With two World Series titles and four American League pennants across the last six seasons, the Houston Astros have clearly found a winning formula. One would imagine they won’t fret too much about Major League Baseball’s recent prospect rankings.
MLB Pipeline unveiled its preseason Top 100 Prospects list earlier this week, with the reigning champions being largely absent from the honors. Hunter Brown was the only Astros prospect to make the cut, coming in at No. 43 overall and No. 8 among right-handed pitchers. Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson was the top-ranked prospect on the list.
Brown, 24, made his MLB debut in 2022 and had an immediate impact. The Astros won all seven regular-season games Brown appeared in, as he went 2-0 with a 0.89 ERA across two starts and five relief outings. He proceeded to make three playoff appearances out of the bullpen, allowing two hits and no runs in 3 2/3 innings. Brown was also named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year after going 9-4 with a 2.55 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 106 innings at Triple-A Sugar Land.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown (58) throws a pitch in the top of the eighth inning during the ALDS Game 1 between the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros on October 11, 2022 at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
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Outside of Brown, a handful of Astros prospects are still poised to make an impact in 2023 and beyond. Korey Lee and Yainer Diaz—both of whom saw limited time in the big leagues last season—will likely find their way into the lineup at catcher on a number of occasions, with one potentially emerging as a platoon mate and future replacement for veteran Martín Maldonado . David Hensley will serve as a utilityman and designated hitter, with the potential to carve out a larger role as the year goes on, while infielder Joe Perez and right-handed pitcher Forrest Whitley are on the Astros’ preliminary Spring Training roster.
Pedro Leon—the team’s No. 4 prospect after last season—is expected to be sidelined until March as he recovers from sports hernia surgery. Drew Gilbert, who the Astros selected out of Tennessee in the first round of 2022 draft, is another outfielder to monitor in future years.
MLB Pipeline has yet to release its preseason organizational rankings for 2023. Below were the top 10 Astros prospects at the conclusion of 2022, per MLB.com.
1. Hunter Brown, RHP
2. Drew Gilbert, OF
3. Yainer Diaz, C/1B
4. Pedro Leon, OF/2B
5. Colin Barber, OF
6. Jacob Melton, OF
7. Korey Lee, C
8. Ryan Clifford, OF
9. Joe Perez, 3B
10. Forrest Whitley, RHP