52 players drafted
35 players signed
5 players still in the Astros system (plus one re-drafted in 2013)
21 players still active in either affiliated or independent baseball in 2015*
26 position players drafted/16 signed/1 still in the system
13 from high school/5 signed/1 still in the system
1 from junior college/1 signed/0 still in the system
12 from college/10 signed/0 still in the system
26 pitchers drafted/19 signed/4 still in the system
11 from high school/4 signed/2 still in the system
2 from junior college/2 signed/0 still in the system
13 from college/13 signed/2 still in the system
*Of the 21 players who were still active in either affiliated or independent baseball in 2015, five are players who did not sign with Houston, but later signed with other teams, two were released by the Astros but are still playing in independent ball, seven were traded (three are still in affiliated ball and four are in independent ball), one was lost in the Rule 5 draft, and five are left in the system from the original draft (Velasquez, Pena, Buchanan, Shirley and Grills), plus one was re-drafted by the Astros and is still in the system (Chrismon). Four have made their major league debuts (DeShields, Foltynewicz, Velasquez and Buchanan).
Vince Velasquez - September 2014
Photo by Jayne Hansen
Here is a little on each of them. Players signed by the Astros 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. 2B Delino DeShields (HS) - Lost in the Rule 5 Draft in December 2014
DeShields was left unprotected for the 2014 Rule 5 Draft and the Rangers plunked him up and deposited him in their outfield with positive results. In 121 games for Texas in 2015, DeShields hit .261/.344/.374 with 22 doubles, 10 triples, two home runs and 25 stolen bases to eight caught stealing. In his five seasons in the Astros system, DeShields hit .267/.362/.396 with 86 doubles, 27 triples, 37 home runs and 241 stolen bases.
1. RHP Mike Foltynewicz (HS) - Traded in January 2015
Foltynewicz was drafted with the Tigers first round pick as compensation for losing free agent RHP Jose Valverde. He was traded, along with 3B Rio Ruiz and RHP Andrew Thurman, to the Braves for DH Evan Gattis and RHP James Hoyt. Folty was 4-6 with a 5.71 ERA and a 1.627 WHIP in 18 games (15 starts) for Atlanta in 2015 before being shut down for surgery to address a blood clot that was affecting his pitching arm.
1s. C Mike Kvasnicka (C) - Traded in 2013
Kvasnicka was a supplemental pick, also received for losing Valverde. He was traded to the Twins for RHP Gonzalo Sanudo in March 2013. He played outfield for the Twins AA affiliate in 2014, but was released by that organization in March 2015 and played independent league ball in 2015. He has a career .253/.311/.392 batting line. He was used primarily as an outfielder in the last couple of years.
2. RHP Vince Velasquez (HS)
Velasquez made his major league debut for the Astros on June 10, 2015 and went 1-1 with a 4.37 ERA and a 1.275 WHIP in 19 games (seven starts). In nine games (five starts) for Corpus Christi in 2015, he was 4-0 with a 1.91 ERA and a 1.000 WHIP.
3. 2B Austin Wates (C) - Traded in 2014
Wates (who never played second base in the organization and was an outfielder from day one) was included in the July 2014 trade to Miami, along with RHP Jarred Cosart and utility player Kiké Hernandez, in exchange for OF Jake Marisnick, RHP Francis Martes and 3B Colin Moran. Wates has a .288/.362/.391 career batting line.
4. RHP Bobby Doran (JC) - Traded in 2014
Doran was traded in July 2014 to the White Sox for SS Jeffry Santos and was subsequently released by that team in March 2015. Including Doran's 2015 season playing in independent ball, he has a career 4.81 ERA and 1.423 WHIP. Santos was released by the Astros in June 2015.
5. C Ben Heath (C) - Released in 2013
Prior to his release in March 2013, Ben Heath played in the system for three seasons, hitting .269/.340/.433 in 211 games. He had a 24% caught stealing rate.
6. RHP Adam Plutko (HS) - Did not sign
Plutko was drafted by Cleveland in the 11th round in 2013 out of the University of California at Los Angeles. After spending 2013 on the DL, Plutko has compiled a 3.16 ERA and a 1.052 WHIP in 55 starts over the last two seasons. He ended his season with the Indians AA affiliate.
7. C Roberto Peña (HS)
Peña spent his 2015 season with AA Corpus Christi, hitting .237/.284/.288. In his 72 games behind the plate, he caught 49% of would-be base stealers (45% over his career). Pena turned 23 in June.
8. RHP Jake Buchanan (C)
Buchanan was the first out of this draft class to make his major league debut on June 21, 2014, but spent the vast majority of his 2015 season with the AAA Fresno Grizzlies where he compiled a 4.76 ERA and a 1.512 WHIP in 30 games (seven starts). In his five relief outings for Houston, he had a 2.00 ERA and a 1.000 WHIP.
9. LHP Tommy Shirley (C)
Shirley was having a strong season for AAA Fresno when he ended up on the DL in late May (where he remained for the rest of the season). Prior to that, in 11 games (seven starts), he was 3-1 with a 3.07 ERA and a 1.049 WHIP.
10. LHP Evan Grills (HS)
Grills also spent a large chunk of his season on the DL. In 13 games (nine starts) for High A Lancaster, Grills had 7.20 ERA and a 1.667 WHIP before being shut down after his July 3rd appearance.
11. 3B Kyle Redinger (HS) - Released in 2012
Redinger played in only 101 games over three seasons, hitting .186/.268/.234. Redinger re-invented himself as a pitcher and is currently playing for the Brisbane Bandits in the Australian baseball league.
12. RHP Andrew Robinson (C) - Traded in 2014
Robinson was traded to the Braves in July 2014 for a PTBNL (Australian 1B Jared Cruz). In late July 2015, Robinson was released by the Braves and was subsequently signed by the Orioles. In 48 bullpen appearances between those two organizations in 2015, Robinson compiled a 3.18 ERA and a 1.027 WHIP.
13. 2B Davis Duren (C) - Did not sign
Duren went back to Oklahoma State for his senior year. It appears that he never played professionally.
14. OF Jordan Scott (HS) - Released March 2015
Scott had a career .273/.349/.349 batting line in 418 games in the Astros system.
15. RHP Jamaine Cotton (JC) - Released March 2015
After being released in March, Cotton went on to play independent ball in 2015. He has a career 4.75 ERA and a 1.564 WHIP.
16. C Chris Wallace (C) - Traded in 2013
Wallace was traded to Cleveland in April 2013 for LHP Eric Berger (who was subsequently traded to Oakland in early 2014 for cash). Wallace only appeared in 18 games for the AAA Indians affiliate in 2014, spending a large chunk of the season on the DL, and was subsequently released by them in April 2015. Wallace then joined the independent Atlantic League Sugar Land Skeeters in 2015, hitting .257/.317/.429 in 129 games.
17. 3B Tyler Burnett (C) - Released in 2012
Burnett actually played primarily at first base and was released 12 games in to his third season in 2012. In 186 games, he hit .244/.338/.359.
18. OF Josh Magee (C) - Released in 2012
Magee was released in July 2012, reportedly due to off-field issues. In 111 games, he hit .254/.314/.326. After his release, he went on to play football for the University of Alabama at Birmingham and for the University of South Alabama.
19. SS JaCoby Jones (HS) - Did not sign
Jones was drafted by the Pirates in the 3rd round in 2013 out of LSU and was traded by that organization to the Tigers in July 2015. In three minor league, he has hit .274/.335/.456. He was recently suspended 50 games for having a positive test for a drug of abuse.
20. OF Daniel Adamson (C) - Released in 2012
Adamson was released four games into the 2012 minor league season. In 146 games, he hit .259/.336/.424.
21. RHP Aaron Blair (HS) - Did not sign
Blair was a first round supplemental pick by the Diamondbacks in 2013 (out of Marshall University). In three seasons, he has a 3.22 ERA and a 1.168 WHIP, and finished his 2015 at the D'Backs AAA affiliate.
22. C Zach Dygert (C) - Did not sign
It appears that Dygert never played professionally.
23. OF Adam Bailey (C) - Released in 2013
Bailey was released in March 2013 and went on to play in independent ball from 2013 through 2015. His career batting line is .279/.326/.453.
24. LHP Adam Champion (C) - Released in 2012
Champion pitched two seasons in the Astros system prior to his March 2012 release and then pitched three seasons in independent ball through 2013 to finish with a lifetime 4.87 ERA and 1.524 WHIP.
25. RHP Rodney Quintero (JC) - Released in 2012
Quintero pitched for three seasons in the organization, ending with a career 5.67 ERA and 1.761 WHIP.
26. LHP Alex Sogard (C) - Traded in 2014
Sogard was traded to the Diamondbacks in July 2014 for 3B Cesar Carrasco and was subsequently released by that organization in December 2014. Sogard went on to pitch in independent league ball in 2015 and has a career 4.44 ERA and 1.476 WHIP.
27. SS Jacke Healey (C) - Released in 2011
Healey played in the Astros system for two seasons, hitting .163/.228/.302 in 93 games.
28. RHP Jason Chowning (C) - Released in 2012
Chowning pitched three seasons in the organization prior to his release in July 2012. He had a lifetime 3.08 ERA and 1.274 WHIP. He struck out 136 in 117 innings pitched.
29. OF Broughan Jantz (HS) - Did not sign
Jantz pursued football instead of baseball, playing at City College of San Francisco and the University of Sioux Falls.
30. OF Kellen Kiilsgaard (C) - Released in 2012
Kiilsgaard sat out the 2010 season due to injury and only played one season in 2011, hitting .161/.213/.246 before his release in January 2012.
31. LHP Travis Blankenship (C) - Released in 2012
Blankenship played in the system for two seasons, compiling a 3.12 ERA and a 1.220 WHIP in 45 bullpen appearances before being released in January 2012.
32. RHP Austin Chrismon (HS) - Did not sign
The Astros drafted Chrismon again in 2013, this time in the 26th round out of East Carolina University. He finished the 2015 season with the High A Lancaster team.
33. RHP Michael Ness (C) - Released in 2012
Ness pitched in the Astros organization for two seasons. After his release in March 2012, he went on to play two more seasons in independent ball, ending his career with a 4.02 ERA and a 1.341 WHIP.
34. RHP Ryan Cole (C) - Released in 2012
Cole pitched in the system for two seasons and ended his career with a 2.61 ERA and a 1.194 WHIP in 48 outings.
35. 1B Esteban Gomez (HS) - Did not sign
Gomez went on to play for San Jacinto Community College in 2011 and 2012, but it does not appear that he ever played professionally.
36. RHP Ryan Halstead (HS) - Did not sign
Halstead went on to play for Indiana University from 2011 through 2015. He was drafted by the Twins in 2013 and didn't sign, but finally signed with the Giants after being drafted in the 21st round in 2015. In his first pro season, he appeared in 23 games for the Giants Low A affiliate and compiled a 2.33 ERA and a 0.815 WHIP with eight saves.
37. RHP Brian Streilein (C) - Released in 2012
Streilein pitched in the system from 2010 through his release in July 2012. He had a lifetime 5.29 ERA and 1.424 WHIP.
38. 1B Ryan Ford (HS) - Did not sign
Ford played for the University of Texas in 2011, Navarro Junior College in 2012 and Florida Gulf Coast University in 2013. It appears that he is no longer playing and never played professionally.
39. RHP Krishawn Holley (HS) - Released May 2015
Holley played in the Astros system for five seasons, compiling a 2.92 ERA and a 1.354 WHIP in 59 games prior to his release in May of this year.
40. LHP Jeremiah Meiners (C) - Released in 2013
Meiners was released in March 2013 after pitching in the organization for three seasons. In 58 games, he had a 3.51 ERA and a 1.217 WHIP.
41. OF Bryce Lane (JC) - Released in 2012
Lane played in the Astros system for two seasons and then one additional season in independent ball in 2012 after his March release, ending his career with a .254/.331/.357 batting line.
42. RHP Paul Gerrish (C) - Released/retired after the 2010 season
The date that Gerrish was released/retired is not available, but he only pitched in the organization for one season in 2010. In 14 games, he had a 4.56 ERA and a 1.521 WHIP.
43. SS DeMarcus Henderson (HS) - Did not sign
Henderson played for Mississippi State from 2011 through 2014 and has not played professionally.
44. RHP Alexis Garza (HS) - Did not sign
Garza last played for the University of the Incarnate Word in 2014 and has not played professionally.
45. SS Ian Vazquez (HS) - Did not sign
Vazquez played for Wagner College in New York in 2011 and Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina from 2012 through 2014 and has not played professionally.
46. LHP Lawrence Pardo (HS) - Did not sign
Pardo was drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 38th round in 2014. In his first two professional seasons, he has a 4.73 ERA and a 1.392 WHIP.
47. SS Joe Carcone (HS) - Did not sign
Carcone played for Bryant University in Rhode Island for two years and then transferred to the College of Saint Rose in Albany where he played in 2013, sat out the 2014 season and played again in 2015. He has not played professionally.
48. RHP T.J. Pecoraro (HS) - Did not sign
Pecoraro played for Vanderbilt from 2011 through 2014 and has not played professionally.
49. C Kenny Diaz (HS) - Released in 2012
Diaz was released after playing three seasons in the system, hitting .212/.307/.257.
50. OF David Donald (HS) - Did not sign
Donald played one season for Tallahassee Community College in 2011, one season for Spartanburg Methodist College (see this article for the unusual way that came about) in 2012 and two years for Tennessee Weslayan in 2013 and 2014. He has not played professionally.
Previous draft reviews:
2007 Draft
2008 Draft
2009 Draft
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