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Houston Astros Top Ten Prospects For 2017

By Benjamin Chase

Sep 4, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of the Houston Astros patch and logo on the jersey of Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Astros defeat the Rangers 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of the Houston Astros patch and logo on the jersey of Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Astros defeat the Rangers 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Teoscar Hernandez, OF

Birthdate: 10/15/92 (24 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: AA, AAA, MLB
Stats in 2016: .307/.377/.459, 10 HR, 34 SB (minor league stats only)

Many teams looked strongly at Hernandez as a Rule 5 draft pick last offseason, however, Hernandez was coming off of a .219/.275/.362 season in AA, and teams chose to stay away.

Now a few teams with they’d have taken that gamble. Hernandez tore up the Texas League for 69 games before moving to the PCL for 38 games and finishing with 41 games at the big league level, finishing just under rookie levels to be eligible for this list.

the big stride that (Hernandez) made in 2016 was in shortening up his swing and being quick to the pitch

Hernandez is an elite athlete for sure, but the big stride that he made in 2016 was in shortening up his swing and being quick to the pitch rather than falling in love with the long ball as he had in the past, which led to heavy strikeout numbers and poor contact rates.

Hernandez has the raw tools that would lead you to think he’d be an elite center fielder, but he struggles with his recognition of the bat off the ball from center and seems to handle corners better. He does have the arm to handle either corner very well.

Hernandez should be able to settle into a 20-home run bat with his raw power, and his speed should allow for 20-30 steals without much worry early on.

He’ll be competing among a few players for the center field for the Astros in 2017, and he could make a lot more teams regret passing him up in the 2015 Rule 5 if he continues the progress he made in 2016 into the 2017 season.

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