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Four Astros Prospects You Need to Know After The Trade Deadline
The Astros top two prospects were sent to the New York Mets in the deal that landed Justin Verlander. With Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford gone, many may tell you the farm system is empty, but here are four future big league contributors you should know.
In the Astros deal to land Justin Verlander, both Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford said farewell to the Astros. The two were believed across the industry to be the two prospects with the brightest future, but contrary to popular belief, the Astros farm system is not empty.
From Cristian Javier to Chas McCormick, year after year the Astros churn out great big leaguers that never showed up on any top prospect leaderboards. Whether any of these four end up on any top 100 lists to come, they have bright futures in Houston.
Let's take a look at four Astros prospects you need to know.
#1: Luis Baez
Not enough can be said about Luis Baez. If the Astros have a future all-star in their farm system, Baez is the one. The Astros gave Baez $1.3 milliion as an international prospect in 2022, the most they gave to any prospect.
The now 19-year-old has done nothing but rake since signing. In 58 games in the Dominican Summer League, Baez hit .305 with nine home runs and a .903 OPS. This year, Baez played 17 games of rookie ball, hitting .271, but with seven home runs and a 1.095 OPS. He was promoted to Fayetteville and has doubled seemingly every time he steps to the plate. Of his 19 hits, eight have gone for doubles.
He's batting .328 with an .854 OPS in his 15 games at Fayetteville. He projects as a corner outfielder, but if his 6'1, 205 pound frame continues to fill out, a move to first could be in his future.
For years the Astros have dominated the international market. Could Baez be their next star international signing?
#2 Spencer Arrighetti
Spencer Arrighetti is a name worth knowing as he may be on the big league club before too long. Arrighetti has been fantastic in the minors this season, prompting many conversations around a potential spot start as the rotation battled injury, or even a September call-up.
Across both the AA and AAA levels, Arrighetti has thrown 86 innings this year. He's striking out 11.2 per nine and has posted a 4.19 ERA. April was ugly, but in the three months since, he's been fantastic. Since May began, Arrighetti has a 2.78 ERA and is striking out 11.86 batters per nine.
He's struggled as a reliever, posting an ERA nearing 6, but when Arrighetti starts, he's nails.
Whether he comes up at the end of this season or some time next year, Arrighetti very well could be the next J.P. France; yet another Astros rotation mainstay from seemingly out of nowhere that has the industry asking how they continue doing it.
#3 Joey Loperfido
We broke down Joey Loperfido in late May, and since then, he's only gotten better. He's sustained his performance at Corpus Christi, and as a 24-year-old college bat, may quickly be running out of things to prove at the AA level.
The Duke product is hitting .298 with 17 doubles and 16 home runs in 74 games with the Hooks, good for a .936 OPS.
But he's not just a hitter. He's incredibly versatile defensively. Loperfido has started 22 games in center field this year, followed by 20 games at second base, 16 at first base, 10 in left field and seven in right.
The Astros have placed a high priority on utility players that can hit during their Golden Era. Loperfido may very well be the next one.
#4 Zach Dezenzo
While it was an oft-repeated sentiment around deadline time that the Astros didn't have any top 100-prospects, Baseball Prospectus disagrees. Zach Dezenzo has jumped all the way to 42 on their midseason update.
The former Ohio State Buckeye has mashed his way onto the list. Dezenzo is hitting .330 with a .934 OPS across 62 minor league games this season. He absolutely decimated opposing pitchers while in Fayetteville, hitting .407 with an 1.102 OPS. He's cooled off a bit since his promotion to AA, but the hit tool is there.
He can play both corner spots, as well as second base, and may in fact be Bregman's heir apparent if the Astros do let their third baseman walk after 2024. Letting Ryan Clifford go in the Verlander deal solidifies the belief in Dezenzo as a corner infielder of the future.
Don't be surprised if he's manning one of those spots sooner rather than later.