Composition of the Astros System: Position Players

I'll admit it. I like to look at details that most people don't care about, and for the most part, probably don't matter very much either. But I still find these things interesting. And maybe you will as well. Or maybe not. All information includes both major league players and minor league players in the Astros system as of the end of the 2012 season. I may be missing one or two players but the underlying data should be pretty darned accurate.

ASTROS POSITION PLAYERS (140)

PLACE OF BIRTH
83 - United States (25 states and the District of Columbia)*
31 - Dominican Republic
11 - Venezuela
9 - Puerto Rico
2 - Colombia
2 - Nicaragua
1 - South Korea
1 - Australia

*U.S. Breakdown
24 - California
10 - Florida
8 - Texas
6 - Georgia
5 - Ohio
4 - Illinois
2 each - Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington
1 each - Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Washington DC

WHEN/HOW SIGNED
The dates may be off on an occasional winter signing or a Latin free agent who did not play until the following year, but this should still serve to give you a general idea.

• 2005 - Drafted (2 - 1 college & 1 community college)
• 2006 - Latin American Free Agents (2)
• 2007 - Latin American Free Agents (2)
• 2008 - Latin American Free Agents (5); Drafted (4 - 3 college & 1 high school)
• 2009 - Drafted (11 - 6 college & 5 high school); Latin American Free Agents (2); Pacific Rim Free Agent (1)
• 2010 - Drafted (10 - 5 high school & 5 college); Latin American Free Agents (10); Trades (4); U.S. Non-Drafted Free Agents (2); Free Agent (1); Waiver Claim (1)
• 2011 - Drafted (17 - 15 college & 2 high school); Latin American Free Agents (8); Free Agents (5); Trades (4); Waiver Claims (2); U.S. Non-Drafted Free Agent (1); Rule 5/Trade (1)
• 2012 - Drafted (17 - 12 college, 3 high school & 2 community college); Latin American Free Agents (9); Trades (8); Free Agents (6); Waiver Claims (2); U.S. Non-drafted Free Agents (2); Pacific Rim Free Agent (1)

Totals
42 - Drafted out of College
16 - Drafted out of High School
3 - Drafted out of Community College
38 - Latin American Free Agents
2 - Pacific Rim Free Agents
5 - U.S. Non-Drafted Free Agents
16 - Trades
12 - Free Agents
5 - Waiver Claims
1 - Rule 5/Trade (Marwin Gonzalez was a Rule 5 pick by the Red Sox and then was immediately traded to Houston)

DRAFT PICKS BY ROUND
In addition to those players drafted by the Astros, there have been numerous players added to the system that were drafted by other teams. For example, in addition to seven first round picks (including supplemental first rounders) drafted by the Astros, there are an additional nine players who were first round picks by other teams that are now in the system. Here is the breakdown by round. (As a reminder, this is for position players only).

16 - 1st round
4 - 2nd round
4 - 3rd round
3 - 4th round
3 - 5th round
5 - 6th round
3 - 7th round
3 - 8th round
2 - 9th round
1 - 10th round
3 - 11th round
3 - 12th round
3 - 13th round
3 - 14th round
2 - 15th round
2 - 16th round
1 - 17th round
1 - 18th round
2 - 19th round
2 - 20th round
2 - 21st round
1 - 22nd round
2 - 23rd round
1 - 24th round
1 - 25th round
2 - 27th round
1 - 28th round
2 - 29th round
2 - 31st round
2 - 35th round
2 - 36th round
1 - 41st round
1 - 45th round
1 - 49th round

BATTERS
87 - Bat right-handed
36 - Bat left-handed
16 - Switch hitters
1 - Unknown

POSITION
63 - Infielders primarily
50 - Outfielders primarily
27 - Catchers

Up next - Pitchers