52 players drafted
32 players signed
4 players still in the Astros system (plus one drafted later)
15 players still active in organized baseball in 2014*
27 position players drafted/15 signed/2 still in the system
11 from high school/4 signed/1 still in the system
5 from junior college/2 signed/0 still in the system
11 from college/9 signed/1 still in the system
25 pitchers drafted/17 signed/2 still in the system
11 from high school/6 signed/2 still in the system
8 from junior college/6 signed/0 still in the system
6 from college/5 signed/0 still in the system
*Of the 15 players who were still active in baseball in 2014, seven are high school players who did not sign with Houston, but later signed with other teams, two were released (Shuck and Simunic), one was traded (Lyles), one was drafted by Houston in a later year (Jankowski) and four are left from the original draft (Castro, Seaton, Cruz and Garcia).
Here is a little on each of them. Active Astros players are in bold. The position shown is the position at which the player was drafted, and I have also indicated in parentheses whether they were drafted out of high school (HS), junior college (JC) or college (C).]
1. C Jason Castro (C)
Castro is the only one from the 2008 draft class who is currently on the Astros major league team. In four seasons at the major league level (2010, 2012 - 2014), he has a .243/.316/.399 batting line and a 27% caught stealing percentage.
1s. RHP Jordan Lyles (HS) - Traded
Lyles came as a supplemental pick as compensation for losing LHP Trever Miller in free agency. Lyles pitched in three seasons for Houston, going 14-29 with a 5.35 ERA and a 1.454 WHIP before being included in a trade (along with outfielder Brandon Barnes) to the Rockies for OF Dexter Fowler and cash considerations. In his one season with the Rockies, Lyles is 7-4 with a 4.33 ERA and a 1.366 WHIP.
2. OF Jay Austin (HS) - Released in 2012
Austin did not play in 2013, but showed up in independent ball in 2014. He has a career batting line of .254/.317/.354.
3. 1B Chase Davidson (HS) - Did not sign
Davidson did not sign out of high school but later signed in 2011 as he was re-drafted by the Astros in the 41st round that year.
3s. RHP Ross Seaton (HS)
The Astros received this pick as compensation for not signing Derek Dietrich in 2007. Seaton has made it as far as AAA, but injuries derailed much of his 2014 season. Between Corpus Christi, Oklahoma City and a rehab stint with the GCL, Seaton had a combined 4.20 ERA and 1.500 WHIP in 16 games (seven starts).
4. OF T.J. Steele (C) - Released in 2012
Steele was released by the Astros in May 2012 and then signed on briefly with the Padres organization before being released by them in July 2012. In the 327 games of his career, he hit .247/.284/.379.
5. LHP David Duncan (C) - Released in 2012
Duncan was actually released by the Astros in 2010, but then re-signed by them in early 2011 only to while away on the DL that entire season. In 50 games (46 starts) from 2008 through 2010, he was 10-23 with a 5.78 ERA and a 1.444 WHIP.
6. OF J.B. Shuck (C) - Released in 2012
Shuck made his major league debut for the Astros on August 5, 2011, hitting .272/.359/.321 in 37 games. He then spent all of 2012 playing in Oklahoma City and was released at the end of that season despite hitting a very healthy .298/.374/.352. Shuck was signed by the Angels shortly after his release by the Astros in late 2012. He had an excellent season for the Angels in 2013, hitting .293/.331/.366 in 129 games, but did not fare quite so well at the major league level in 2014 and was sold to the Indians in September 2014. His overall major league batting line to date is .264/.307/.333. Shuck turned 27 in June.
7. OF Jon Gaston (C) - Released in 2012
Gaston was released by the Astros in March of 2012 and spent time in independent ball and in the White Sox organization that year. After his release by the White Sox in June 2012, he continued to play in independent ball up through 2014. His career batting line is .254/.330/.446.
8. LHP Brad Dydalewicz (HS) - Released in 2012
Dydalewicz made it as far as Lancaster, but was released at the end of 2012 after putting up a career 6.41 ERA and 1.668 WHIP.
9. LHP Luis Cruz (HS)
Cruz spent the majority of his 2014 season at Corpus Christi and received a late season call-up to Oklahoma City. In 26 games (22 starts) in 2014, he had a 3.68 ERA and a 1.243 WHIP. He walked 38 while striking out 118 in 124.2 innings of work. He just turned 24 in September.
10. LHP Jarred Holloway (JC) - Released in 2010
Holloway only played in the organization for one season in 2008 (and did not play at all in 2009). In 13 starts, he was 4.05 with a 4.07 ERA and a 1.541 WHIP.
11. OF Jacob Priday (HS) - Released in 2010
Priday played only 32 games in the Astros system in 2008, hitting .216/.331/.324. He was on the restricted list for all of 2009 before being formally released in 2010.
12. SS Jeff Hulett (JC) - Released in 2009
Hulett played two seasons for the Astros (playing more at third base than at short) and then another three in independent ball. He had a career batting line of .216/.296/.293.
13. RHP Kyle Godfrey (JC) - Released in 2011
Godfrey played from 2008 through 2010 in the Astros system. After his release in March 2011, he played independent ball for one season. He has a career ERA of 4.14 and WHIP of 1.522.
14. RHP Chris Hicks (C) - Released in 2012
Hicks pitched in the organization from 2008 through his release in June 2012, although he missed the entire 2010 season on the DL. He made it as far as AAA and had a career ERA of 5.49 and a WHIP of 1.571.
15. C Phil Disher (C) - Released in 2010
Drafted as a catcher, Disher actually played first base for the organization in 2008 and 2009 before being released in early 2010. In a total of 110 games, he had a batting line of .257/.343/.451.
16. LHP Josh Poytress (HS) - Did not sign
Poytress was drafted by Pittsburgh in the 18th round in 2011 and played for them for two seasons before being released in early 2013. He played one more season in independent ball and had a career ERA of 3.57 and a WHIP of 1.422.
17. 2B Andy Simunic (HS) - Released in 2014
Simunic played in the Astros system until his release in early June of 2014. He was briefly picked up and subsequently released by the Braves organization. In his seven seasons with the system, he became a utility player, eventually playing at every position except catcher and hitting a career .276/.357/.339.
18, 3B David Flores (C) - Released in 2012
Flores played in the Astros system from 2008 through 2011 and was released in early 2012. For his career, he hit .258/.312/.430.
19. RHP Ashton Mowdy (JC) - Released in 2010
Mowdy pitched from 2008 to 2010, with a career 4.55 ERA and 1.477 WHIP.
20. C Shea Robin (C) - Did not sign
It appears that Robin never played professional baseball.
21. OF Rodarrick Jones (HS) - Did not sign
Jones was drafted by the Pirates in the 37th round in 2011 out of Southern University and A&M in Baton Rouge, and played in that system for two seasons, hitting .231/.352/.375 before his release in July 2012.
22. LHP Terrance Jackson (spelled Terrence in Baseball-Reference) (JC) - Did not sign
Jackson was subsequently drafted by the Mets in the 45th round in 2010 out of Oklahoma City University, but it appears that he did not sign with them either. According to B-R, his only professional experience was with a team in the Frontier League in 2011 for whom he pitched a total of 4.1 innings (12.46 ERA and 2.769 WHIP).
23. LHP Chase Huchingson (JC) - Did not sign
Huchingson was signed by the Mets as a non-drafted free agent in July 2010 and is still in their system, having reached AA in 2014. He has a career 2.94 ERA and 1.277 WHIP in 132 games (318 innings).
24. OF Danny Meier (HS) - Released in 2009
After playing in only 64 games in the Astros system in 2008 and 2009, Meier was released in July 2009. He played in three additional games in the independent leagues as well in 2009. His career batting line was .196/.263/.366.
25. LHP Mike Hacker (JC) - Released in 2010
Hacker played in the Astros system in 2008 and 2009. After his release in March 2010, he played independent ball until signing with the Red Sox organization in July 2010. He was released by the Red Sox in July 2011 and played independent league ball through 2012. He has a career ERA of 4.68 and a WHIP of 1.626.
26. LHP Shane Wolf (C) - Released in 2012
Wolf pitched in the system from 2008 through 2011 with a career ERA of 5.08 and a WHIP of 1.468 before his release in January 2012.
27. RHP Nate Pettus (JC) - Released in 2012
Pettus pitched from 2008 through 2012 and was released in November 2012. For his career, he had a 4.60 ERA and a 1.504 WHIP.
28. RHP Zach Grimmett (HC) - Released in 2013
Grimmett was in the Astros system for five seasons. After his release in March of 2013, he was signed by the Phillies and spent a short time in that organization in May and June of 2013. For his career, he had a 6.62 ERA and a 1.635 WHIP.
29. SS Chris Jackson (C) - Released in 2010
Jackson spent two seasons in the organization, hitting .208/.269/.279 in 144 games.
30. 2B Mike Diaz (C) - Released in 2010
Diaz played two seasons in the Astros system. After his release in March 2010, he played a season in the independent leagues. Over his career, he hit .262/.316/.348.
31. RHP Philip Rummel (HS) - Released in 2010
Rummel was released in March 2010 after pitching in the Astros system for two seasons and went on to play one season of independent ball. He had a career ERA of 5.41 and a WHIP of 1.609.
32. SS B.A. Vollmuth (HS) - Did not sign
Vollmuth was drafted by Oakland in the 3rd round in 2011 out of the University of Southern Mississippi and played in that system from 2011 until his release in August of 2014. He had a career batting line of .231/.311/.391, playing mostly at third base.
33. RHP Shawn Armstrong (HS) - Did not sign
Armstrong was drafted by Cleveland in the 18th round in 2011 out of East Carolina University. He ended his season with Cleveland's AAA affiliate and has a career ERA of 2.43 and a WHIP of 1.248.
34. C Jordan Jankowski (HS) - Did not sign
Jankowski did not sign as a catcher back in 2008, but was re-drafted by the Astros (again in the 34th round) in 2012 out of Catawba College as a RHP. He has a 3.17 ERA and a 1.078 WHIP for his career thus far.
35. C Rene Garcia (HS)
Garcia spent his 2014 season at AA Corpus Christi where he had a 37% caught stealing percentage. His career batting line is .258/.300/.335.
36. RHP Austin Wood (HS)
Wood was drafted by the Rays in the 4th round in 2010 and did not sign and then again in the 6th round in 2011 by the Angels -- this time he did sign. Woods was a highly ranked prospect in the Angels system after the 2012 season, but missed much of the 2013 and 2014 seasons due to injury. In his four seasons in the Angels system, he has a 3.94 ERA and a 1.492 WHIP in 44 games (40 starts).
37. LHP Kirkland Rivers (C) - Released in 2010.
Rivers pitched in the Astros system for two seasons and then in independent league ball for another two seasons, ending his career with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.480 WHIP.
38. LHP Kris Castellanos (HS) - Did not sign
Castellanos played for Florida State one year and for Tampa University for one year, but it appears that he never played professionally.
39. C Tyson Van Winkle (C) - Did not sign
Van Winkle was drafted in the 10th round in 2009 by the Diamondbacks and played for four seasons in that organization with a career batting line of .231/.321/.293.
40. 2B Scott Lawson (JC) - Did not sign
Lawson was drafted by Tampa Bay in the 29th round in 2010 out of the University of Miami and played just one season in that organization, plus one additional season in independent ball. He had a career batting line of .273/.377/.407, playing at second base and third base.
41. OF Tony McClendon (HS) - Did not sign
McClendon was drafted again in 2010 in the 47th round by Oakland, but did not sign, and it does not appear that he ever played professionally.
42. OF Ryan Danbury (JC) - Did not sign
It appears that Danbury did not ever play professionally.
43. C Austin Green (HS) - Did not sign
Green was drafted by the Tigers in the 13th round in 2013 out of the University of San Diego and has played two seasons in that organization with a batting line of .261/.310/.416.
44. C Edmond Sparks (JC) - Did not sign
It appears that Sparks never played professionally.
45. LHP Grayson Garvin (HS) - Did not sign
Garvin was drafted by Tampa Bay in the first round (supplemental) in 2011 out of Vanderbilt. In three seasons (2012-2014) in the Rays organization, he has a 3.75 ERA and a 1.224 WHIP.
46. LHP Mike Modica (C) - Did not sign
Modica was re-drafted by the Astros in the 24th round in 2009 and played for the Astros for two seasons before being released in April 2011. He had a 4.18 ERA and a 1.546 WHIP for his career.
47. OF Nathan Metroka (JC) - Released in 2009
Metroka played in the Astros system for two seasons, hitting .252/.317/.357.
48. RHP Danny Meszaros (C) - Released in 2013
Meszaros played in the system from 2008 through 2011 and sat out 2012 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. After his release in March 2013, he played one season of independent ball. He has a 4.05 ERA and 1.357 WHIP for his career.
49. RHP Chase Lehr (JC) - Released in 2009
Lehr pitched in the organization for one season with a 6.52 ERA and a 2.276 WHIP before his release in May of 2009.
50. OF Jamal Austin (HS) - Did not sign
Austin was drafted by Seattle in the 13th round in 2013 out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is still playing in that organization. In a total of 360 games, he has hit .290/.343/.356.
Previous draft reviews:
2007 Draft
2012 Draft
Mowdy pitched from 2008 to 2010, with a career 4.55 ERA and 1.477 WHIP.
20. C Shea Robin (C) - Did not sign
It appears that Robin never played professional baseball.
21. OF Rodarrick Jones (HS) - Did not sign
Jones was drafted by the Pirates in the 37th round in 2011 out of Southern University and A&M in Baton Rouge, and played in that system for two seasons, hitting .231/.352/.375 before his release in July 2012.
22. LHP Terrance Jackson (spelled Terrence in Baseball-Reference) (JC) - Did not sign
Jackson was subsequently drafted by the Mets in the 45th round in 2010 out of Oklahoma City University, but it appears that he did not sign with them either. According to B-R, his only professional experience was with a team in the Frontier League in 2011 for whom he pitched a total of 4.1 innings (12.46 ERA and 2.769 WHIP).
23. LHP Chase Huchingson (JC) - Did not sign
Huchingson was signed by the Mets as a non-drafted free agent in July 2010 and is still in their system, having reached AA in 2014. He has a career 2.94 ERA and 1.277 WHIP in 132 games (318 innings).
24. OF Danny Meier (HS) - Released in 2009
After playing in only 64 games in the Astros system in 2008 and 2009, Meier was released in July 2009. He played in three additional games in the independent leagues as well in 2009. His career batting line was .196/.263/.366.
25. LHP Mike Hacker (JC) - Released in 2010
Hacker played in the Astros system in 2008 and 2009. After his release in March 2010, he played independent ball until signing with the Red Sox organization in July 2010. He was released by the Red Sox in July 2011 and played independent league ball through 2012. He has a career ERA of 4.68 and a WHIP of 1.626.
26. LHP Shane Wolf (C) - Released in 2012
Wolf pitched in the system from 2008 through 2011 with a career ERA of 5.08 and a WHIP of 1.468 before his release in January 2012.
27. RHP Nate Pettus (JC) - Released in 2012
Pettus pitched from 2008 through 2012 and was released in November 2012. For his career, he had a 4.60 ERA and a 1.504 WHIP.
28. RHP Zach Grimmett (HC) - Released in 2013
Grimmett was in the Astros system for five seasons. After his release in March of 2013, he was signed by the Phillies and spent a short time in that organization in May and June of 2013. For his career, he had a 6.62 ERA and a 1.635 WHIP.
29. SS Chris Jackson (C) - Released in 2010
Jackson spent two seasons in the organization, hitting .208/.269/.279 in 144 games.
30. 2B Mike Diaz (C) - Released in 2010
Diaz played two seasons in the Astros system. After his release in March 2010, he played a season in the independent leagues. Over his career, he hit .262/.316/.348.
31. RHP Philip Rummel (HS) - Released in 2010
Rummel was released in March 2010 after pitching in the Astros system for two seasons and went on to play one season of independent ball. He had a career ERA of 5.41 and a WHIP of 1.609.
32. SS B.A. Vollmuth (HS) - Did not sign
Vollmuth was drafted by Oakland in the 3rd round in 2011 out of the University of Southern Mississippi and played in that system from 2011 until his release in August of 2014. He had a career batting line of .231/.311/.391, playing mostly at third base.
33. RHP Shawn Armstrong (HS) - Did not sign
Armstrong was drafted by Cleveland in the 18th round in 2011 out of East Carolina University. He ended his season with Cleveland's AAA affiliate and has a career ERA of 2.43 and a WHIP of 1.248.
34. C Jordan Jankowski (HS) - Did not sign
Jankowski did not sign as a catcher back in 2008, but was re-drafted by the Astros (again in the 34th round) in 2012 out of Catawba College as a RHP. He has a 3.17 ERA and a 1.078 WHIP for his career thus far.
35. C Rene Garcia (HS)
Garcia spent his 2014 season at AA Corpus Christi where he had a 37% caught stealing percentage. His career batting line is .258/.300/.335.
36. RHP Austin Wood (HS)
Wood was drafted by the Rays in the 4th round in 2010 and did not sign and then again in the 6th round in 2011 by the Angels -- this time he did sign. Woods was a highly ranked prospect in the Angels system after the 2012 season, but missed much of the 2013 and 2014 seasons due to injury. In his four seasons in the Angels system, he has a 3.94 ERA and a 1.492 WHIP in 44 games (40 starts).
37. LHP Kirkland Rivers (C) - Released in 2010.
Rivers pitched in the Astros system for two seasons and then in independent league ball for another two seasons, ending his career with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.480 WHIP.
38. LHP Kris Castellanos (HS) - Did not sign
Castellanos played for Florida State one year and for Tampa University for one year, but it appears that he never played professionally.
39. C Tyson Van Winkle (C) - Did not sign
Van Winkle was drafted in the 10th round in 2009 by the Diamondbacks and played for four seasons in that organization with a career batting line of .231/.321/.293.
40. 2B Scott Lawson (JC) - Did not sign
Lawson was drafted by Tampa Bay in the 29th round in 2010 out of the University of Miami and played just one season in that organization, plus one additional season in independent ball. He had a career batting line of .273/.377/.407, playing at second base and third base.
41. OF Tony McClendon (HS) - Did not sign
McClendon was drafted again in 2010 in the 47th round by Oakland, but did not sign, and it does not appear that he ever played professionally.
42. OF Ryan Danbury (JC) - Did not sign
It appears that Danbury did not ever play professionally.
43. C Austin Green (HS) - Did not sign
Green was drafted by the Tigers in the 13th round in 2013 out of the University of San Diego and has played two seasons in that organization with a batting line of .261/.310/.416.
44. C Edmond Sparks (JC) - Did not sign
It appears that Sparks never played professionally.
45. LHP Grayson Garvin (HS) - Did not sign
Garvin was drafted by Tampa Bay in the first round (supplemental) in 2011 out of Vanderbilt. In three seasons (2012-2014) in the Rays organization, he has a 3.75 ERA and a 1.224 WHIP.
46. LHP Mike Modica (C) - Did not sign
Modica was re-drafted by the Astros in the 24th round in 2009 and played for the Astros for two seasons before being released in April 2011. He had a 4.18 ERA and a 1.546 WHIP for his career.
47. OF Nathan Metroka (JC) - Released in 2009
Metroka played in the Astros system for two seasons, hitting .252/.317/.357.
48. RHP Danny Meszaros (C) - Released in 2013
Meszaros played in the system from 2008 through 2011 and sat out 2012 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. After his release in March 2013, he played one season of independent ball. He has a 4.05 ERA and 1.357 WHIP for his career.
49. RHP Chase Lehr (JC) - Released in 2009
Lehr pitched in the organization for one season with a 6.52 ERA and a 2.276 WHIP before his release in May of 2009.
50. OF Jamal Austin (HS) - Did not sign
Austin was drafted by Seattle in the 13th round in 2013 out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and is still playing in that organization. In a total of 360 games, he has hit .290/.343/.356.
Previous draft reviews:
2007 Draft
2012 Draft
Thanks for doing these recaps and I look forward to more of them.
ReplyDeleteThis puts into perspective just how many players that are drafted end up NOT making it with any big league club. We all remember the names from the most recent drafts, but the fact of the matter is that most will never contribute. just wow.
The thing that stands out for me is that 20 of the players drafted did not sign. Compare that to the results under the current regime
ReplyDeletevery true. also noticed that from 2007.
ReplyDeleteA great problem to have is too many players to choose from. Sure, you're going to make a bad judgement call every once in a while (JD Martinez), but that is baseball. better to have the depth and let some go than to be in the position we were in a couple of years ago and had no other options but to implode and accept the basement for a couple of years.
Thanks for weighing in. Reportedly, one of the problems that Wade/Heck faced was that McLane really didn't understand how important a good farm system is to a club. He was also very hesitant to ever go over the bonus slots. I think Wade and Heck would likely have benefited from the bonus pools now in place that give teams a little more wiggle room in assigning bonuses. They might have been able to sign a couple of the HS players who were re-drafted later if they had a little extra room to maneuver. Of course, that's something that we'll never know.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're enjoying these. I find it interesting how things shake out over time.
Thanks for publishing this (series?), Jayne. It's interesting to read about what happened to these players.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed intended to be a series. I'd like to do one a week, but the work (though not at all difficult) is very tedious, so it may take me a while to do them all. Tedious and I don't get along well. :)
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