Jairo Lopez - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	RHP	23	40

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Cont/Cmd
40	40	50	50	50	40	45/40

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Geoff Pontes

Age: 20 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 150 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA
RuleV: Eligible

Physical Description: Smaller in stature with thin frame, looks smaller than his listed 5-11 and closer to 5-9. Maybe adds a few pounds over the years but it's a smaller righthander body type.

Delivery & Mechanics: Side step to moderate leg lift, drop and drive, gets heavy over front side, drops his slot down low, delivering from a lower three quarters arm action. Nearly side arm with a crossfire finish. Height and arm slot create an incredibly flat approach angle making it tough to pick the ball up out of his hand.

Fastball: Good velocity sitting 93-95 mph in shorter outings. Impressive velocity for a diminutive teenager. Low release and nearly side arm crossfire delivery play up the quality of the fastball. Shows the ability to command at an average level hitting spots in all four quadrants. Swing and miss pitch, but batters can time it as the pitch lacks much late movement. Grade: 50

Curveball: Slower than slider in the 77-79 mph band with downer slurve movement. Will show the pitch at any time and has the feel to steal strikes on the corners. Command is advanced for a teenagers breaking ball. Grade: 50

Slider: Shows great feel for the slider, a sweepy offering at 80-82 mph, his go to secondary and best swing and miss pitch. Most of the contact made with the pitch was of the ground ball variety. Works mostly away from left handers backdooring the pitch at will. Grade: 50

Changeup: Good velocity separation between fastball at 83-84 mph, sub-optimal shape with minimal run. Gets hit the hardest of any of Lopez's offerings. Doesn't pronate well yet. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Below average control and command at the moment. With stuff that moves a ton it's more of a "get it in the zone and let his stuff do the work" profile than a finesse strike throwing one. That said he was an 18 year old that dominated short season in 2019 facing batters on average 3.5 years his junior. In other words take the walk numbers with a grain of salt. I believe based on flashes of above average feel, good sequencing and the balls to challenge hitters that Lopez can get to fringe average control or better. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: An explosive young arm that might start the second wave of the Houston Hybrid archetype. Two quality breaking balls, a well sequenced changeup, and a high octane fastball. While the range of outcomes for Lopez is wide he presents a very strong foundational profile. He has stuff and pitch ability beyond his age and some unique characteristics within his mechanics that make him an uncomfortable at bat. Starter for now, but likely another arm capable of filling multiple roles in the bullpen.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Long Reliever
Risk: High

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Jordan Brewer - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	OF	22	40

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
40	40	40	40	60	60	70

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Anthony Franco

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 195 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/L
Acquired: 2019 Draft, Round 3
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Listed at 6'1, 195. Very narrow frame; no remaining physical projection. Slender shoulders and hips limit ability to add muscle mass.

Hit: Quiet setup; wide base with bat rested on shoulder and a bit of pre-pitch wiggle. Small leg kick. Plus bat speed but it's more of a gap-to-gap approach; very flat swing plane as an amateur. Fringe bat control; makes a fair amount of contact but has a tendency to mishit pitches he should barrel up. Aggressive approach; attacks pitches early in counts but not so swing-happy as to undermine the rest of the offensive tools. Grade: 40

Power: Not overly physical but quick-twitch actions enable some explosiveness in the swing. Average raw power. In-game power limited as an amateur by lack of loft in the swing; hasn't had game reps in pro ball to gauge if Astros have made alterations to swing plane. Grade: 40

Field: Played mostly corner outfield in deference to Jesse Franklin at Michigan. Would expect him to get more center field reps as he climbs the minor-league ladder. Was easily plus in a corner; would likely be above-average in center. Grade: 60

Arm: Has more than enough arm for any outfield position; throws with easy zip and carry. Grade: 60

Run: Clocked plus-plus run times as an amateur; has the elite speed necessary to track down fly balls in the gaps and take extra bags on the basepaths. Grade: 70

Overall: Brewer's plus-plus athleticism makes him an interesting upside play. He's an impact defender and baserunner, which should carry him to the big leagues. Brewer has some bat speed and a chance to hit for some power, but that requires a successful alteration to his currently-level bat path. The cancellation of the 2020 minor-league season really hurts players like this. A former JUCO star, Brewer only had one season facing decent competition at the University of Michigan. He'll be 24 years old in August. It'll be an uphill battle for him to get the repetitions he needs as a hitter if he's to become an everyday player before the athleticism carrying the whole profile starts to wane.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench / Platoon
Risk: High

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Peter Solomon - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	RHP	21	40

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CT	CB	SL	CH	Cont/Cmd
40	40	50	45	55	45	40	45/45

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Rhys White

Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 201 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 Draft, Round 4
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Tall, long limbed, wiry strength. Ideal starter frame that is well-filled out. No projection left because he is at physical peak. Likely to maintain conditioning long term due to high fitness level.

Delivery & Mechanics: Simple set-up with no wasted movement. He drops his shoulders, and releases his pitches from a three-quarters armslot. Because he has no wasted movement he pitches the same way with or without runners on base.

Fastball: Solomon has two variations of the fastball, a fastball is best spotted up in the zone with arm-side movement and a fastball best spotted low in the zone with some sink. The fastball tops out at 95 and sits 92-94. He is very aggressive early in counts with the fastball, looking to use it to get ahead of opposing batters. He generates average swings and misses with the fastball. Grade: 50

Cutter: Solomon likes to mix his low 90's cutter in with the fastball early in counts. Not a pitch he uses to generate whiffs, he has it play off the fastball and is trying to induce weak contact from opposing batters. He uses it sparingly to left-handed batters but sprinkles it in more frequently against right-handed batters where the cut away from them plays up. Grade: 45

Curveball: The former Notre Dame pitcher uses his curveball as a putaway pitch. It has traditional 12-6 shape and is a low 80's offering with above average vertical movement. He loves to use it late in counts after establishing the fastball to generate whiffs. It best plays when spotted low and away to both handedness of batters where it starts in the zone and falls away. Grade: 55

Slider: Peter Solomon's slider gets 1-7 movement and is more slurvy as opposed to a hard sweeping horizontal slider. The slider is a mid 80's offering with below average horizontal movement and above average vertical movement. He uses it after setting up the curve and will exclusively use it late in counts in my looks. Batters at the High A level were given fits by his slider, however it was a brief look and I don't envision him being able to dominate upper level hitters with the slider Grade: 45

Changeup: Solomon rarely uses his changeup in my looks, but the few I saw he lacked a consistent feel of the changeup. It consistently has below average tumble and fade and when you pair that with the lack of feel you can see why it is rarely used. I saw a good changeup thrown with the same arm-speed as the fastball and had average tumble out of the zone which was encouraging, but that is rare. Grade: 40

Control and Command: The former Notre Dame pitcher does an average job of throwing strikes, the problem comes in he lacks command of his offerings. He won't walk a lot of guys but at times when he pitches he struggles to put his pitches in spots where he can optimize each pitch. Control: 45 | Command: 45

Overall: He currently is a starter in the Astros organization but I feel his most likely role is in the bullpen because of his lack of command where he can use all five of his pitches. As a five pitch reliever he has what it takes to succeed in the current three batter minimum. The fastball and curveball are his bread and butter and if he can effectively mix in the cutter and slider and sparingly the changeup he has enough pitches to get through an inning. He is a recent TJ survivor so there is a hope that the velocity takes a tick forward and the other stuff could possibly take a tick forward but that has yet to be seen in games so that's just hopeful thinking on my part.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Low Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate

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Grae Kessinger - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	2B	20	40

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
40	40	55	45	50	55	50

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Rhys White

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft, Round 2
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Tally and wiry with room to fill out especially in the upper-body. Built like a wide-receiver.

Hit: Kessinger stands tall with a slight bend at the knee, having a small stride towards the mound and is looking to spray the ball to all fields especially in the gaps. He has a quick bat through the zone, and has a linear bat-path that is geared towards spraying line-drives all over the field. He shows a good understanding of the strike-zone and has above average pitch-recognition which allows him to draw his fair share of walks. Grade: 55

Power: Kessinger has above average bat-speed and has average strength, but his bat-path puts a limit on the power ceiling as things are currently constructed. He has average raw power in batting practice but in games that power plays down. Grade: 45

Field: Kessinger is a versatile defender, where he can be an average to above-average defender at all spots in the infield. He is equally good at going to his left and to his right to go get ground balls, he can throw from a few different platforms, which is what you are looking for in a shortstop prospect. When he plays third or second he is an above average defender, because of the less defensive responsibilities he has, and he has the arm for both positions. As a shortstop I noticed that he likes to play deep in the hole in an attempt to give him the most possible time to make a decision on the ball. Grade: 50

Arm: Kessinger has an above average arm, he is accurate with his throws and he is able to throw off different platforms and with different arm angles. Grade: 55

Run: Kessinger is a solid athlete, who pairs average foot-speed with good jumps and above average instincts. He pairs all that and uses it on the base-paths to be an asset as a base-runner and a base-stealer. Grade: 50

Overall: Kessinger has all the tools to be a low-end regular or a high-end utility player thanks to his versatility as a defender and his ability to make consistent contact. He is able to play anywhere in the infield, and could probably handle a corner outfield spot if needed. If he can unlock some more power there is a chance he the overall profile takes a step forward.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench / Utility
Risk: Moderate

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Taylor Jones - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	1B/3B/OF	19	40

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
40	40	45	55	40	60	30

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Pullman

Age: 27 yr
Height: 6-7
Weight: 230 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 Draft, Round 19
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: He has a rare build for the baseball field. Standing 6-foot-7 with a high waist and a strong lower half highlighted by thick thighs. His upper body is fairly lean, without noticeable definition in his arms and room to add bulk in his torso. He possesses the frame of Aaron Judge without the supreme strength.

Hit: It's a fairly unorthodox pre-pitch setup -- he coils his shoulders, with his right arm tucked slightly behind his back, potentially as a mechanism for staying closed. He starts with his bat nearly parallel to the ground, and his bat path follows a similarly-flat trajectory. He's gone through a pretty drastic swing change as a pro, originally starting with his bat nearly vertical and a much steeper bat path. The new swing portends itself to more line drives, while potentially limiting the ability to tap into his raw power as frequently. Based on the performance, this tradeoff has been welcomed. His strikeout rates have been nearly unchanged, remaining at approximately league-average (impressive given his long levers), but his quality of contact has improved if we use BABIP as a proxy (especially considering the context of improved defense in the upper minors). Two of his three best stints as a pro have come in the upper levels, showing a positive trajectory for his hit tool in particular. He has a fairly patient approach as well, drawing walks at an above-average clip despite working with a much larger strike zone than the average hitter. Grade: 45

Power: As previously mentioned, he can pass for Aaron Judge if you're watching him from the outfield bleachers. He does not appear to possess the same prolific power Judge does, however. His 2020 MLB cup of coffee was not nearly enough of a sample to get a true look at his power, however in his 14 batted ball events, Jones posted a max exit velocity of 105.8 and an average of 91.9. These numbers lend some credence to his above-average, but not eye-popping, average flyball distances over his last two minor league campaigns. Jones will hit some home runs, but he has not given us reason to believe his mammoth frame will result in gaudy power numbers. Grade: 55

Field: He spent time at four positions in 2019, with the bulk coming at first base. The Astros experimented with him at third base as well, and Jones responded with just one error across 122 innings. It's unlikely he can handle the hot corner full-time at the highest level, but the added versatility should lend itself to more opportunities to establish his role on the big league roster. He also played 30 games in the outfield, where his below-average range limits his value. He's a first baseman, but he isn't just a first baseman. Grade: 40

Arm: Originally a two-way player at Gonzaga, he threw nearly 90 innings across his freshman and sophomore seasons. While the results were mixed, it's safe to say he has plus arm strength and an idea of where it's going. His arm won't be the limiting factor when his eventual defensive home is decided, allowing him to play third base or a corner outfield spot if his remaining defensive skills are up to par. Grade: 60

Run: His brief cup of coffee allowed us to see some objective data regarding his skillset. His sprint speed came in at 29th percentile across MLB last year, and at 27 years old, it's unlikely he will see much of an improvement in this area. Grade: 30

Overall: He will have to hit in order to carve out a big league role. He provides little to no value on the basepaths and, despite the ability to play four positions in some capacity, his defensive value is limited as well. There's a chance his bat is good enough to be an everyday first baseman, but without another gear of development, it seems unlikely as he enters his age-27 season. His most likely role is a bench-bat first baseman who can handle the other three corners in a reserve role.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench / Utility
Risk: Moderate

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Chas McCormick - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	OF	18	40

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
40	40	40	50	50	50	55

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Anthony Franco

Age: 26 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 208 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/L
Acquired: 2017 Draft, Round 21
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Listed at 6'0, 208. Relatively high waist. Thick lower half; strong thighs. Narrow shoulders without overt physicality in upper half. Maxed out physically but fairly strong already.

Hit: Closed, upright stance. Toe tap as fairly quiet timing mechanism, but actual swing is high-effort. Leans deep into back leg, naturally lowering his hands before he brings them forward; leads to extreme uphill bat path. Swings hard and has above-average bat speed but below-average bat control. Stands well off the plate and has a pull-oriented approach; doesn't cover outer half well. Patient approach; draws walks but has notable areas within the strike zone where he can be attacked by MLB pitching. Grade: 40

Power: Above-average raw power to pull side. Has an uphill, pull-oriented bat path that should enable him to get to power in games on pitches on the inner half. Pretty obviously shaped by modern hitting coaching (swing mechanics look similar to a lot of Dodgers' player dev success stories, particularly Chris Taylor). Approach isn't conducive to driving pitches on the other half with authority, but he could run into 15-20 homers a year with everyday reps. Grade: 50

Field: Has played mostly corner outfield in the minors. Average athlete best suited for a corner at the big league level. Grade: 50

Arm: Average arm strength; functional at all three outfield positions but most natural fit in left. Grade: 50

Run: Slightly above-average runner. Doesn't steal many bases but covers a fair amount of ground underway. Grade: 50

Overall: McCormick's a scouting and player development success story. A former 21st-round pick, he had a breakout 2019 season in the high minors and earned a 40-man roster spot with Houston last year. He has some mechanical similarities (namely the steep uphill, pull-oriented swing path) with other late-blooming breakout hitters. McCormick doesn't cover the outer half of the plate, which MLB pitchers could be equipped to exploit. But he's a near-term big leaguer with pull power, patience and some speed. I think he's at least right-handed platoon bat with a non-zero chance of hitting for enough power to be a regular.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Platoon
Risk: Moderate

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Tyler Brown - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	RHP	17	40

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Cont/Cmd
40	40	55	50	45	40	50/45

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Geoff Pontes

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 242 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2020 Draft, Round 3
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Bigger body, with a broad shouldered frame. Built like a lumberjack with strength and size throughout. Inning eater body and strong physical presence on the mound.

Delivery & Mechanics: Classic overhand break motion. Starts with rocker step to moderate leg lift with acute drop and drive, strong leg block, finishing balanced over his frontside. Brown does a good job of incorporating his lower half into his mechanics, generating plenty of torque. Higher release, near over the top arm action.

Fastball: Above average pitch with average velocity around 93 mph, sitting 92-94 mph, bumping 95 mph. Keep in mind this was from the pen. So it's reasonable to expect his velocity to tick down a hair as a starter. Above average vertical break generating a >18 inch induced vertical break on average. This allows his fastball to play in the upper quadrants, especially gloveside where he has a history of generating chases. Grade: 55

Curveball: Brown's go to secondary weapon, a hard breaking curveball with slurvy break in the 79-83 mph band. Can throw it a little harder at times and will touch 84-85 mph. Shows good feel for the pitch and was an effective out pitch closing in college. Average to possibly above average curveball. Grade: 50

Slider: Tighter version of curveball with less two plane break. Will bleed into curveball a little when it's not thrown at it's best velocity. At its best the slider sits 84-86 mph with the ability to play to the edges against either handedness. Unfortunately shape is inconsistent and lags behind curveball. Slider development should be a point of emphasis for Brown in pro-ball. Grade: 45

Changeup: Below average offering at the moment only used four times in the truncated 2020 season. Does snap off a few with above average run and horizontal break. Could be another area of potential improvement for Brown as the Astros player development gets their hands on him. For now a below average pitch that shows average in flashes. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Above average strike thrower throughout his amateur career. Shows feel for all four quadrants with his fastball and the ability to land all of his pitches for strikes. Lacks consistent feel for his slider and changeup that hurt his overall grade. There's also a question of how his strike throwing will translate over multiple innings. Control: 50 | Command: 45

Overall: Closer for the Vanderbilt team that won the 2019 National Championship. The Astros will transition Brown to the rotation in 2021. In typical Astros fashion they'll likely do it by easing him into starts with 3-4 inning piggybacked outings with another starter. With the Astros prototypical four pitch mix and strike out stuff, Brown looks poised to join the group of elite hybrid arms the Houston system has begun to churn out in droves over the recent years. A fringe backend profile with upside for more.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Long Reliever
Risk: Moderate

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Brett Conine - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	RHP	16	40

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Cont/Cmd
40	40	40	40	55	50	60/55

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Geoff Pontes

Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 227 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft, Round 11
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Tall, broad shouldered and strong with good strength throughout his frame. Strong lower half with room to add projection with continued training focus.

Delivery & Mechanics: Pitches exclusively from the stretch, hand set by waist, quick leg lift that closes off front side as he extends his leg before drive, low three quarters arm action. Fluid repeatable motion but one that doesn't do a good job of tapping into his lower half, particularly his glutes for velocity.

Fastball: Below average offering, with sub-optimal velocity at an average of 88-90 mph. Locates well to both sides of the place as well as north to south. Efficient backspin and deceptive low release allow it to play elevated at 90-91 mph but that's unlikely to play at the major league level. Minimal armside run, lacks late life and action despite efficient spin axis. Grade: 40

Curveball: Loopy slow offering in the 73-76 mph band. More vertical version of his slider and a fourth pitch he'll show versus lefties and righties. Gets swings and misses but some of that may be due to clever sequencing. Grade: 40

Slider: Best pitch in arsenal, sitting 80-84 mph with tight gyro spin. He throws it a lot like his fastball and it tunnels due to his lower slot and release point. Will throw the pitch early and often all over the zone. Shows the ability to manipulate it for more slurvy break, similar shape to a harder version of his curveball. It's an above average offering and the focal point of his sequencing. Grade: 55

Changeup: Consistent feel for the off-speed pitch with big tumble and fade armside. Goes right after left handed batters with it. Consistently lands the pitch for strikes, and generates swings and misses as well as weak groundball contact. Will mix in right on right but a majority of his usage is against lefties. One major negative is the lack of velocity between his fastball and changeup. Grade: 50

Control and Command: Above average command profile, as his strike throwing, feel for his secondaries and ability to hit his spots is impressive. One of the better control arms we've scouted this off-season. Shows the ability to move all of his pitches around the zone and consistently nail his intended spots. Control: 60 | Command: 55

Overall: Unconventional is the best way to describe Conine. He pitches backwards almost exclusively and the first two pitches of any at bat are a guessing game between any of his four offerings. Added velocity is needed for him to play as a starter long term. That said, his efficient strike throwing, advanced sequencing and good secondary stuff plays in the rotation. Conine's control and command is so advanced we're more the comfortable projecting him as a 45 OFP with a backend starters ceiling. With the strategic usage of bullpens in the modern game Conine could fit as somewhat of a bulk starter a la Ryan Yarbrough.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Long Reliever
Risk: Moderate

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Nivaldo Rodriguez - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	RHP	15	40

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Cont/Cmd
40	40	40	55	50	40	60/55

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 214 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Short stature with solidly built lower half. Doesn't stand out physically but has an athletic build that allows him to repeat his delivery. Gets the most from his body.

Delivery & Mechanics: Works first base side of the rubber. Midsection leg kick. Stays stacked in move towards the plate. Gets good push from drive leg. Average extension with strike foot. Uses spinal tilt to create a high 3/4 arm slot, transferring power up his body effectively. Repeatable, simple delivery.

Fastball: 91-94. Gets decent plane on the pitch due to arm slot despite size. Good armside run. Below average spin. Average command with the offering overall. Has to locate it to be effective due to velo and low spin. Will get him hit hard if he leaves it over the plate. Grade: 40

Curveball: 81-84. Power type curve. Has good over the top shape with a power break. Above average spin that Houston typically covets and does well with. Mostly consistent shape. Will occasionally get outside of the pitch and it will spin from 11-5 shape. Has a tendency to leave the pitch up in the zone at times, but an effective pitch down and above average command of it overall. Grade: 55

Slider: 88-89. More vertical drop that horizontal sweep. Sometimes has cutter like movement. Throws it hard and tunnels well with fastball. Effective low in the zone, down and in to left handers and away to right handers. Fringe-average command with the pitch. Below average spin. Grade: 50

Changeup: 80-82. Average vertical break, but not significant fade. Minimal horizontal movement. Has arm speed to sell the pitch. Movement profile makes it a show me pitch to lefties that will be a below average fourth offering. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Throws strikes with all four pitches. Lives in the zone a little too much. Above average command. Has a repeatable, low effort delivery that suggests he'll avoid issues with free passes. Needs above average command of the fastball to make it playable but controls his two breaking balls well enough to not have a fastball-heavy arsenal. Control: 60 | Command: 55

Overall: Below average fastball and changeup put his ceiling as a starter in question. Curveball is a swing and miss weapon and slider is an average offering. Throws everything for strikes and repeats his delivery enough to profile as a starter but needs exceptional command of fastball for it to play. If he utilizes curveball and slider effectively, limiting his fastball usage, he can provide some back end starter value. Could get a mile an hour or two bump as a reliever with the fastball and utilize his curveball as an out pitch in that role. Could profile best as a multi inning reliever.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Long Reliever
Risk: Moderate

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Fredius Nova - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	SS	14	40

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
40	40	40	45	40	70	50

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Thompson

Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Nova originally was supposed to sign with the Marlins for $2.5 million but they backed out after a failed PED test. He then agreed to a deal with Houston for $1.5 million, that was later reduced to $1.2 million after an issue with the physical. It's an extremely projectable frame and he hasn't grown into it yet. Pretty ordinary build now, but will eventually add 20-30 pounds to his frame.

Hit: Starts slightly open and sits on back leg, back knee is flexed a bit as he puts all of his weight behind the swing. Holds his hands away from body and low at the letters. Swaying them back and forth, staying loose. His hands are still positioned in the middle of his body as he starts his swing. Big, waist high leg kick but the hands are moving back and still loading as his front foot comes back down. He then brings hands back and his hips are already opening up before the hands are firing towards the baseball. Overall average or so bat speed but plays down due to the hitch in his swing. Will struggle with velocity unless he makes a change. Very aggressive hitter that has had success despite being young for the level. Needs to get a better feel for the strike zone and learn to hit his pitch. Allergic to taking walks. Grade: 40

Power: Nova is a strong kid but his power plays down in games. Only hit three homers during his stint in the Midwest League, but did record 20 doubles. He's too aggressive in the box and if he falls behind the count he will expand and get himself out. Has plus raw power but won't fully tap into it with current issues. Grade: 45

Field: Split time between shortstop, second and third base in 2019. Future body projection makes it likely he's a future third baseman. He's a better fit at the hot corner as he lacks the quick twitch athleticism to play short. Showed some poor footwork at third base in my looks and just seemed disinterested on the defensive side. Grade: 40

Arm: He has a big arm and he knows it. I think he leans on it too much defensively, and can lose focus because he knows the arm can bail him out of situations. His infield warm up tosses are seeds. Fun to watch his throws. Grade: 70

Run: Not a quick twitch guy, lacks the quick first step but moves well when he's got his momentum behind him. Will slow down as he fills out. Can swipe a bag now, but poor stolen base percentages and future frame will limit the steals. Grade: 50

Overall: Nova is a power over hit infielder with potential 30+ homer upside, but serious approach issues make it unlikely that he maxes out. He's already on the 40-man roster but hasn't touched Double-A yet so we need to see some improvements soon. He's still just 21 years old, but he's a few years away despite his 40-man status.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench / Platoon
Risk: Moderate

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Tyler Ivey - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	RHP	13	40

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Cont/Cmd
40	40	50	60	45	45	45/40

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Joe Drake

Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 195 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 Draft, Round 3
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Big, athletic frame that matches the listed 6'4, 195. Broad shoulders, thin waist, long limbs. Muscle in the legs and butt, but there's some room for additional weight. Suspended for foreign substance on glove. Missed time with "elbow issues" in 2019.

Delivery & Mechanics: Aggressive, animated, high-effort delivery. Movements are pronounced and abrupt. Uses an exaggerated rock step that moves into a big, pointed leg kick to the letters. Hands come set above the letters. Arm action drops down behind his body and comes around in a high 3/4s slot. Hard head-whack on the follow through. Good separation; arm is on time. Very similar from the stretch minus the rock step. Works very quickly and with an impatient intensity. Looks uncomfortable when things aren't going his way, slows his pace.

Fastball: 88-93; Solid ride, gets whiffs at the top of the zone, but runs into hard contact at the bottom. Consistently runs it by guys when it's up. Needs to spot it well to succeed, hammered when it's left over the heart. Works the edges on both sides of the plate. Uses it to set up the curveball for strikeouts, but can finish at-bats with it. Plays up due to the vertical movement. At 24 with a mostly filled out frame, there's little projection left for additional velo. Grade: 50

Curveball: 70-76; 12-6 shape. Best ones flash double-plus, excellent depth and bite; hitters are left baffled or look silly swinging through it. Can start it at the letters and still bury it, big break. Likes to try and drop it into the zone for called strikes as much as he buries it for chases. Will throw it in any count. Gets loopy and gives up loud contact when it's not tight; loses the release at times, but it's infrequent. Grade: 60

Slider: 87-89; Tight bite with a little sweep and a little depth. Used predominantly against righties, occasionally tries to back foot it to lefties. Works it glove-side almost exclusively, but leaves it over the heart at times. Plays well off his fastball and isn't squared up too often Grade: 45

Changeup: Good armspeed, solid fade and sells well. Solid separation from fastball. Used as 3rd offering to lefties. Doesn't always locate well and will leave it up. Doesn't quite have feel for it. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Nearly always around the zone and often ahead in counts. Throws fastball and curveball for strikes consistently and typically spots them well. Doesn't command slider and change quite as well. Able to dot corners for called strikes, but has stretches where he loses the release on everything. Things go poorly when he's not spotting up; doesn't have the pure stuff to let everything fly down the middle. Much less efficient on days he doesn't have his best command. Not as precise from the stretch. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: Ivey is a 4-pitch righty with a banger of a curveball. While the fastball velo is less appetizing sitting 90-91, it plays up due to a good movement profile. The slider and changeup give him decent offerings to attack hitters from both sides of the plate with a different look later in outings. Combined with fringy control, the deep arsenal gives him a chance to stick at the back of the rotation, but there will be very little room for error with his underwhelming fastball. More likely a bulk reliever, but almost certainly a major league arm who will stick.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Long Reliever
Risk: Moderate

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Korey Lee - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	C	12	45

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
45	40	45	55	40	60	40

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Rhys White

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft, Round 1
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Well filled out, ideal catchers body. Thick forearms with a thick lower half. Lacks projection on the frame but that's because he's a ready made product. He is country strong.

Hit: Pre pitch he stands tall and has some bat wag. He then drops the shoulders, bringing the bat around and has a quick bat through the zone. Lee tends to have an upper-cut bath path and he's trying to lift the ball in the air especially to the pull-side. He has above average bat-speed and shows an average feel for the strike-zone. He goes up to the plate and looks to take aggressive hacks. Pitchers have also keyed in on his pull-heavy approach and have attacked him with fastballs and breaking pitches(especially sliders) on the outer half of the zone. There is some swing and miss to his game, especially against breaking balls located on the outer-half of the strike-zone. Grade: 45

Power: Lee has the strength, above-average bat-speed, and loft in his swing to grade out with plus power especially to his pull-side. The problem is he struggles to translate that plus power to batted balls to the opposite field, and it plays closer to above average. Grade: 55

Field: Lee is well-built for a catcher but he struggles back there. His receiving skills are around average but he struggles with blocking balls in the dirt. Curveballs and changeups that are thrown low especially give him trouble and have led to passed balls. His arm while strong has led to errors and runners have shown they can run on him with relative ease because he struggles in his transfer causing his throws to be inaccurate or late. There are few places he goes if he can not refine some things as a catcher because of his lack of athleticism, he could move to first-base and has even spent some time in left-field as a professional, where he projects out as a below average defender at both spots. Grade: 40

Arm: Lee has a plus arm on pure arm-strength, but it doesn't play that way because of the inaccuracy of it when he has to pop up and throw when he is a catcher. If he has to move, especially if he is transitioned to left-field his arm will be more than accurate to profile there. Grade: 60

Run: Lee is a below-average runner underway. He isn't going to be a base-running threat as he makes his way up through the minors. He has a short and choppy stride and below-average foot-speed. Grade: 40

Overall: Lee has what it takes to be an offensive-catcher especially if the automated strike-zone comes sooner than expected. He more than likely has to move off catcher though where his bat will profile at first, or left-field. If he can work on his transfer as a catcher there is some hope he could remain behind the plate, and if he can even be an average blocker that would significantly boost his chances of staying back there. He has the pull-side power to be useful in some capacity, as a platoon bat against lefties.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench / Platoon
Risk: Moderate

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Dauri Lorenzo - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	SS	11	45

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
45	40	45	40	50	45	50

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Eddy Almaguer

Age: 18 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 160 lbs
Hits/Throws: S/R
Acquired: 2019 IFA
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: High-waisted, sinewy build with long legs. Clear present room for added mass and muscle. Square shoulders. Ideal frame ratio with strong legs, tapered chest to the waist.

Hit: Switch hitter. Very similar hitting mechanics on both sides of the plate. Open stance, slight bend at the knees, hands out in front at neck level. Begins movement with an inward leg lift that has knee pointed at catcher, rocks himself back and then uncorks. Efficient trigger, minimal hand movement, linear hand path to the ball. It's an aesthetically pleasing swing, compact and easily repeatable no matter what parts of the zone the ball crosses. Limited in-game video shows him sometimes turning to a level swing when he's caught off guard but routinely shows an uppercut swing in BP. Hands can stay back and adjust on the fly. It's an advanced swing for his age. Grade: 45

Power: Present doubles power, only exhibits power to his pull side from either LHB/RHB. He's flashed the extension for home runs, even if they aren't currently leaving the yard. Fringe average raw in BP. Added strength that will come with age and proper conditioning could unlock average power in due time as he has the swing for it. Grade: 40

Field: Hands are quick, especially with the transfers. Able to read bad hops and adjust. Throws from low 3/4 slot, relies heavily on upper body to produce strength behind throws. Grade: 50

Arm: Fringe average, doesn't get a lot behind his throws even when he sets up for it. Arm can play at short but better suited for second base. Grade: 45

Run: Good jumps out of the box especially when hitting lefty. Average acceleration. Won't be a base clogger. Grade: 50

Overall: One of the biggest J2 bonuses in 2019, Lorenzo has the foundation for an exciting profile once he physically matures. His swing is smooth with little effort yet he connects with authority. There's risk of shifting to second base down the line but he should be given a chance to develop further at shortstop in the meantime.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Utility
Risk: High

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Colin Barber - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	OF	10	45

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	Hit	Power	Field	Arm	Run
45	40	50	50	55	55	60

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Ian Smith

Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2019 Draft, Round 4
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: High waisted. Muscular, athletic frame. Large forearms and quads. Plenty of room remaining to add muscle in his upper half. High-end athleticism will likely hold up as he matures.

Hit: Barber gives you so much to like at the plate. Hands settle in at his ear with his elbow high to the backstop. Feet are slightly open and a hair narrow. Short, quick leg trigger that simultaneously brings his hands back creating good barrel lag through the zone. Takes a short bat path to the ball creating a hard line drive approach to all fields with limited wasted effort. Lightning quick hands. Swings through the ball, and gets a long finish. Bat speed is easy, and will impact the ball consistently. Shows an advanced eye for spin and will sit on his pitch. Can be overly patient on occasion, and get behind in counts but not something to be overly concerned about. Grade: 50

Power: Present strength and slight change in bat path has led to an uptick in power from Barber. Was clocking some 100+ exit velos at Astros instructs, after a previous high was reported in the low 90s. Bat speed and barrel acceleration combined with a simple left handed swing give him the tools to show plus pull side power, but will get under the ball at times. All fields approach and Plus speed will help his overall power profile by padding his extra base hit totals. Grade: 50

Field: Takes an aggressive approach to the ball. Will commit early and attack moving in all directions. Plus foot speed and instincts allow to be in good positions to field consistently. Shows the range and athleticism to stick in CF long term, but arm strength would allow him to slide to RF if need be. Grade: 55

Arm: Easy throwing action. Gets his weight behind the ball and really opens up his hips to get good carry. Was clocked at 89 MPH at PG National in 2019. Grade: 55

Run: 6.51 runner in the 60. Gets an explosive first step and will reach top speed quickly. Long legs and athleticism will likely give him the ability to keep his foot speed long term. Grade: 60

Overall: Barber gives you an extremely interesting set of tools. Nothing he does on the diamond is going to hurt your ball club, but he doesn't give you that star potential projection. He's a Top of the order type of bat who's going to go all out for every fly ball. A glue guy if I may, but a glue guy who shows the makings of an everyday centerfielder in just a few years.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench or Platoon
Risk: High

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Jojanse Torres - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	RHP	9	45

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	FB	SL	CH	Cont/Cmd
45	40	50	55	40	45/40

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Geoff Pontes

Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 188 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 IFA, MIL
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Tall, lean, with long levers, and a high waist. Muscular quads and glutes but not bulky, wiry strength and athletic pitcher's build. Similar frame to Luis Castillo.

Delivery & Mechanics: Throws exclusively from stretch, quick load up with a high leg lift that heavily closes off his frontside before drive. It's almost an old school looking operation as he gets deep tilt over his back hip as he twists and coils before drive exploding to the plate. He gets deep into his glutes allowing for him to carry 95+ mph velocity across multiple innings.

Fastball: Easy plus velocity sitting 94-97 mph consistently on the gun. For all that it has in the way of velocity, it lacks movement. Arrow straight and hitters are more easily on it at 95-97 than they should be. In Torres' favor he commands it well east to west dotting called third strikes in bunches. Works well elevated but he tends to cut it at bitin the upper quadrants. What should be an above average offering Torres' fastball isn't as overpowering as it always should be. The pitch plays down a grade and ultimately is closer to average than not. Grade: 50

Slider: Above average pitch he shows innate feel for. Torres will show two distinctly different versions of the slider, a slower more vertical slurve at 78-80 and a harder slider with more cut and less two plane break at 81-84 mph. He'll show each shape within an at bat almost cutting his slider on the harder version. Not afraid to pitch backwards doubling up on the pitch early in counts to work away with his fastball. Grade: 55

Changeup: Below average changeup that looks more like a straight two-seam fastball at 87-89 mph. Lacks any run or tumble, but he sequences it well off his fastball-slider combination. Not exclusively used to left handed hitters more a changeup of pace pitch. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Below average command profile despite his ability to manipulate his breaking ball. Will lose the strike zone for stretches and walk batters. Will start to nibble too much with his fastball or at times overthrow it. There's some potential he can turn a corner and get his strike throwing to average but it's a rather tough hill to climb due to his mechanics. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: Another Houston hybrid arm with high octane stuff. Torres much like Luis Garcia, Cristian Javier and Framber Valdez can fill a variety of roles with an intriguing one-two punch in his fastball+slider combination. Has the ability to induce swinging strikes or weak contact, but his strike throwing hinders his potential as a starter. Throwing exclusively from the stretch Torres' operation plays up deception; as he hides the ball well, it conversely impacts his ability to consistently follow through and land on his intended target. Will likely struggle in a starting role, but could impact the have as a hybrid-reliever capable of going one to three innings at a time.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Long Reliever or Low Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate

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Jairo Solis - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	RHP	8	45

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CT	CB	CH	Cont/Cmd
45	40	55	45	50	45	45/40

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Geoff Pontes

Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 160 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Much larger than his listed 160 lbs, likely closer to 190-200 now. Missed all of 2019 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Strong frame, tall but broad with present strength in his shoulders and lower half. Since we've last seen Solis he's added some "man muscle".

Delivery & Mechanics: Prior to undergoing TJS, Solis setup on the first base side of the rubber, starting his operation from a side step to an elevated leg lift. Ample bend in his back leg at drive, hides ball well behind back hip, strong scap load, into high three quarters arm action with moderate trunk and shoulder tilt at release. One issue with his pre-TJS mechanics is his below average leg block that hinders his stability. He's fairly upright and his leg will buckle as he gets over his frontside more than you like. One element to keep in mind is this was all pre-surgery and he's added significant strength since that time. Fast arm with efficient mechanics that produce good velocity results.

Fastball: Recent reports from instructs saw his velocity down slightly from his pre-surgery self, sitting 91-93 mph touching 95 mph once during the fall. Not altogether shocking for a player with understandable rust after being on the shelf for two years. At his peak pre-TJS, Solis sat 92-95 mph, with a 2018 fastball average of 93.7 MPH. It wasn't empty velocity either, Solis' fastball is an efficient four-seamer with an average of >18 inches of induced vertical break. Meaning his fastball plays well in the upper quadrants and has a better chance of missing bats. Still mastering his command of the pitch, but it by and large showed well versus significantly older competition in 2017 and 2018. Grade: 55

Cutter: True cutter at an average velocity of 87-89 mph, with classic cutter movement. Solis shows the ability to land the pitch for strikes, using it as a change of pace in a velocity band between his fastball and curveball, and a true third pitch to work in on righties hands with. Developing pitch pre-surgery, with strong characteristics. Grade: 45

Curveball: Below average curveball with some depth but overall average movement. Pitch sits 77-80 mph, and it plays up due to his elite feel. Only average drop, with a 2018 IVB of -10. His higher slot allows the pitch to play off of his high efficiency fastball, creating a north to south plan of attack. Solis, converted to a curveball from a slider between 2017 and 2018 and showed advanced feel for a pitch so new to his arsenal. Plenty of publications have slapped above average or better grades on the pitch, but we'll need to see more before grading it anything more than average. Grade: 50

Changeup: Does a strong job killing lift, but limited run, relatively straight movement. Shows feel for the pitch and the ability to land it for strikes. Mimics fastball release, sells the pitch with arm speed. Grade: 45

Control and Command: It's hard to discount Solis' pre-surgery control and command based on his 2018 walk rate. While Solis did have strike throwing issues, it was simply bouts of wildness from a teenage arm against far more experienced hitters. Solis rarely misses badly, but he has a tendency to nibble a bit much. It's fringe-average control with room for improvement, as Solis has shown advanced feel at times for an (at the time) teenager. Curveball feel is above average but he will lose command at times, missing the bottom of the strike zone. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: The last time we saw Solis he was an 18 year old in full season ball, on average 3.5 years the junior of his competition. His impressive display in 50 innings with Quad-City produced a 3.55 ERA, 9.1 K/9, allowing just one home run over 13 appearances. Solis should be a full go in 2021, over 30+ months removed surgery, and improved physical shape, he has the look of a potential breakout in the season ahead. Excellent stuff, a starter's body, and a history of strong feel for his arsenal give hope that Solis could push his OFP to 50 sometime in the next seven months, as his backend rotation upside is very real.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Low Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate

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Shawn Dubin - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	RHP	7	45

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Cont/Cmd
45	40	55	45	55	40	50/45

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Geoff Pontes

Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 154 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft, Round 13
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Long lanky build makes him look taller than his listed 6-1. Long levers and loose wiry frame. Some room to add more strength but it's fairly unlikely he adds more than 5-10 pounds. Similar build to former Cleveland and Philadelphia lefty Cliff Lee.

Delivery & Mechanics: Starts operation from a slight side step on the first base side of the rubber. High leg lift mechanism closes off front side, drives from deep bend in back leg, getting over front side at an upright position, with moderate bend in this leg block. Higher three quarters release that gets fairly vertical. Repeatable motion with minimal violence at the point of delivery.

Fastball: Sits 93-96 mph across multiple innings with run and the ability to play to both sides of the plate. Will elevate with two strikes as a put away pitch. Controls the fastball well to his armside but lacks command to the his glove side particularly when trying to locate in the lower quadrants. Good swing and miss pitch and difficult to barrel. Grade: 55

Curveball: Hard 12-6 curveball in the 80s, more vertical action than slider, used mostly off the plate to lefties. Shows promise as a bat misser due to velocity and distinctly different movement from his slider. Grade: 45

Slider: Hard slider, with heavy drop, will manipulate it and tighten spin. Two plane movement, will show more sweep on his tighter spins. Good velocity in the mid-80s, swing and miss pitch, and a deadly one-two punch with his fastball. Grade: 55

Changeup: Below average pitch, with inconsistent movement. Will show some tumble and fade when he turns it over but not a consistent pronator. Can land for strikes when needed. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Dubin's smooth operation and repeatable arm stroke lend itself to average strike throwing. A rare ability for a pitcher that misses as many bats as Dubin does. He will lose it out of the blue for a few batters, and has a tendency to nibble a little too much and run up his pitch count. It's squarely average control with fringe-average command. Control: 50 | Command: 45

Overall: Another hybrid arm in the Astros system that could fit into a variety of roles with a four pitch mix led by a one-two punch that generates swings and misses at a high rate. Dubin likely best fits as a high leverage bullpen arm with the ability to go multiple innings. There's still hope he can stick as a starter but it's a less efficient starter profile, likely leading to lots of 4-5 innings efforts. Which, might be enough in today's game.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Long Reliever
Risk: Moderate

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Alex Santos - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	RHP	6	50

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Cont/Cmd
50	50	55	60	45	45	55/50

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Ian Smith

Age: 19 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 185 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2020 Draft, Round 2
RuleV: 2024

Physical Description: Lanky, projectable frame with tons of room for growth. High waist with long arms. Has added muscle in his lower half since being drafted. Plenty of room to add good weight going forward as well.

Delivery & Mechanics: Santos makes it look extremely easy on the mound. Works primarily out of the stretch on the first base side of the rubber. Arm slot sits in a high three quarters. Shows present plus arm speed with a strong lead leg block. Will have complete control of his frame throughout his delivery with very little added effort. Will really sink into the back leg and explode through finish. Uses his long levers to his advantage getting above average extension with a low release point.

Fastball: Santos has worked hard to improve an already quality pitch this offseason. Sitting 92-94 at draft day, Santos has recently touched 97 in a bullpen with velo trending up. Spin efficiency is consistently over 90% with very high spin rates north of 2600 RPMs. Gets impressive arm side run and rarely goes over the middle of the plate. Movement profile stands out with an average induced vertical break of 16" in recent pens with plus horizontal movement. His frame and delivery also make the pitch appear to have more life creating uncomfortable At-Bats consistently. Santos will command his fastball as well as any pitch in his arsenal, and has the confidence to match. Grade: 55

Curveball: 77-80; with more velocity to come potentially. High spin rates. Creates an insane amount of depth out of a very tight 11/5 shape. Will rarely start the pitch above the hands while getting hard, late break that disappears at the bottom of the zone. Creates an optimal release point, and tunnels extremely well off of the fastball. Command and confidence to throw in any count. Will creates a ton of lost swings, and made a lot of great hitters look foolish at the prep level. It's an easy to see plus pitch. Grade: 60

Slider: 81-85. Third pitch in Santos advanced arsenal. Has begun to make big improvements with this pitch over the last 6 months. Gets big sweeping movement, with a late break that is devastating to RHH. Command isn't on the same level as the FB/CB but will throw this pitch in two strike counts often for the swing and miss. Grade: 45

Changeup: 85-87. Gives Santos a true starters mix. Mimics the fastball well in arm speed. Shows good feel for the pitch and will throw it early in counts to get ahead, but not a real weapon yet for swings and misses. Command is plus, but doesn't throw the pitch enough. Limited velo separation currently but if the fastball velocity keeps trending up, then you will see this pitch blossom. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Santos will control the entire strike zone. Pounds the zone with three pitches. Will consistently work his fastball on the black while breaking off the curveball off the plate. The development of his slider command will ultimately determine if this is a plus tool long term. Showed an advanced feel to pitch in the biggest of moments at the prep level.  Control: 55 | Command: 50

Overall: Santos was the first player Houston was able to draft in 2020, and shows plenty of ability to give a great return of investment. Big time FB/CB with plus command with tons of projection remaining. The cold weather prep was able to turn heads at the Astros instructional league this fall, and gives you all the makings of someone you can see developing into a high strikeout mid-rotation arm with this Astros player development.

OFP: 50
Role: 50 - #4 - #5 SP or Average High-Leverage Reliever
Risk: High

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Hunter Brown - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	RHP	5	50

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Cont/Cmd
50	50	60	55	50	45	45/40

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Geoff Pontes

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 203 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft, Round 5
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Tall with good strength throughout frame. Not overly bulky but strong. Shows good flexibility even if he's a little stiff in his motions. Should maintain a high baseline of fitness with minimal maintenance. Near max body at present.

Delivery & Mechanics: Starts in the third first base side of the rubber. Pronounced rocker step, before elongated pause. He then contracts into his leg lift and drive, getting good front leg extension following through from a classic three quarters slot. Long arm stroke with extra length at the backend extension. Similar motion to Ian Anderson, with less pronounced extension.

Fastball: Above average to plus velocity for a starter sitting 92-96 mph and touching 97 mph at peak. Commands pitch well to all four quadrants. Not afraid to go inside and work in on the hands of righthanders. Effective to his gloveside but with less precision than he exhibits armside. Made mechanical adjustments during summer collegiate ball in 2018 that led to an immediate up tick in velocity. Ditched two-seamer he used in college for exclusively four-seamers upon entering the Astros organization. Since that point it has paid dividends as Brown's fastball has been a consistent bat misser up in the zone. Enough stuff and command to play at plus. Grade: 60

Curveball: Brown began throwing the curveball in game upon the Astros request. While it was not a brand new pitch to him, it was mostly used in bullpens and side sessions prior to 2019. Since then the pitch has progressed tremendously seeing usage on par with his slider as the 2019 season came to a close. The confidence he has in throwing it shined through, and for good reason. It's a hard-breaking, bat misser; a high spin pitch with significant vertical drop in the 80-84 mph range. It's a hammer by all accounts. We're taking some liberties here but reports indicate this is at minimum an above average pitch. Grade: 55

Slider: Sweepy slider at 84-85 mph touching 86-87 mph at times. Hard breaking pitch that he can bend through the backdoor. Good feel for the zone but inconsistent shape, some of which might be by design. His best shape is a high spin efficiency version with a near 9 o'clock spin axis, meaning it moves perfectly sweepy. This style of pitch is not typically conducive to swings and misses, but Brown's above average velocity allow it to play. Grade: 50

Changeup: Clear fourth pitch, but a steady part of his arsenal dating back to his amateur days. Average velocity in the 80-82 mph band, giving him good separation from his fastball. Limited feel for pronating, inconsistent arm side run. Will show average or better shape frequently enough to earn a fringe average grade. Astros asked Brown to throw more changeups in 2019, and based on the results the pitch ultimately was effective despite its inconsistencies. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Below average command profile with fringe average control. Learning the best way to deploy the entirety of his arsenal from a sequencing standpoint. Limited exposure to high level talent due to division II college background. Struggled at times to adapt to a higher quadrant plan of attack and newer points of emphasis within his sequencing (curveball and changeup) early in his professional debut. This is best exemplified by his walk rate of 24.6% over his first six appearances with Tri-Valley. Over his final six appearances from August 2nd until September 1st Brown settled in, dropping his walk rate to a respectable 8.9%, accompanied by a jump in strikeout rate to an elite 42.2%. Now to be clear we're talking two 12 inning sample sizes, but it's a clear example of a step forward in stuff. Fringe average control with below average command. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: Arguably Houston's best pick of the last several years; plucked from Division II Wayne State, Brown took tremendous strides under the tutelage of the Astros player development machine. He improved his fastball shape and plan of attack toward a style more conducive to missing barrels in pro-ball. He improved and deepened his secondary offerings, adding a potential plus pitch in his curveball, while simultaneously committing to using his changeup in uncomfortable counts. The growth even within a short sample has been tremendous. Reports from the summer and fall back up these claims squarely positioning Brown as a potential breakout candidate in 2021. A starter's body and arsenal Brown has taken strides to improve his feel and command leading to encouraging results. Whether this holds true through his first test of full season ball is another question. Realistic Backend starter profile with the upside to slide into a mid-rotation OFP by the end of 2021.

OFP: 50
Role: 50 - #4 - #5 SP or Average High-Leverage Reliever
Risk: High

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Bryan Abreu - Scouting Report

Rank History

Year	Team	Position	Team Rank	OFP
2021	HOU	RHP	4	50

Grades Update: Jan 2021

OFP	Role	FB	CB	SL	CH	Cont/Cmd
50	50	60	60	70	30	30/30

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Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Matt Pullman

Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 225 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2013 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: He's pretty close to physically maxed, with a fairly thick torso and a strong lower half from the thighs down to the calves. Despite strength throughout, he isn't excessively bulky, and retains a relatively athletic build. There's no reason to believe his build precludes him from handling a starter's workload.

Delivery & Mechanics: He pitches exclusively out of the stretch, even as a starter in the minors. He employs a high-effort delivery ending with him falling off the mound towards first base. He is prone to flying open, with his mechanics falling out of sync, resulting in a difficulty to consistently throw strikes. He throws mostly from a high-three-quarters slot, occasionally dipping down to three-quarters or even lower on his slider.

Fastball: 92-97. Savant has classified two separate pitches, a two-seam with more pronounced armside run and a four-seam which plays more vertical. Both pitches operate within the same velocity band, so it's possible he actually throws one fastball with some variation. If he could control his fastball consistently, it would play up closer to a 70 and would also likely enable him to succeed as a starter. Without being able to consistently control or command his fastball, he will be relegated to the bullpen long-term. Grade: 60

Curveball: 81-85 with very high spin. It's slower and produces more break than his slider, but is equally as effective when thrown in the right situation. He throws it from approximately the same slot as the rest of his offerings, and it actually produces more horizontal break than his slider. Thrown about 20 percent of the time, it is a nice change of pace compared to his power fastball and slider. Like the rest of his offerings, he struggles to throw it for a strike consistently and misses his spot regularly. It's a good enough pitch on a 'stuff' basis to overcome these faults and still generate swings and misses, even when left in the heart of the zone. Grade: 60

Slider: 83-87 with very high spin. Morphs between a wipeout slider with pronounced horizontal break and a gyro-spin slider generating more vertical drop and an 11-5 trajectory. It remains to be seen if he can consciously shape the pitch, or if it is random variation. It's his primary pitch and he's willing to throw it early and often. In his short big league stints, he has thrown it 44 percent of the time, more than both of his fastballs combined. It generates whiffs at a high rate and is typically what he goes to when he needs a strikeout. If he truly can shape it at will, this pitch will play closer to an 80, as it's essentially two separate plus-plus pitches and he throws it for a strike as reliably as anything in his arsenal. As with any slider, it becomes a liability when left up in the zone as it flattens out. Grade: 70

Changeup: 89-92 with similar shape to his fastball but more drop due to the lower velocity and significantly lower spin. Thrown less than two percent of the time, Abreu seems to lack confidence in it. If he can develop his cambio to being even league average, it would elevate the rest of his arsenal by half a grade or more, and potentially allow him to throw a higher volume of innings even with his poor control. Grade: 30

Control and Command: Due to mechanical inconsistencies, Abreu struggles mightily with both. He can be seemingly in a groove and then miss his spot, and the zone entirely, by several feet. His minor league walk rates have ranged from poor to horrendous. He issued free passes at a 14 percent clip across 76 innings, mostly as a starter, at Double-A Corpus Christi in 2019. He frequently misses his spot by a foot or more with all of his pitches. He seems to fall back on his slider when he needs to throw a strike, which could lead to him becoming predictable at the highest level. Control: 30 | Command: 30

Overall: He has high-octane, nasty stuff. His repertoire includes three plus offerings which all generate swings and misses. It's hard to see him succeeding in a starting role without significant development of his command. With that said, he has the type of stuff that would make him a frontline starter in the event he ever came close to league-average command. Given the feasibility of such improvements, as well as his limited workloads throughout the minors, he's almost certainly a reliever moving forward. But he should excel in a high-leverage role and is capable of going multiple innings. His stuff will allow him to compete for the closer's role as soon as 2021. With some improved mechanical consistency, Abreu could develop into an elite bullpen piece.

OFP: 50
Role: 50 - Average High-Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate

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