Astros Farm Report: 3/6

If you've been missing my regular posts, you can easily remedy that by buying my book and you will be inundated with enough good stuff to last you for months!!! With that said, things will start picking up this week when I'll be bringing you an interview with a below-the-radar pitcher and a few other things to whet your appetite for the minor league season to come. Also, listen for me on the Talking Stros broadcast this week at 7:00 on Tuesday!

WISHING A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO

3-8: RHP Joshua James (23)
3-8: RHP Eric Peterson (23)
3-10: 2B/SS Mott Hyde (24)
3-12: DH/1B Jose Hernandez (20)
3-12: C Orlando Marquez (20)

Josh James - August 2015

Photo by Jayne Hansen

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Got heem! #AstrosST pic.twitter.com/RgzERZFALd

— Houston Astros (@astros) March 5, 2016

NEWS AND LINKS

With only three games under their belts this spring, it's a wee bit early to even say who's having a good or bad spring yet, but Andrew Aplin got off to a nice start (2-for-5 2B R in 3 games) at the plate. And RHP Chris Devenski had a nice two-inning outing on Saturday (2H 0R 0BB 4SO).

In case you missed it, I compiled this consensus listing of the Top 24 Prospects in the Astros organization. That was after MLB Pipeline rolled out its Top 30 Astros Prospect List and declared the Astros to be the 10th best farm system in baseball.

Astros MLB beat writer Brian McTaggart takes a look at 3B prospect Colin Moran.

Following Baseball America's ranking of A.J. Reed in the top spot among first basemen last week, this week they looked at second base, shortstop, third base, center field, and left/right field. See how Tony Kemp, Alex Bregman, Nolan Fontana, Colin Moran, J.D. Davis, Daz Cameron, Kyle Tucker, Derek Fisher and Jon Kemmer stack up against their peers.

MiLB.com has the Astros at number 13 (of 30 organizations) when it comes to pitching depth. Hmmm. Wonder how many spots they would have jumped if Vince Velasquez was still in the system?

(Some of the Chronicle links are premium, but worth getting a subscription for!)

Jose de Jesus Ortiz cuts to the chase with the 10 questions that will need to be answered in Spring Training.

The Stassi Brothers enjoyed their reunion even though they were in opposing dugouts.

Joe Musgrove's command is no longer a secret.

Tyler White's bat is garnering some attention.

Colby Rasmus and Carlos Gomez do a solid for the newbies.

James Hoyt gets some love.

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For tons more on the Astros minor league system, the 2016 Houston Farm System Handbook is an indispensible reference book with player profiles, stats, depth charts, photos, links to video and interviews, comparative stats and more!!! Buy yours today!