Tag Archives: Brett Oberholtzer

2012 Baseball Prospect Rankings

2012 Houston Astros Top 15 Prospect Rankings

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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.

Major League Baseball News

In Depth Behind The Scenes Look At The Michael Bourn Trade Between The Braves And Astros

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Back in July, at the Major League Baseball trade deadline, the Houston Astros traded Michael Bourn to the Atlanta Braves for a package of prospects that consisted of Brett Olberholtzer, Paul Clemens, Jordan Schafer and Juan Abreu. The story link below provides a behind the scenes look at the makings of the trade from the text and email exchange between Houston Astros general manager Ed Wade and Atlanta Braves general manager Frank Wren, to the meetings among the respective scouting departments, to the notifications to the players involved. It’s a really cool look at the simple yet complicated inner workings of a trade deadline deal.

Anatomy of a Baseball Trade — BusinessWeek.com

Prospect Rankings

2011 Atlanta Braves Top 15 Prospects Post Season Report Card

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With the 2011 minor league season complete we check in on the progress of each of the Atlanta Braves 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 Julio Teheran GRADE A-
Teheran went 15-3 with a 2.33ERA for the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves. He walked 48 and struck out 122 in 144.2 innings of work. Opposing hitters batted .232 against him. He also had two spot starts for Atlanta going 0-1 with a 5.19ERA, walking 4 and striking out 2 in 8.2 innings of big league work.

#2 Freddie Freeman GRADE A
Through September 5th, Freeman was batting .291 with 29 Doubles, 18 Home Runs, and 64 RBI’s as the Atlanta Braves every day first baseman. He is a National League Rookie Of The Year Candidate.

#3 Arodys Vizcaino GRADE A
Vizcaino went a combined 5-5 with a 3.06ERA in 97 innings between Triple-A Gwinnett, Double-A Mississipi, and the High-A Lynchburg Hillcats. He walked 28 while striking out 100 batters on the season. Opposing hitters batted .225 off of Vizcaino. In 11 big league appearances through September 5th, Vizcaino was 1-1 with a 6.00ERA walking 8 and strking out 14 in 12 innings of work.

#4 Mike Minor GRADE B
Minor went 4-5 with a 3.13ERA for Triple-A Gwinnett. He walked 27 and struck out 99 in 100.2 innings. Opposing hitters batted .246 against him. In 11 big league starts with Atlanta through September 5th, Minor was 4-2 with a 4.09ERA over 61.2 innings. He has walked 21 and struck out 59. Opposing hitters in the major leagues are batting .287 against him.

#5 Carlos Perez GRADE C-
Perez went 4-10 with a 4.82ERA for the Low-A Rome Braves. In 125 innings he walked 66 and struck out 109. Opposing hitters batted .278 off Perez this season. His ERA was nearly a run and a half lower in the second half of the season.

#6 Randall Delgado GRADE B
Delgado went a combined 7-7 with a 3.88ERA between Triple-A Gwinnett and Double-A Mississippi. In 135 innings of work he walked 57 and struck out 135 batters. Opposing hitters batted .255 against Delgado. In three big league starts through September 5th, Delgado was 0-1 with a 4.20ERA, walking 6 and striking out 10 in 15 innings with Atlanta.

#7 Craig Kimbrel GRADE A+
Kimbrel has been arguably the best closer in the National League in 2011. He recently set the all time single season saves record for a rookie. Through September 5th, Kimbrel is 4-2 with 42 saves and a 1.57ERA. He’s got 113 strikeouts while walking 26 batters in 68.2 innings of work. He is limiting opposing hitters to a .167 batting average. He is a top contender for NL Rookie of the Year.

#8 Matt Lipka GRADE C
Lipka batted .247 with 21 Doubles, 3 Triples, 1 Home Run, and 37 RBI’s for Low-A Rome. He also tallied 28 stolen bases on the season. He struck out just 83 times in 530 at bats.

#9 Brandon Beachy GRADE A
Through September 5th, Beachy is 7-2 with a 3.37ERA in 21 starts for Atlanta. In 120 innings, he has walked 35 while striking out 135. Big league hitters are batting just .233 off of Beachy.

#10 Christian Bethancourt GRADE B-
Bethancourt batted a combined .289 with 16 Doubles, 3 Triples, 5 Home Runs and 53 RBI’s between Low-A Rome and High-A Lynchburg. He also stole nine bases on the year. The .289 batting average is a career high for Bethancourt.

#11 Brett Oberholtzer TRADED TO HOUSTON
Oberholtzer was 9-9 with a 3.74ERA in 127 innings for Double-A Mississippi before the trade. Since joining the Astros he has gone 2-3 with a 5.27 ERA for the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks. Opponents batted a combined .253 against Oberholtzer on the season.

#12 Andrelton Simmons GRADE B
Simmons batted .311 with 35 Doubles, 6 Triples, 1 Home Run, 52 RBI’s and stole 26 bases for High-A Lynchburg. He struckout just 43 times in 517 at bats. He hit .345 with runners in scoring position on the year.

#13 Paul Clemens TRADED TO HOUSTON
Clemens was 6-5 with a 3.73ERA in 108.2 innings for Double-A Mississippi before being traded in July. After joining the Astros organization Clemens went 2-1 with a 2.35ERA for Corpus Christi before a season ending start for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Redhawks in which he allowed eight earned runs in 4.2 innings. Combined Clemens struck out 125 batters in 144 innings and held opposing hitters to a .239 batting average.

#14 David Filak GRADE D
Filak went a combined 3-11 with a 6.14ERA between Rookie League Danville and Low-A Rome. He walked 52 and struck out 79 in 104 combined innings. Batters hit .304 against Filak.

#15 Edward Salcedo GRADE C+
Salcedo batted .248 with 27 Doubles, 6 Triples, 12 Home Runs, 68 RBI’s and stole 23 bases for Low-A Rome. He struck out 105 times in 508 at bats. Salcedo faltered as the season went on hitting just .229 in the second half of the year.

Major League Baseball News, Trade Deadline Deals

Prospect Breakdown: Astros Trade Michael Bourn To Braves For Brett Oberholtzer, Paul Clemens, Juan Abreu & Jordan Schafer

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The Houston Astros have traded outfielder Michael Bourn to the Atlanta Braves for a package of four prospects which includes pitchers Brett Oberholtzer, Paul Clemens and Juan Abreu as well as outfielder Jordan Schafer. Oberholtzer is the best of the Braves second tier pitching prospects. He is currently 9-9 with a 3.74 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 127.2 Innings for Double-A Mississippi. The 6’2″ lefty went 6-8 with a 3.72ERA combined between Low-A Rome and High-A Myrtle Beach in 2010. The 22 year old Oberholtzer was an 8th round pick of the Braves in the 2008 draft. Clemens is 6’4″ right hander who’s posted a 6-5 record with a 3.73ERA and 93 strikeouts in 108.2 innings for Mississippi this season. The 22 year old went a combined 2-4 with a 3.23ERA between Rome and Myrtle Beach in 2010. Clemens was a 7th Round pick of the Braves back in 2008. Abreu is a 6’0″ right handed reliever who is currently 4-2 with a 2.25ERA at Triple-A Gwinnett. He’s struck out 68 batters in 48 innings and International League hitters are batting just .193 against him. The 26 year old went a combined 4-2 with a 4.35ERA and 12 Saves between Myrtle Beach and Mississippi last season. He was originally signed as a non drafted free agent by the Kansas City Royals back in 2003, and has yet to make his major league debut. Schafer was at one time a top organizational prospect before running into a string of bad luck including a 50 game suspension from major league baseball in 2008 and a wrist injury in 2009. His best season in the Minors came back in 2007 when he hit a combined .312 with 15 Home Runs and 63 RBI’s between Rome and Myrtle Beach. Schafer has not had more than 4 Home Runs in a season since hitting 10 in his suspension shortened 2008 season. Since a call up from Gwinnett in May of this year, Schafer hit .240 with 6 Doubles, 3 Triples, 1 Home Run, and 7 RBI’s in 52 Games with the Braves. The 24 year old Schafer was a third round selection of the Braves back in 2005.