Tag Archives: Jonathan Villar

2012 Houston Astros Top 15 Prospect Rankings

By: J.P. Schwartz
@Jaypers413 on Twitter
JP’s FreedomCardboard Blog

2012 Houston Astros Top 15 Prospect Rankings

Every year at this time I like to rank each team’s top prospects. My criteria is based upon both past performance and future potential to his parent team. This is my ranking of the 2012 Houston Astros Top Prospects. If you have any questions about my rankings, feel free to shoot me a message on twitter @Jaypers413

To qualify, a prospect must have fewer than 130 at-bats or 50 innings in MLB

#1 George Springer OF
Born: 9/19/1989
Highest Level Reached: Short-A Tri City Valleycats
2011 Combined Stats: .171, 3(2B), 1HR, 3RBI, 4SB (5 hits in 28 at-bats) (1st Round Pick 2011 MLB Draft)

#2 Jonathan Singleton 1B
Born: 9/18/1991
Highest Level Reached: High-A Lancaster Jethawks
2011 Combined Stats: .298, 23(2B), 1(3B), 13HR, 63RBI

#3 Jarred Cosart RHP
Born: 5/25/1990
Highest Level Reached: Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks
2011 Combined Stats: 10-10, 4.12ERA, 144.1IP, 56BB, 101K, .241BAA

#4 Delino Deshields 2B
Born: 8/16/1992
Highest Level Reached: Low-A Lexington Legends
2011 Combined Stats: .220, 17(2B), 2(3B), 9HR, 48RBI, 30SB

#5 Domingo Santana OF
Born: 8/5/1992
Highest Level Reached: Low-A Lexington Legends
2011 Combined Stats: .287, 33(2B), 4(3B), 12HR, 53RBI

#6 Paul Clemens RHP
Born: 2/14/1988
Highest Level Reached: Triple-A Oklahoma City Redhawks
2011 Combined Stats: 8-7, 3.81ERA, 144IP, 62BB, 125K, .239BAA

#7 Adrian Houser RHP
Born: 2/2/1993
Highest Level Reached: Rookie League Greeneville Astros
2011 Combined Stats: 2-4, 4.31ERA, 48IP, 25BB, 44K, .265BAA

#8 Jonathan Villar SS
Born: 5/2/1991
Highest Level Reached: Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks
2011 Combined Stats: .241, 23(2B), 6(3B), 14HR, 52RBI, 34SB

#9 Jordan Scott OF
Born: 9/22/1991
Highest Level Reached: Low-A Lexington Legends
2011 Combined Stats: .323, 15(2B), 4(3B), 1HR, 43RBI, 12SB

#10 Brett Oberholtzer LHP
Born: 7/1/1989
Highest Level Reached: Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks
2011 Combined Stats: 11-12, 4.01ERA, 155IP, 52BB, 121K, .253BAA

#11 Jack Armstrong RHP
Born: 12/14/1989
Highest Level Reached: Third Round Pick 2011 MLB Draft
2011 Combined Stats: Did Not Play In 2011

#12 Ariel Ovando OF
Born: 9/15/1993
Highest Level Reached: Rookie League Greeneville Astros
2011 Combined Stats: .235, 10(2B), 3(3B), 2HR, 30RBI

#13 Mike Foltynewicz RHP
Born: 10/7/1991
Highest Level Reached: Low-A Lexington Legends
2011 Combined Stats: 5-11, 4.97ERA, 134IP, 51BB, 88K, .289BAA

#14 Tanner Bushue RHP
Born: 6/20/1991
Highest Level Reached: Low-A Lexington Legends
2011 Combined Stats: 6-8, 4.96ERA, 85.1IP, 17BB, 58K, .293BAA

#15 Chase Davidson 1B
Born: 1/14/1990
Highest Level Reached: Short-A Tri City ValleyCats
2011 Combined Stats: .327, 13(2B), 2(3B), 11HR, 44RBI, 8SB

Disclaimer – I did not attend any minor league games this year, nor do I claim to have any scouting experience. These lists are the product of my own research of statistics and online scouting reports.

2011 Houston Astros Top 15 Prospects Post Season Report Card

With the 2011 minor league season complete we check in on the progress of each of the Houston Astros preseason Top 15 prospects as ranked by our prospect ranker J.P. Schwartz. The post season grading report was done by the publisher of Top Prospect Alert, not Mr. Schwartz, and reflects only the 2011 season and not future upside or downside of the individual prospect. Our 2012 preseason rankings will be published in the coming months.

#1 Jordan Lyles GRADE: C+
Lyles went 2-8 with a 5.36ERA for the Astros. He walked 26 and struck out 67 in 94 big leagues inning. Major league hitters batted .285 against him. In the minors Lyles went 3-3 with a 3.61ERA for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Redhawks. He walked 17 and struck out 42 in 62.1 innings of work. Opponents batted .277 against him.

#2 Delino DeShields GRADE: C
Deshields batted .220 with 17 Doubles, 2 Triples, 9 Home Runs and 48 RBI’s for the Low-A Lexington Legends. He also stole 30 bases on the season. Deshields walked 52 times and struck out 118 times in 119 games.

#3 Jonathan Villar GRADE: B-
Villar batted a combined .241 with 23 Doubles, 6 Triples, 14 Home Runs and 52 RBI’s between the High-A Lancaster Jethawks and the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks. He stole 32 bases on the season. Villar walked 54 times and struck out 156 times in 130 games.

#4 J.D. Martinez GRADE: A
Martinez batted .274 with 13 Doubles, 6 Home Runs and 35 RBI’s in 53 big league games with the Astros. At Double-A Corpus Christi, Martinez hit .338 with 25 Doubles, 1 Triple, 13 Home Runs, and 72 RBI’s in 88 games.

#5 Mike Foltynewicz GRADE: C
Foltynewicz went 5-11 with a 4.97ERA for Low-A Lexington. He walked 51 and struck out 88 in 134 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .289 against Foltynewicz on the season.

#6 Jiovanni Mier GRADE: C
Mier batted a combined .239 with 21 Doubles, 1 Triple, 7 Home Runs and 52 RBI’s between Low-A Lexington and High-A Lancaster. He walked 66 times and struck out 112 times in 114 games.

#7 Ben Heath GRADE: C
Heath batted a combined .252 with 22 Doubles, 10 Home Runs and 52 RBI’s between Low-A Lexington and High-A Lancaster. He walked 26 times and struck out 91 times in 91 games.

#8 Tanner Bushue GRADE: C
Bushue went a combined 6-8 with a 4.96ERA between the Rookie League GCL Astros and Low-A Lexington. He walked 17 and struck out 58 in 85.1 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .293 off of Bushue on the season.

#9 Rod Quintero GRADE: C
Quintero was 0-1 with a 5.97ERA for Rookie League Greeneville. He walked 16 and struck out 32 in 28.2 innings. Opposing batters hit .246 off of Quintero on the season.

#10 Austin Wates GRADE: A-
Wates batted .300 with 23 Doubles, 9 Triples, 6 Home Runs and 75 RBI’s at High-A Lancaster. He also stole 26 bases on the season.

#11 Mike Kvasnicka GRADE: B-
Kvasnicka batted .260 with 32 Doubles, 4 Triples, 4 Home Runs and 59 RBI’s for Low-A Lexington. He walked 46 times and struck out 106 times in 128 games.

#12 Ross Seaton GRADE: C
Seaton went 4-9 with a 5.23ERA for Double-A Corpus Christi. He walked 47 and struck out 97 in 155 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .279 off Seaton on the season.

#13 Thomas Shirley GRADE: C+
Shirley went 0-0 with 2.08ERA combined across three levels topping out at Low-A Lexington. He walked 5 and struck out 15 in 13 innings of work on the season. Opposing batters hit .143 against him.

#14 Vincent Velasquez DID NOT PLAY
Velasquez missed all of 2011 following Tommy John Surgery.

#15 J.B. Shuck GRADE: B+
Shuck batted .272 with 2 Doubles, 1 Triple, and 3 RBI’s in 37 big league games with the Astros. At Triple-A Oklahoma City, Shuck hit .297 with 11 Doubles, 7 Triples, and 30 RBI’s. He also stole 20 bases. He walked 56 times and struck out just 30 times in 108 games.

Monday’s Notable Minor League Home Runs

AAA:
Jerad Head Cleveland Indians – Home Run #23

Cody Overbeck Philadelphia Phillies – Home Run #5

Ryan Lavarnway Boston Red Sox – Home Run #16

Daniel Nava Boston Red Sox – Home Run #7

Stefan Gartrell Atlanta Braves – Home Run #25

Tim Beckham Tampa Bay Rays – Home Run #1

Russ Canzler Tampa Bay Rays – Home Run #17

Jerry Sands Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #23

Adron Chambers St Louis Cardinals – Home Run #10

Jeremy Moore Los Angeles Angels – Home Run #13

Chris Carter Oakland Athletics – Home Run #11

AA:
Hak Ju Lee Tampa Bay Rays – Home Run #1

Grant Green Oakland Athletics – Home Run #8

Wilin Rosario Colorado Rockies – Home Run #17

Jonathan Villar Houston Astros – Home Run #9

Matt Adams St Louis Cardinals – Home Run #28

High-A:
Manny Machado Baltimore Orioles – Home Run #4

David Mailman Boston Red Sox – Home Run #7

Bobby Borchering Arizona Diamondbacks – Home Run #20

Tommy Joseph San Francisco Giants – Home Run #18

Angelo Songco Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #25

Joe Terdoslavich Atlanta Braves – Home Run #17

Denny Almonte Seattle Mariners – Home Run #20

Low-A:
Jonathan Rodriguez St Louis Cardinals – Home Run #16

Carlos Moncrief Cleveland Indians – Home Run #14

Derrick Dietrich New York Mets – Home Run #18

Leon Landry Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #3

Evan Gattis Atlanta Braves – Home Run #20 & #21

Edward Salcedo Atlanta Braves – Home Run #12

Marcell Ozuna Florida Marlins – Home Run #19

Kevin Keyes Washington Nationals – Home Run #11

Trayce Thompson Chicago White Sox – Home Run #21

Sunday’s Notable Minor League Home Runs

AAA:
Josh Phegley Chicago White Sox – Home Run #1

Jared Head Cleveland Indians – Home Run #17

Cord Phelps Clevland Indians – Home Run #9

Chris Carter Oakland Athletics – Home Run #9

Carlos Peguero Seattle Mariners – Home Run #7

Lorenzo Cain Kansas City Royals – Home Run #13

Anthony Rizzo San Diego Padres – Home Run #21

AA:
Tim Federowicz Boston Red Sox – Home Run #8

Oscar Tejada Boston Red Sox – Home Run #4

Jonathan Villar Houston Astros – Home Run #8

High-A:
Jon Mark Owings Arizona Diamondbacks – Home Run #12 & #13

Erik Castro Houston Astros – Home Run #6 & #7

Brad Glenn Toronto Blue Jays – Home Run #19

Low-A:
Nick Ramirez Milwaukee Brewers – Home Run #1

Kolten Wong St Louis Cardinals – Home Run #3

Jonathan Garcia Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #18

Anthony Hewitt Philadelphia Phillies – Home Run #11

Anderlin Rodriguez New York Mets – Home Run #13

Monday’s Notable Minor League Home Runs

AAA:
Jesus Montero New York Yankees – Home Run #9

Jorge Vazquez New York Yankees – Home Run #22

Mat Gamel Milwaukee Brewers – Home Run #20

Taylor Green Milwaukee Brewers – Home Run #15

Beau Mills Cleveland Indians – Home Run #1

Hank Conger Los Angeles Angels – Home Run #2

Anthony Rizzo San Diego Padres – Home Run #17

Michael Taylor Oakland Athletics – Home Run #11

AA:
Tim Wheeler Colorado Rockies – Home Run #29

Grant Green Oakland Athletics – Home Run #6

Tyler Moore Washington Nationals – Home Run #24

Chih-Hsien Chiang Boston Red Sox – Home Run #18

Jordany Valdespin New York Mets – Home Run #15

Wes Hodges San Francisco Giants – Home Run #6

Bill Rhinehart Washington Nationals – Home Run #21

Jonathan Villar Houston Astros – Home Run #7

Anthony Gose Toronto Blue Jays – Home Run #10

High-A:
Matt Szczur Chicago Cubs – Home Run #2

Sebastian Valle Philadelphia Phillies – Home Run #4

Darin Ruf Philadelphia Phillies – Home Run #11

Stefan Welch New York Mets – Home Run #12

Kent Matthes Colorado Rockies – Home Run #21

Angelo Songco Los Angeles Dodgers – Home Run #20

Bobby Borchering Arizona Diamondbacks – Home Run #19

Denny Almonte Seattle Mariners – Home Run #19

Low-A:
Donald Lutz Cincinnati Reds – Home Run #15 & #16

Bowman Chrome Autograph Prospecting Penny Stock Edition: 10 Prospects Under $5.00 To Buy

Bowman Chrome Autographs have long been the king of the baseball card prospecting world. Many buy and sell these cards as if they were stock, buying low and selling high, and turning a nice profit to do it all over again with the next wave of prospects, upon each subsequent Bowman Chrome release. In this article, I have found 10 players, whose Bowman Chrome autographs recently ended for $5.00 delivered or less on Ebay, who I believe are great low risk buys for the Bowman Chrome prospector. The list is below is in no particular order.

Ryan Wheeler Arizona Diamondbacks: Lost in the shuffle of the Diamondbacks group of hitting prospects that includes Paul Goldschmidt, Marc Krauss, Bobby Borchering, Matt Davidson and a host of others, Wheeler is having a career year at Double-A Mobile. The third baseman is hitting .302 with 20(2B), 11HR, and 63RBI through 89 games. The 11 Home Runs are one off the 22 year old’s career high.
Ryan Wheeler 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Jonathan Villar Houston Astros: The 20 year old was recently promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi and is one of the youngest players in the Texas League. While he is hitting just .233 combined (.201 in AA) and striking out in nearly a third of his at-bats, Villar has 13(2B), 5(3B), 7HR, and 35RBI as well as 26 stolen bases on the season. If he can get his strikeouts down and his average up over the next couple of years, this card could see some great growth.
Jonathan Villar 2011 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Adron Chambers St. Louis Cardinals: At 24 Chambers is one of the oldest players you will see on this list, however being on the St Louis Cardinals, a team that tends to do well in the hobby, could allow this bargain basement prospect to see a nice spike immediately after his big league debut. An against all odds player, Chambers was 38th round pick back in 2007. Since then he’s hit under .270 just once in the minors. This year for Triple-A Memphis, Chambers is hitting .274, 9(2B), 2(3B), 9HR, and 32RBI. He also has 11 stolen bases on the year. Not a long term hold by any means, but he should be a very nice buy low, flip high player this September.
Adron Chambers 2011 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Allen Webster Los Angeles Dodgers: The 20 year old right hander is following up a solid Low-A campaign in 2010 with nearly as good numbers at the higher levels. He earned a promotion to Double-A in late May after going 5-2 with a 2.33ERA in the hitters friendly California League. Since arriving in the Southern League, Webster has gone 2-1 with a 3.69 ERA in 46 innings. Opposing batters are hitting a combined .226 off of him. Dodger Stadium could come calling for a spot start or two should anyone get hurt down the stretch. Webster has both a 2010 Bowman Platinum Autograph as well as a 2011 Bowman Chrome Autograph which both sell under $5.00.
Allen Webster 2010 Bowman Platinum and 2011 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Jeurys Familia New York Mets: Durability issues are a bit of a question, he just got put on the DL with a right shoulder impingement this morning, but when he is healthy, Familia has been pretty dominant. This year he is a combined 3-3 with a 2.63ERA and 100 strikeouts in 92.1 innings pitched between High-A and Double-A. Opposing hitters are batting just .214 on the year. If his arm holds up, Familia could compete for a starting job with the Mets next season.
Jeurys Familia 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Corban Joseph New York Yankees: Like Adron Chambers, Joseph makes the list as a buy low, sell high flip. With Robinson Cano blocking his path to the bigs, there is not a high likelihood that Jospeh ends up doing much longterm, at least in the Yankee organization. However the the 22 year old is putting up solid numbers at Double-A Trenton, batting .282, 27(2B), 7(3B), 4HR, and 36RBI, and the Yankees usually reward young players like this with September call ups or as injury replacements. One big hit in the Bronx will send Joseph’s chrome autographs into the $15-$20 range overnight.
Corban Joseph 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Jefry Marte New York Mets: The 20 year old third baseman has done a respectable job in his first go-around in the Florida State League hitting .270 with 18(2B), 5HR, and 41RBI. He has 11 stolen bases and only been caught once, and struck out just 55 times in 318 at-bats thus far, which is not bad for being one of the younger players in the league. His numbers this season are nearly identical to fellow Mets prospect Wilmer Flores who has been the recipient of loads of hobby love in the past.
Jefry Marte 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Scooter Gennett Milwaukee Brewers: There aren’t a whole ton of prospects left in the Brewers organization and there are likely to be fewer as the big league club continues it’s now or never run at the post season in what is likely Prince Fielder’s final year with the club. That being said, Gennett may be a little overvalued as a top 10 organizational prospect in a barren farm system, however Gennett is holding his own in the Florida State League batting .281 with 11(2B), 3(3B), 5HR, and 32RBI. He’s struck out just 42 times in 359 at-bats this season. If he can develop 12-15 Home Run power at his second base position over the next couple of years as he climbs the ladder, Gennett could find himself being a Danny Espinosa (who is 3 years older than Gennett) type by the time he reaches the big leagues.
Scooter Gennett 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Trayce Thompson Chicago White Sox: Thompson is the ultimate all or nothing guy in this group. He’s in his second year of Low-A ball as a 20 year old after his first season at Kannapolis was cut short by injury. He’s hitting just .224 this year and has yet to finish a year above .229 as a pro. However Thompson can hit a ball very far. This year his power continues to develop and he has 20(2B), 15HR’s and has drove in 50 runs thus far. He has also struck out 114 times in 340 at-bats. If he can get his plate discipline under control he could be scary good as he progresses through the White Sox system. If he cannot, he will be the latest version of former Braves all or nothing prospect Cody Johnson.
Trayce Thompson 2010 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay

Adrian Cardenas Oakland Athletics: I will probably get flack for this, but I am still a buyer on Adrian Cardenas. Yes he’s been around forever, but he’s still only 23 years old. He’s never hit below .295 in a season in six years as a pro. In his first full season in Triple-A Cardenas is hitting .305 with 17(2B), 2(3B), 3HR, and 30RBI. He’s walked 35 times and struck out just 28 times in 308 at-bats. Chicks dig the long ball and so do prospectors, but I say at some point in the next year or two, Cardenas chrome autographs are selling for well above the $.99 level he is at right now.
Adrian Cardenas 2006 Bowman Chrome Autographs On Ebay