2017 Acquisition: Joe Perez, 3B
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/12/1999 (18)
2017 teams/levels played for: none
2017 Stats: none
Info: Perez had the distinction of being both one of the youngest players in the entire 2017 draft and also one of a handful of guys with legit possible futures as either a pitcher or hitter. Perez turned 18 in mid-August, but he had Tommy John surgery before the draft, which led to him falling to the 2nd round to the Houston Astros.
Perez was one of the top arms in the high school class, with a fastball that could bump triple digits, though he was still very much a thrower, with little experience on the mound and mechanics that positioned him as a thrower more than a pitcher.
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The Astros announced Perez as a third basement when they drafted him, and that path would make perfect sense as well, as he has all-fields power from the right-hand side.
Perez is raw defensively at third, but he certainly has the arm and the natural athleticism to work at the position with pro instruction. With a season of rehab due to his TJS, Perez should have plenty of time working with the club on his future path.
Many have compared Perez to Austin Riley in the Atlanta Braves organization, similarly a pitcher/hitter coming out of the draft who many favored as a pitcher and had defensive questions. As Riley finds himself on a number of top 100 lists this year after reaching AA at just 20 in 2017.
Next: Verlander undervalued in dynasty
So that is the Houston Astros top 10 prospects for 2018. Who is too high? Too low? Missing entirely from the list? Comment below!!