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.

Ronel Blanco

Ronel Blanco's name has started to pick up steam in Houston after his historic off-season. Blanco was completely unhittable in the Dominican Winter League, setting a record for consecutive scoreless innings. He's now in the pitcher's pool for Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

Blanco has toiled in the minors since 2016, but has fallen victim to the vast array of arms Houston had ahead of him. His performance has warranted a call-up, but he made only seven appearances with the big league club in 2022.

Blanco is definitely a name to keep tabs on this spring. If he gets added to the active roster for the Dominican Republic and proves his ability to get outs in the World Baseball Classic, more eyes will be opened.

Does he have a future with the Astros after all? Or might other teams come calling? Houston's bullpen is loaded headed into 2023. Blanco could be an intriguing trade piece as well. Either way, we'll have a better idea of his future in Houston in a few short weeks.