MLB: 5 American League West prospects to watch in 2020
By Nick Stevens
Abraham Toro looks to be in line for regular playing time with the Houston Astros after making his MLB debut last season.
Versatility is the name of the game in 2020 and rookie Abraham Toro certainly provides that for the Houston Astros, a team already looking to fill holes in their lineup and starting rotation after a few recent injuries.
Toro didn’t begin the season in the starting lineup, but with a recent injury to Aledmys Diaz and Yordan Alvarez still a few weeks away from playing, the former fifth-round pick out of Seminole State College now has an opportunity to claim his spot in the lineup.
Toro hit a lowly .218 in a 25-game MLB stint last year, but seven of his 17 hits went for extra-bases and he appeared at both corner infield spots for Houston defensively.
A switch-hitter, Toro is the third-ranked prospect in the Houston Astros system, has back-to-back 15 HR/30 2B seasons in the minor leagues, and has experience at every infield position except shortstop. That even includes being able to work behind the plate in a pinch.
Astros fans will have to wait for some of their more exciting prospects to take the field. Injuries and a suspension limited the number of innings top prospect RHP Forrest Whitley has logged over the past two seasons, so Astros fans likely won’t see Whitley and his elite four-pitch mix this season, while RHP Jose Urquidy (second-ranked prospect) was only recently cleared to resume baseball activity after missing significant time due to undisclosed reasons.
Toro may not be able to provide the sort of value Yordan Alvarez does with his bat, but Toro’s pop at the plate and defensive versatility will be valuable assets to the Astros in this 60-game sprint in 2020.