomorrow.

Corpus Christi is home to some of the most talented and high-end prospects that the Houston Astros have and every Tuesday we will recap all the major events from the past week. In addition, we will be highlighting stock risers, stock fallers, surprises, and Double-A débutantes.

For the first installation, let’s get a little creative. This year is so far being called “The Year of Movies”, so let’s break up the three groups by famous baseball movie quotes.

“Pick me out a winner Bobby”: Prospects who can contribute right now

Whether they are in the Top 30 of the Astros prospects or players that have astounded in Spring Training, these three players are poised to make huge leaps in the coming year.

J. B. Bukauskas

The obvious choice for the name to watch this season is the #6 overall prospect, Bukauskas. Boasting a nice arsenal which includes: fastball, changeup, slider and cutter, Bukauskas has all the makings of a top end pitcher. He only had one game with the Hooks last year, but he made it count. Going six innings of one-hit ball, and striking out eight batters.

Not settling down, the right-handed wizard attacked his first Spring Training invite with the same tenacity. Striking out 21 batters across 16 innings and only giving up three runs. Leaving little to question whether or not he can handle the role as a starter.

Abraham Toro

Another offseason warrior, the #23 ranked Toro set Arizona on fire in 2018. During his tenure in the Arizona Fall League, Toro slashed an impressive line of .348/.463/.561, stole three bases and brought in eight runs. His average was an impressive three points below top overall prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Toro rolled that hot stick into Palm Beach, as he impressed in his first Spring Training invite with the Houston Astros. Second, only to the equally hot Nick Tanielu, Toro collected 15 RBIs, swatted two home runs and slashed a .341/396/.591 line.

Look for Toro to continue his onslaught of the ball this season, and press a call up to even Triple-A Round Rock.

Tyler Ivey

One of the lesser known of the three mentioned prospects, Ivey is ranked #17 overall on the Astros prospect list but is sure to rocket up the list if he can stay healthy. The 6’4″ righty has some doubters on whether or not he should stick in the rotation or be a weapon out of the pen. Ivey’s repertoire includes the traditional four pitches: fastball, changeup, curveball, slider, all rated out as above-average pitches.

In his first full season, Ivey blazed through both Single-A affiliates in 2018, logging in 112 innings with a combined 135 strikeouts and a 2.97 ERA. He will get his first taste of Double-A beginning this season. What remains to be seen is how the coaches deal with him, and if they agree that his throwing motion is too much on his arm to be put in the rotation or not.

“How can you not get romantic about Baseball?”: Prospects you need to fall in love with.

The following prospects are ranked in the middle of the Astros Top 30 and have had up and down years in the past, but it’s hard not to fall in love with their upside.

J. J. Matijevic

The outfielder-turned-first baseman, #22 ranked Matijevic provides a much-needed power back at the corner infield position. With a system deep with outfielders, the Hooks found a way to get him in the lineup. Moving Matijevic to first base will do well to mask his minor fielding deficiencies while upgrading the power potential.

In 2018 Matijevic lit up both A affiliates with a .277/.350/.538 slash, clubbing in a total 22 home runs and 62 RBIs. There is some work that needs to be done, as he did strike out a staggering 113 times. If he can fix the strikeouts, then this is a name the Astros could use, if even as a back-up in future years.

Brandon Bielak

Settling in at #15 on the overall prospect list, Bielak is a power right-handed pitcher standing at a respectable 6’1″. Here is another pitcher who the Astros have worked with to elevate into a starter role. Most notably fine-tuning his control and his off-speed pitches. Whether he is a weapon in the pen or a starter in the Majors is one story to watch this season.

Over the span of two divisions last year, Bielak started in Single-A but quickly was promoted to Double-A. Respectable across the board the righty spun 117 innings and finished with 131 strikeouts and a stellar 2.23 combined line. While in Corpus last year, he gathered 61 innings and 57 strikeouts with a 2.35 ERA.

Look for Bielak to build on this momentum and solidify himself as a mid-rotation player.

Ronnie Dawson

A stout and power left-handed bat, Dawson’s tenure in the Astros organization can only be described as Jekyll/Hyde. Dawson has the power potential to be a 30+ home run player, however, he needs to cut down on the strikeouts.

Dawson started his 2018 season in Single-A, where the power showed up, but the consistency didn’t. Hitting a mere .247 with ten home runs and a staggering 96 strikeouts and 29 stolen bases, Dawson was surprisingly promoted to Corpus.

The move, however, was for the better. Finishing his first season in Double-A, Dawson saw his average rise to healthy .289,  and saw his swing and misses fall to 34. He continued on hitting in the Arizona Fall League, as he boasted a .291/.417/.468 slash line. It seems as Dawson is trading in his power stroke for a more contact approach. Something the Astros need out of their outfielder spots.