Houston Astros: What "AAAA" position player will contribute most?

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Several players dominate on their Triple-A teams but flounder when they reach the bigs. The Houston Astros have a handful of players in this category, but some of them will make a significant impact on the club.

The reigning World Series champions Houston Astros have a dynasty in the works. Not only does manager A.J. Hinch possess an All-Star roster, but he also heads a farm system loaded with serviceable up-and-comers.

But among the promising young guns are a group of older, more experienced minor-league guys. Though they have more innings under their belt, they have yet to make significant contributions at the MLB level.

Some spent more than a month in the bigs throughout the past few seasons, while some have yet to make it onto the field at Minute Maid Park. Age doesn’t determine a player’s skill level, but as they get older, their chances of promotion dwindle.

Multiple players are stuck in limbo since Houston’s roster contains guys like American League MVP Jose Altuve and George Springer. They have no more to prove in the minors, but they aren’t better options than the starters in any way.

Teams typically have a few surprises at Spring Training, forcing the front office and managing staff to make crucial – and difficult – decisions. Yet, the Astros aren’t necessarily in that position.

Nevertheless, the players stuck in “AAAA” have opportunities to contribute. They are just on a much shorter leash than anyone in the current 25-man roster. Even if they enjoy a Greg Bird-like preseason like last year, they aren’t guaranteed a spot in the lineup.

Still, fans and analysts can determine which position players will have an impact. Among the several players stuck in the minors, a few have the upper advantage in contributing more than others.

Here are just a few candidates and how they might influence the club.

A.J. Reed

A.J. Reed was once a primed prospect on the precipice of an everyday role. But like many players in the past, he struggled once he faced big-league hurlers.

He was the main contributor in Triple-A Fresno as a middle-of-the-lineup slugger in 2016. The left-handed hitter sported a solid .291 average with 15 bombs and 50 RBIs in 70 games.

But all of the power Reed displayed in the minors disappeared during his stint in the majors. Reed hit below the Mendoza line at just .164 across 45 games in the bigs. Though he drew a considerable amount of walks, he struck out in 34 percent of his plate appearances.

The first baseman can essentially only occupy the corner spot and maybe slot in as the designated hitter. But Marwin Gonzalez and Yuli Gurriel sit ahead of him on the depth chart at first base, and Houston already has several proven hitters.

Reed earned a call-up in 2017, but it was just for a few games. Either he or Tyler White sits third in line to take over first, and both share similar characteristics.

However, Reed might have an advantage because of his age. He has more time to improve and fix his faults. Gonzalez has just one year left on his contract, which means he could leave following this season.

If Gonzalez leaves, someone will need to provide backup for Gurriel. Reed can earn that position if he adjusts to major-league pitching. And while former first baseman Jon Singleton couldn’t do that, Reed can.

The power is there – 49 homers in 197 Triple-A games – and Reed’s patience isn’t hopeless. If he wants to take the next step into the MLB, this could be the season he breaks out.

Tyler White

Remember when White enjoyed a hot stretch at the beginning of the 2016 season?

Since then, he’s had difficulty becoming relevant again from an Astros standpoint. But he still has enough upside to turn his career around.

Gurriel’s ascendance into an everyday role player diminished White’s opportunities for the big-league club. Gonzalez’s breakout campaign last year didn’t do him any favors either.

Even in Triple-A, Reed held down first base for the majority of last season. Still, White has potential to make an impact because of his pure hitting ability.

He was a consistent producer at the dish in the minors last year. He also smacked 25 homers while hitting an even .300 and sporting a near-.900 OPS.

White fared decently in the MLB last season, hitting .279 with nine extra-base hits in 67 plate appearances. If Houston’s infield wasn’t so productive, Hinch might have given White an extended opportunity.

But, alas, it’s difficult being a solid hitter on a World Series champion roster.

White made strides in the power department in 2017, which could help his chances. He may not have reached Reed’s level just yet, but he did boast a .528 slugging percentage in Fresno last year. That was throughout an entire season as well, showing consistency.

The Astros don’t need upgrades offensively, and White isn’t necessarily an upgrade. But if he earns a chance to prove himself while filling in for Gurriel – if injured– or Gonzalez, he could run away with it.

However, it’s not a sure thing, even with last year’s improvement.

J.D. Davis

J.D. Davis has flown under the radar up to this point. Though he has little experience in Triple-A, he’s shown about all he needs to in Double-A.

That being said, he could provide some insurance at third base, especially if Bregman were to suffer an injury. Like other infielders, it’s difficult when Gonzalez is essentially the backup at every position.

Davis joined Houston for a short stint, smacking four home runs in 68 plate appearances. He had just 14 hits overall and compiled 20 strikeouts as well.

Although few analysts dial in on players’ defensive abilities, Davis’ could hold him back from promotion. He didn’t commit any errors while on the Astros but accumulated 13 in more than 600 innings in Double-A.

Bregman was not one of the team’s best fielders. But he had just 10 errors last season. His 2016 campaign was much more inspiring, considering he saved a handful of runs on defense. That wasn’t necessarily the case in 2017.

However, Davis has plenty of issues to resolve before leaping into the MLB. He enjoyed a fantastic stretch in Fresno for 16 games, but he needs to produce at a consistent rate. The infielder sported a solid average in each of his four years in the system – nothing spectacular.

Davis possesses a similar strand of power as White and Reed. Yet, he hasn’t had much time to showcase it in the higher levels of the system. Thus, the front office needs to see more out of him at a higher level.

However, if he shreds it up in Triple-A, he may be back in Houston sooner rather than later.

Derek Fisher

Derek Fisher might be the only one on this list that occupies a spot on Houston’s roster by Opening Day. Although the Astros have him on the trade block, he was the only player in the list that played more than 50 games in Houston last season.

The Astros boast a glut of outfielders on the MLB roster already. But with Marwin Gonzalez as an infielder/outfielder, Fisher could be the club’s fourth outfielder.

Jake Marisnick, George Springer, Gonzalez, and Reddick will rotate in the everyday lineup. However, Houston still needs depth in the position as a precaution.

Fisher struggled against big-league pitchers in 2017. Though nearly 30 percent of his hits were for extra hits, he only notched 31 hits in 166 plate appearances. Like most inexperienced players, he whiffed in almost a third of his plate appearances.

Despite the issues in the MLB, Fisher proved all he could in the minors. His Double-A numbers weren’t outstanding, but he thumped opposing pitchers in Triple-A across the previous two seasons.

Last year was a major breakout year in the minors. Fisher boasted a .318/.384/.583 triple-slash while clubbing 21 bombs and 26 doubles. He ranked fourth in the Pacific Coast League in OPS, demonstrating his ability at the dish.

Thus, Fisher will likely deserve another opportunity. General manager Jeff Luhnow attempted to ship him to another team, but it was unnecessary. The outfielder still needs to succeed in Spring Training to preserve a spot on the roster. But compared to other minor-leaguers, he has a good shot.

Fisher also possesses some speed to make him a dual-threat player. Yet, he didn’t utilize his wheels much last season, and catchers caught him 10 times in 26 attempts in Fresno. He had just six attempts for the Astros – he stole three bases successfully.

The short stint in the MLB hurts his case. But the front office might be more optimistic due to his age and success in Triple-A. Hence, if he continues to develop, Fisher could spend the majority of the season in Houston.

Tony Kemp

Tony Kemp could earn the most playing time among all of the players mentioned solely because of his versatility. The utility guy can occupy multiple infield positions, as well as the outfield.

And, unlike any of the others, Kemp possesses speed – a valuable asset for the Astros.

Houston ranked eighth in the league in stolen bases last season and ranked within the top 10 in the three prior seasons. Jose Altuve played a large part in keeping the team that high in the rankings, swiping bags in that span.

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But that doesn’t mean manager A.J. Hinch can utilize others’ wheels on the bases, such as Kemp’s. During both the 2015 and 2016 season, at least five players accrued at least 10 stolen bases.

Kemp could find himself in the 20-and-above category if he runs as successful as he has in Triple-A. He swiped 25 bases in 2017 for Fresno, as well as 20 bags in 2015. Yet, the multifaceted speedster needs to take more chances in the big leagues.

The ability to get on base helps overall, and Kemp has a keen eye at the dish. Though he didn’t sport an impressive or encouraging average, he drew 14 walks 134 plate appearances two years ago. Meanwhile, he accrued 69 walks compared to 77 strikeouts in the previous two seasons in Triple-A.

Difficult decisions could arise when position players face injury – or suspension. However, Kemp could get the first call because he can occupy several positions.

Next: Two roster decisions remain before Training

And while his lack of power doesn’t mesh well with the rest of the guys on the roster, his speed could be invaluable for the Astros.

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