Astros’ A.J. Reed Will Be a Top-50 Prospect in 2016
A month ago the Houston Astros seemingly had the American League West locked up, but a resurgent Texas Rangers have taken over the division and the Astros’ playoff hopes are hanging by fraying threads. Many of the struggles can be attributed to the bullpen, but the team as a whole is at fault. If it weren’€™t for the boundless talent of a 21-year old shortstop, the Astros would have more than a half game lead over the Los Angeles Angels for the second wildcard spot.
Carlos Correa hit two home runs yesterday to help keep the Astros within striking distance of the Rangers. He is–€”or perhaps it’€™s more appropriate to say was, considering he’s in the majors to stay–the best prospect in a system teeming with great talent. In spite of the recent struggles, the Astros are at least a year ahead of schedule on their rebuild, and the franchise’s Triple-A affiliate mimicked the parent club’€™s success and won the Triple-A World Series.
Of the many things we learned this season is that, even though Correa is no longer in the system, we should get used to meeting talented Astros rookies. Correa’s season has been superlative, but it comes as no surprise that when the Astros handed out their minor league MVP, it went to first baseman/designated hitter A.J. Reed.
More from MLB Prospects
- Is Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Ivan Melendez the next Pete Alonso?
- Los Angeles Dodgers prospect talk: Catching up with Hunter Feduccia
- MLBPA secures major victory for Minor League Baseball players
- Phillies: Breaking down the prospects fighting for an Opening Day spot
- What the XFL can learn from minor league baseball
Reed had the type of season in 2015 that elevates a player to the top of prospect rankings: He hit a combined .340/.432/.612 with 34 home runs between High-A and Double-A. Shortstop Orlando Arcia had a season like that as he went from No. 88 in MLB.com’s preseason rankings all the way to No. 12 in the updated rankings. Nationals shortstop prospect Trea Turner (62 to 11), Mets pitcher Steven Matz (66 to 16) and Indians outfielder Bradley Zimmer (unranked to 27) all did as well. Reed wasn’t ranked in the top 100 prospects by Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus or MLB.com in the preseason. (He currently sits at No. 93 on MLB.com).
It would come as no surprise if Reed was in the top 50 of 2016’s preseason rankings. Reed was the 2014 Dick Howser Trophy recipient–€”essentially college baseball’s Heisman Trophy–€”for hitting .336/.476/.735 with 23 home runs at Kentucky. Oh, he also was the team’€™s best pitcher, going 12-2 with a 2.09 ERA. That talent is why the Astros picked him in the second round that year, and he didn’t disappoint as he started mashing minor league pitching within two weeks of becoming a pro.
Now that he’s put together two eye-popping seasons in a row, Reed deserves to be recognized as one of the best prospects in the game. He’ll start next season in either Double- or Triple-A, and if he continues to bash, he could make it to the majors in 2016 and have the same impact Kyle Schwarber had with the Cubs this season.