Astros: Abraham Toro named Canadian Offensive Minor League Player of Year

Astros infielder Abraham Toro was named the recipient of a Canadian award given to minor leaguers.

Astros top prospect Abraham Toro was named the Canadian Offensive Minor League Player of the Year on Tuesday by the Canadian Baseball Network. The award, named the Randall Echlin Award, honored Toro (who hails from Quebec) for his outstanding 2019 season.

Toro earned the honor by virtue of his excellent numbers in his rise from Double-A to the major leagues this year. He hit .306/.393/.513 with 16 homers and 22 doubles in 98 games for Corpus Christi before mashing in a 16-game stint at Triple-A Round Rock to the tune of a .424/.506/.606 line.

He was less spectacular in the majors, hitting .218/.303/.385 in 25 games, but he did hit a key home run to put the Astros ahead in Justin Verlander‘s no-hitter on Sept. 1. He was not on any of the postseason series rosters.

Prospect Profile

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Toro is currently ranked as the team’s No. 5 prospect after being ranked No. 23 in the preseason. His strong 2019 season helped him fly up the rankings. He was a fifth round draft pick in 2016.

The scouting report notes he’s seen by scouts as one of the best overall hitters in the team’s farm system. He hits for a solid average, has some power, draws walks and even is a switch hitter, though he’s been better from the left side.

Defensively, he’s played primarily third base after catching in college. He also has a little experience at second base, but of course he’s blocked by both Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve. Where he fits on this Astros roster isn’t quite clear at this point.

With that being the case, there’s a chance he could be trade bait this offseason. The team seems set for position players, with the exception of behind the plate, but has clear needs on the pitching staff. It’s entirely possible Toro could be moved for a pitcher sometime between now and the trade deadline next July.

But for the time being, the Astros seem to have a real gem on their hands. Time will tell if they can find a way to utilize him at the major league level.