Astros Spring Training: Three Pitching Prospects to Keep an Eye On

Three Astros pitching prospects to watch for in Spring Training

Pitchers and catchers have reported to Spring Training and the Astros road to a repeat is officially underway. The Astros major league team is loaded, specifically in their starting rotation and bullpen.

The cupboard is slightly more bare in the minors, but between 40-man roster members and non-roster Spring Training invitees, there are pitchers that could emerge to make an impact. After all, Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia and Jose Urquidy were rather unheralded propsects before they emerged with the big league club in 2020.

These are the Astros' three pitching prospects to keep an eye on in Spring Training.

Forrest Whitley

Forrest Whitley feels more like an old folk legend than anything at this point in time. In 2019, he was going to be the next Randy Johnson, a player Jeff Luhnow refused to entertain in trade talks. He was Houston's no doubt future ace.

He dominated A-ball and AA-ball, posting a sub-3.00 ERA and over 13 strikeouts per nine at each stop. He was ranked as high as the fifth-best prospect in the MLB. With as many other prospects have debuted, what on earth happened to this one?

Thanks to injuries and a failed drug test, Whitley's upward trajectory was derailed. No longer can't miss, he posted a 6.53 ERA, walking 27 in only 40 innings of work in 2022. This may very well be the make or break year for Whitley.

In January, we made the case to convert Whitley to a reliever and let him harness his repertoire for an inning or two, tops. Whitley's raw stuff is simply too good not to play. If he could find a way to put it together as a starter, with the club control Houston has of Javier, Valdez, McCullers Jr., Garcia, Brown and Uqruidy, he'd be a transformative weapon.

His future as a starter is in doubt. If not now, when will it be for Whitley? He is definitely a player to watch in the spring.

Jayden Murray

Murray may have seemed like a throw-in when Houston landed Trey Mancini at the 2022 trade deadline, but he is far from it.

In three minor league seasons, Murray has a career 2.80 ERA. IN his 51 career starts, he has a WHIP of 0.97. His 2021 season was especially eye-opening, leading the minor leagues in WHIP (0.71) and opponent batting average (.150).

The former 23rd rounder entered 2022 as the Rays #30 prospect according to Baseball America, and was named Houston's #18 in season in 2022. He possesses elite command of the strike zone and the high spin rates that Houston has become famous for. That the Astros were able to land him for a fringe roster candidate like Jose Siri is astounding.

Now, Murray was a 23rd round pick and the Rays, like Houston, are known for turning everyday arms into dominant ones. That they would part with one that possesses Murray's stats could mean expectations for Murray should be tempered. But he's well worth watching through the spring. Don't be surprised if Murray becomes the next great Astros arm that seemingly came from out of nowhere.