2015 Consensus Astros Top Prospect Listings

MLB Pipeline came out with their Astros Top 30 Prospects yesterday and I have incorporated that information and added consensus ranking information by compiling all of the various lists into one and ranking them by their average. I will keep this information posted on the sidebar of the front page throughout the season for future reference.

Now that you've seen the Top 30 or so prospects in the Astros system, it's time to check out the 2015 Houston Farm System Handbook. There you will find information on over 250 players in the Astros system, including many who will make these lists for the first time next year. Read up now and get ahead of the experts!

Carlos Correa - May 2014

Photo by Jayne Hansen

Cumulative Prospect Rankings:
(All of those ranked 1-10 were on at least 5 of 6 lists; all those ranked 11-21 were on at least 3 of 6 lists)

1. SS Carlos Correa
2. RHP Mark Appel

3. RHP Vince Velasquez

4. OF Brett Phillips

5. RHP Michael Feliz

6. OF Domingo Santana

7. 3B Colin Moran

8. RHP Lance McCullers

9. OF Teoscar Hernandez

10. LHP Josh Hader

11. OF Derek Fisher

12. 1B A.J. Reed

13. 3B J.D. Davis

T14. OF Preston Tucker

T14. 2B Tony Kemp

16. IF Nolan Fontana

17. RHP Joe Musgrove

18. C Max Stassi

19. OF Danry Vasquez

20. RHP Brady Rodgers

21. IF Ronald Torreyes

FanGraphs: 10/10/2014
Top 200 List: 2/17/15

1. SS Carlos Correa (#5 on top 200)
2. RHP Mark Appel (#18 on top 200)
3. RHP Vince Velasquez (#75 on top 200)
4. 3B Colin Moran (#121 on top 200)
5. 3B Rio Ruiz - Traded to the Braves (#43 on top 200)
6. RHP Lance McCullers (#126 on top 200)
7. RHP Mike Foltynewicz - Traded to the Braves (#69 on top 200)
8. OF Brett Phillips (#107 on top 200)
9. OF Domingo Santana
10. OF Teoscar Hernandez
11. RHP Nick Tropeano - Traded to the Angels
12. OF Derek Fisher
13. 1B A.J. Reed
14. LHP Josh Hader
15. RHP Michael Feliz
16. IF Nolan Fontana
17. 3B J.D. Davis
18. OF Preston Tucker
19. C Max Stassi
20. LHP Kent Emanuel
21. RHP Andrew Thurman - Traded to the Braves
22. RHP Joe Musgrove
23. 2B Tony Kemp
24. RHP Brady Rodgers
25. OF Delino DeShields - Claimed in the Rule 5 Draft
26. IF Ronald Torreyes

Baseball America: 11/24/14 [UPDATED 3/2/15]
(This is the updated list of the top 31 from the recently released prospect handbook.)

1. SS Carlos Correa
2. RHP Mark Appel
3. RHP Mike Foltynewicz - traded to Atlanta
4. RHP Vince Velasquez
5. RHP Michael Feliz
6. OF Brett Phillips
7. 3B Colin Moran
8. 3B Rio Ruiz - traded to Atlanta
9. OF Teoscar Hernandez
10. LHP Josh Hader
11. RHP Lance McCullers
12. OF Domingo Santana
13. OF Derek Fisher
14. OF Preston Tucker
15. 3B J.D. Davis
16. 1B A.J. Reed
17. RHP Frances Martes
18. 2B/OF Tony Kemp
19. RHP Joe Musgrove
20. C Max Stassi
21. RHP Adrian Houser
22. RHP Brady Rodgers
23. C Roberto Pena
24. 2B/UT Ronald Torreyes
25. OF Andrew Aplin
26. LHP Kent Emanuel
27. RHP Jake Buchanan
28. RHP Asher Wojciechowski
29. RHP Andrew Thurman - traded to Atlanta
30. OF Danry Vasquez
31. 1B Conrad Gregor

MinorLeagueBall.com (John Sickels): 1/27/15

1. SS Carlos Correa
2. RHP Mark Appel
3. RHP Michael Feliz
4. RHP Vince Velasquez
5. OF Domingo Santana
6. OF Brett Phillips
7. LHP Josh Hader
8. RHP Lance McCullers
9. OF Derek Fisher
10. OF Teoscar Hernandez
11. 3B Colin Moran
12. 2B Tony Kemp
13. 3B J.D. Davis
14. 1B A.J. Reed
15. 1B Conrad Gregor
16. IF Nolan Fontana
17. C Max Stassi
18. OF Danry Vasquez
19. OF Preston Tucker
20. RHP Kyle Smith

Keith Law ESPN: 1/30/15 (Insider only)

1. SS Carlos Correa (#3 on top 100)
2. RHP Mark Appel (#44 on top 100)
3. RHP Vince Velasquez (#56 on top 100)
4. 3B Colin Moran (#73 on top 100)
5. OF Brett Phillips (#76 on top 100)
6. RHP Lance McCullers
7. RHP Michael Feliz
8. OF Derek Fisher
9. LHP Josh Hader
10. 3B J.D. Davis

Baseball Prospectus: 2/4/15

1. SS Carlos Correa
2. RHP Mark Appel
3. RHP Vince Velasquez
4. OF Brett Phillips
5. OF Derek Fisher
6. RHP Michael Feliz
7. RHP Lance McCullers
8. OF Domingo Santana
9. 3B Colin Moran
10. OF Teoscar Hernandez

MLB Pipeline: 3/18/15

1. SS Carlos Correa (#3 overall; #1 in shortstops)
2. RHP Mark Appel (#30 overall)
3. OF Domingo Santana (#71 overall)
4. RHP Vince Velasquez (#86 overall)
5. RHP Michael Feliz
6. 3B Colin Moran (#9 at third base)
7. OF Brett Phillips
8. OF Teoscar Hernandez
9. LHP Josh Hader
10. RHP Lance McCullers
11. OF Derek Fisher
12. 1B A.J. Reed (#5 at first base)
13. 3B J.D. Davis
14. 2B Tony Kemp
15. OF Preston Tucker
16. RHP Joe Musgrove
17. IF Nolan Fontana
18. RHP Kyle Smith
19. C Max Stassi
20. OF Danry Vasquez
21. RHP Frances Martes
22. RHP Daniel Mengden
23. RHP Asher Wojciechowski
24. RHP James Hoyt
25. RHP Adrian Houser
26. RHP Brady Rodgers
27. OF Andrew Aplin
28. IF Ronald Torreyes
29. SS Joan Mauricio
30. SS/OF Osvaldo Duarte

>>>>>>><<<<<<<

Please consider purchasing my new e-book, the "2015 Houston Farm System Handbook." The book can be read immediately on your kindle, and can also be read on virtually any computer, tablet or smart phone by downloading the Free Kindle Reading App.

Astros Top Prospect Rankings (Updated)

I have been remiss in keeping everyone updated with all of the Astros top prospect rankings that have come out over the last few months. Here is what we have thus far [UPDATED WITH FANGRAPH'S TOP 200 OVERALL AND BASEBALL AMERICA'S ASTROS TOP 31]:

Carlos Correa - May 2014

Photo by Jayne Hansen

FanGraphs: 10/10/2014
Top 200 List: 2/17/15

1. SS Carlos Correa (#5 on top 200)
2. RHP Mark Appel (#18 on top 200)
3. RHP Vince Velasquez (#75 on top 200)
4. 3B Colin Moran (#121 on top 200)
5. 3B Rio Ruiz - Traded to the Braves (#43 on top 200)
6. RHP Lance McCullers (#126 on top 200)
7. RHP Mike Foltynewicz - Traded to the Braves (#69 on top 200)
8. OF Brett Phillips (#107 on top 200)
9. OF Domingo Santana
10. OF Teoscar Hernandez
11. RHP Nick Tropeano - Traded to the Angels
12. OF Derek Fisher
13. 1B A.J. Reed
14. LHP Josh Hader
15. RHP Michael Feliz
16. IF Nolan Fontana
17. 3B J.D. Davis
18. OF Preston Tucker
19. C Max Stassi
20. LHP Kent Emanuel
21. RHP Andrew Thurman - Traded to the Braves
22. RHP Joe Musgrove
23. 2B Tony Kemp
24. RHP Brady Rodgers
25. OF Delino DeShields - Claimed in the Rule 5 Draft
26. IF Ronald Torreyes

Baseball America: 11/24/14 [UPDATED 3/2/15]
(This is the updated list of the top 31 from the recently released prospect handbook.)

1. SS Carlos Correa
2. RHP Mark Appel
3. RHP Mike Foltynewicz - traded to Atlanta
4. RHP Vince Velasquez
5. RHP Michael Feliz
6. OF Brett Phillips
7. 3B Colin Moran
8. 3B Rio Ruiz - traded to Atlanta
9. OF Teoscar Hernandez
10. LHP Josh Hader
11. RHP Lance McCullers
12. OF Domingo Santana
13. OF Derek Fisher
14. OF Preston Tucker
15. 3B J.D. Davis
16. 1B A.J. Reed
17. RHP Frances Martes
18. 2B/OF Tony Kemp
19. RHP Joe Musgrove
20. C Max Stassi
21. RHP Adrian Houser
22. RHP Brady Rodgers
23. C Roberto Pena
24. 2B/UT Ronald Torreyes
25. OF Andrew Aplin
26. LHP Kent Emanuel
27. RHP Jake Buchanan
28. RHP Asher Wojciechowski
29. RHP Andrew Thurman
30. OF Danry Vasquez
31. 1B Conrad Gregor

MinorLeagueBall.com (John Sickels): 1/27/15

1. SS Carlos Correa
2. RHP Mark Appel
3. RHP Michael Feliz
4. RHP Vince Velasquez
5. OF Domingo Santana
6. OF Brett Phillips
7. LHP Josh Hader
8. RHP Lance McCullers
9. OF Derek Fisher
10. OF Teoscar Hernandez
11. 3B Colin Moran
12. 2B Tony Kemp
13. 3B J.D. Davis
14. 1B A.J. Reed
15. 1B Conrad Gregor
16. IF Nolan Fontana
17. C Max Stassi
18. OF Danry Vasquez
19. OF Preston Tucker
20. RHP Kyle Smith

Keith Law ESPN: 1/30/15 (Insider only)

1. SS Carlos Correa (#3 on top 100)
2. RHP Mark Appel (#44 on top 100)
3. RHP Vince Velasquez (#56 on top 100)
4. 3B Colin Moran (#73 on top 100)
5. OF Brett Phillips (#76 on top 100)
6. RHP Lance McCullers
7. RHP Michael Feliz
8. OF Derek Fisher
9. LHP Josh Hader
10. 3B J.D. Davis

Baseball Prospectus: 2/4/15

1. SS Carlos Correa
2. RHP Mark Appel
3. RHP Vince Velasquez
4. OF Brett Phillips
5. OF Derek Fisher
6. RHP Michael Feliz
7. RHP Lance McCullers
8. OF Domingo Santana
9. 3B Colin Moran
10. OF Teoscar Hernandez

Jonathan Mayo's MLB Pipeline (Postseason)
This is Mayo's postseason list as updated by taking off players from the recent trades. He will be rolling out his official preseason lists over the next few weeks. However, the notes on top 100 and top prospect by position are current information.

1. SS Carlos Correa (#3 overall; #1 in shortstops)
2. RHP Mark Appel (#30 overall)
3. OF Domingo Santana (#71 overall)
4. 3B Colin Moran (#9 at third base)
5. RHP Lance McCullers
6. RHP Michael Feliz
7. RHP Vince Velasquez (#86 overall)
8. LHP Josh Hader
9. OF Teoscar Hernandez
10. OF Derek Fisher
11. 1B A.J. Reed (#5 at first base)
12. OF Brett Phillips
13. RHP Kyle Smith
14. IF Nolan Fontana
15. 2B Tony Kemp
16. C Max Stassi
17. OF Preston Tucker
18. 3B J.D. Davis
19. OF Danry Vasquez
20. RHP Asher Wojciechowski

I will update the list when MLB Pipeline updates their list and then I will do a consensus top 20 (or so) by putting all of the lists together.

>>>>>>><<<<<<<

Please consider purchasing my new e-book, the "2015 Houston Farm System Handbook." The book can be read immediately on your kindle, and can also be read on virtually any computer or tablet by downloading the Free Kindle Reading App.

Astros 2015 Top Prospect Rankings

I have been remiss in keeping everyone updated with all of the Astros top prospect rankings that have come out over the last few months. Here is what we have thus far:

Carlos Correa - May 2014

Photo by Jayne Hansen

FanGraphs: 10/10/2014

1. SS Carlos Correa
2. RHP Mark Appel
3. RHP Vince Velasquez
4. 3B Colin Moran
5. 3B Rio Ruiz - Traded to the Braves
6. RHP Lance McCullers
7. RHP Mike Foltynewicz - Traded to the Braves
8. OF Brett Phillips
9. OF Domingo Santana
10. OF Teoscar Hernandez
11. RHP Nick Tropeano - Traded to the Angels
12. OF Derek Fisher
13. 1B A.J. Reed
14. LHP Josh Hader
15. RHP Michael Feliz
16. IF Nolan Fontana
17. 3B J.D. Davis
18. OF Preston Tucker
19. C Max Stassi
20. LHP Kent Emanuel
21. RHP Andrew Thurman - Traded to the Braves
22. RHP Joe Musgrove
23. 2B Tony Kemp
24. RHP Brady Rodgers
25. OF Delino DeShields - Claimed in the Rule 5 Draft
26. IF Ronald Torreyes

Baseball America: 11/24/14 [UPDATED 2/4/15]
(This is the updated list of the top 10: the full 30+ list will be coming shortly with their prospect handbook.)

1. SS Carlos Correa
2. RHP Mark Appel
3. RHP Vince Velasquez
4. RHP Michael Feliz
5. OF Brett Phillips
6. 3B Colin Moran
7. OF Teoscar Hernandez
8. LHP Josh Hader
9. RHP Lance McCullers
10. OF Domingo Santana

MinorLeagueBall.com (John Sickels): 1/27/15

1. SS Carlos Correa
2. RHP Mark Appel
3. RHP Michael Feliz
4. RHP Vince Velasquez
5. OF Domingo Santana
6. OF Brett Phillips
7. LHP Josh Hader
8. RHP Lance McCullers
9. OF Derek Fisher
10. OF Teoscar Hernandez
11. 3B Colin Moran
12. 2B Tony Kemp
13. 3B J.D. Davis
14. 1B A.J. Reed
15. 1B Conrad Gregor
16. IF Nolan Fontana
17. C Max Stassi
18. OF Danry Vasquez
19. OF Preston Tucker
20. RHP Kyle Smith

Keith Law ESPN: 1/30/15 (Insider only)

1. SS Carlos Correa (#3 on top 100)
2. RHP Mark Appel (#44 on top 100)
3. RHP Vince Velasquez (#56 on top 100)
4. 3B Colin Moran (#73 on top 100)
5. OF Brett Phillips (#76 on top 100)
6. RHP Lance McCullers
7. RHP Michael Feliz
8. OF Derek Fisher
9. LHP Josh Hader
10. 3B J.D. Davis

Baseball Prospectus: 2/4/15

1. SS Carlos Correa
2. RHP Mark Appel
3. RHP Vince Velasquez
4. OF Brett Phillips
5. OF Derek Fisher
6. RHP Michael Feliz
7. RHP Lance McCullers
8. OF Domingo Santana
9. 3B Colin Moran
10. OF Teoscar Hernandez

Jonathan Mayo's MLB Pipeline (Postseason)
This is Mayo's postseason list as updated by taking off players from the recent trades. He will be rolling out his official preseason lists over the next few weeks. However, the notes on top 100 and top prospect by position are current information.

1. SS Carlos Correa (#3 overall; #1 in shortstops)
2. RHP Mark Appel (#30 overall)
3. OF Domingo Santana (#71 overall)
4. 3B Colin Moran (#9 at third base)
5. RHP Lance McCullers
6. RHP Michael Feliz
7. RHP Vince Velasquez (#86 overall)
8. LHP Josh Hader
9. OF Teoscar Hernandez
10. OF Derek Fisher
11. 1B A.J. Reed (#5 at first base)
12. OF Brett Phillips
13. RHP Kyle Smith
14. IF Nolan Fontana
15. 2B Tony Kemp
16. C Max Stassi
17. OF Preston Tucker
18. 3B J.D. Davis
19. OF Danry Vasquez
20. RHP Asher Wojciechowski

I will update the list when Baseball America and MLB Pipeline update their lists and then I will do a consensus top 20 (or so) by putting all of the lists together.

Astros MiLB League Leaders and Rankings

Wednesday's Astros MiLB games marked the end of the first full week of play for the teams. Let's check in and see how the teams and the players are doing within their respective leagues.

Oklahoma City (5-2, 1st place)

Team Pitching (16 teams in league)
3.57 ERA - 6th
1.10 WHIP - 2nd

Team Batting
.252 AVG - 10th
.329 OBP - 10th
.406 SLG - T9th

Paul Clemens
1.13 ERA - 7th
0.75 WHIP - 9th

Jason Stoffel
3 Saves - T1st

Rudy Owens
10 strikeouts - T6th

George Springer
8 Runs - T3rd
3 Doubles - T3rd

Ronny Torreyes
10 Hits - T7th

Max Stassi
8 RBI - T6th

Jon Singleton
5 Walks - T5th
11 Strikeouts - T5th

Austin Wates
3 SB - T1st
.417 AVG - T9th
.708 SLG - T10th
1.190 OPS - T10th

Corpus Christi (5-1, 1st place)

Team Pitching (8 teams in the league)
3.43 ERA - 3rd
1.39 WHIP - 4th

Team Batting
.251 AVG - 5th
.339 OBP - 4th
.358 SLG - 5th

Tommy Shirley
0.00 ERA - T1st
0.60 WHIP - T4th

Travis Ballew
2 Saves - T1st

David Rollins
10 strikeouts - 4th

Andrew Aplin
10 walks - 1st
.500 OBP - 5th

Delino DeShields
6 Runs - T2nd
4 SB - T2nd

Preston Tucker
6 Runs - T2nd
8 Hits - T7th

Matt Duffy
4 Doubles - 1st

Jio Mier
6 RBI - T5th

Lancaster (5-2, tied for 1st place)

Team Pitching (10 teams in the league)
3.29 ERA - T3rd
1.17 WHIP - T3rd

Team Batting
.268 AVG - 4th
.357 OBP - 2nd
.406 SLG - 6th

Kyle Westwood
1.00 ERA - 9th

Vincent Velasquez
0.63 WHIP - 3rd

Josh Hader
14 Strikeouts - 2nd

Tony Kemp
.400 AVG - T7th
.500 OBP - T5th
1.100 OPS - 8th
5 Walks - T4th
10 Runs - 2nd
10 Hits - T7th

Teoscar Hernandez
.643 SLG - 10th
3 Triples - 1st

Brandon Meredith
2 HR - T6th

Carlos Correa
8 RBI - T6th

Quad Cities (2-4, 8th place)

Team Pitching (16 teams in the league)
4.03 ERA - 12th
1.29 WHIP - T8th

Team Batting
.267 AVG - 4th
.390 OBP - 1st (1st in BB as well)
.323 SLG - 9th

None of the QC pitchers rank in the Top 10 in ERA or WHIP, but Kent Emanuel ranks highest with his 1.13 ERA (23rd) and 0.63 WHIP (14th).

Austin Elkins
.421 AVG - 4th
1.000 SLG - 10th
8 Hits - T5th

Jack Mayfield
.478 OBP - 6th
7 Runs - T1st

Tyler White
6 RBI - T3rd

Conrad Gregor
8 Walks - T1st

James Ramsay
5 SB - 3rd

Astros Top Prospect and Farm System Rankings - UPDATED

Prospect Rankings have been coming out fast and furious and there will be more to come over the next few weeks as Baseball America releases its Top 100 list and Jonathan Mayo at MLB.com releases his Top 20 pre-season list for each organization. I will also expect to see more Farm System Rankings come out in the not-so-distant future. I will update this post as rankings are released and come up with a Consensus Top Prospect List when all the information is available.

Here's what we have so far:

ORGANIZATIONAL TOP PROSPECT LISTS

Baseball America's Organizational Top 10 (1/21/14)
1. SS Carlos Correa
2. OF George Springer
3. RHP Mark Appel
4. RHP Mike Foltynewicz
5. RHP Lance McCullers
6. RHP Vincent Velasquez
7. 1B Jon Singleton
8. OF Domingo Santana
9. RHP Michael Feliz
10. RHP Asher Wojciechowski

UPDATE: I got the BA Prospect Handbook in the mail today so I can now reveal their rankings of #11-31 in the Astros system.

11. 3B Rio Ruiz
12. C Max Stassi
13. OF Delino DeShields
14. LHP Josh Hader
15. RHP Andrew Thurman
16. OF Teoscar Hernandez
17. LHP Kevin Chapman
18. RHP Nick Tropeano
19. OF Andrew Aplin
20. SS Nolan Fontana
21. RHP Jake Buchanan
22. RHP Kyle Smith
23. LHP Kent Emanuel
24. LHP Chris Lee
25. OF Leo Heras
26. RHP Gonzalo Sanudo
27. RHP Jandel Gustave
28. LHP Reymin Guduan
29. OF Danry Vasquez
30. OF Brett Phillips
31. 2B/SS Ronald Torreyes

Baseball Prospectus' Organizational Top 10 (11/4/13)
1. SS Carlos Correa
2. OF George Springer
3. RHP Mark Appel
4. RHP Mike Foltynewicz
5. 1B Jon Singleton
6. RHP Vincent Velasquez
7. RHP Lance McCullers
8. OF Domingo Santana
9. 3B Rio Ruiz
10. RHP Michael Feliz

Keith Law's ESPN.com Organizational Top 10 (1/30/14) via House of Houston
1. SS Carlos Correa
2. RHP Mark Appel
3. OF George Springer
4. RHP Mike Foltynewicz
5. 1B Jon Singleton
6. OF Delino DeShields
7. RHP Vincent Velasquez
8. RHP Lance McCullers
9. 3B Rio Ruiz
10. RHP Michael Feliz

John Sickels (minorleagueball.com) Organizational Top 20 (2/18/14)
1. SS Carlos Correa
2. OF George Springer
3. RHP Mark Appel
4. RHP Mike Foltynewicz
5. RHP Lance McCullers
6. RHP Vincent Velasquez
7. OF Domingo Santana
8. RHP Michael Feliz
9. 1B Jon Singleton
10. 3B Rio Ruiz
11. OF Delino DeShields
12. RHP Asher Wojciechowski
13. C Max Stassi
14. RHP Nick Tropeano
15. LHP Josh Hader
16. RHP Kyle Smith
17. RHP Andrew Thurman
18. OF Danry Vasquez
19. OF Teoscar Hernandez
20. SS Nolan Fontana

Jonathan Mayo's MLB.com Organizational Top 20 (coming in March)

OVERALL TOP PROSPECT LISTS

Baseball Prospectus' Top 101 Prospect List (1/27/14)
5. SS Carlos Correa
20. OF George Springer
21. RHP Mark Appel
43. RHP Mike Foltynewicz
57. 1B Jon Singleton

Jonathan Mayo's MLB.com Top 100 (1/23/14)
8. SS Carlos Correa (#3 on SS list)
17. RHP Mark Appel (#6 on RHP list)
21. OF George Springer (#5 on OF list)
50. 1B Jon Singleton (#1 on 1B list)
52. RHP Lance McCullers
54. RHP Mike Foltynewicz
66. OF Delino DeShields

Here's my take on how the 2014 list compared to 2013, as well as how the Astros fared vs. the other AL West teams.

Keith Law's ESPN.com Top 100 Prospect List (1/29/14) via Astros County
4. SS Carlos Correa
11. RHP Mark Appel
19. OF George Springer
70. RHP Mike Foltynewicz
78. 1B Jon Singleton
80. OF Delino DeShields
82. RHP Vincent Velasquez

Fan Graphs Top 100 Prospect List (2/11/14)
9. SS Carlos Correa (#4 on SS list)
14. OF George Springer (#3 on OF list)
26. RHP Mark Appel (#14 on Pitcher list)
55. 1B Jon Singleton (#1 on 1B list)
57. RHP Mike Foltynewicz (#27 on Pitcher list)
67. RHP Vincent Velasquez (#30 on Pitcher list)

Baseball America's Top 100 Prospect List (2/19/14)
7. SS Carlos Correa
18. OF George Springer
39. Mark Appel
59. Mike Foltynewicz
77. Lance McCullers
82. Jon Singleton

FARM SYSTEM RANKINGS

Keith Law's ESPN.com Farm System Rankings (1/28/14) via Astros County
2014 - Ranked 1st
2013 - Ranked 4th
2012 - Ranked 27th

Baseball America's Farm System Rankings (coming out in the Prospect Handbook)
However, they had this take in October that ranked the Astros system #2.
2014 - Ranked 5th in the new Prospect Handbook
2013 - Ranked 9th
2012 - Ranked 17th

John Sickels (minorleagueball.com) Farm System Rankings (coming ?)
2014 -
2013 - Ranked 10th
2012 - Ranked 25th

Baseball Prospectus' Farm System Rankings
2014 - Ranked 5th
2013 - Ranked 9th
2012 - Ranked 26th

Astros Top Prospect and Farm System Rankings

Prospect Rankings have been coming out fast and furious and there will be more to come over the next few weeks as Baseball America releases its Top 100 list and Jonathan Mayo at MLB.com releases his Top 20 pre-season list for each organization. I will also expect to see more Farm System Rankings come out in the not-so-distant future. I will update this post as rankings are released and come up with a Consensus Top Prospect List when all the information is available.

Here's what we have so far:

ORGANIZATIONAL TOP PROSPECT LISTS

Baseball America's Organizational Top 10 (1/21/14)
1. SS Carlos Correa
2. OF George Springer
3. RHP Mark Appel
4. RHP Mike Foltynewicz
5. RHP Lance McCullers
6. RHP Vincent Velasquez
7. 1B Jon Singleton
8. OF Domingo Santana
9. RHP Michael Feliz
10. RHP Asher Wojciechowski

Baseball Prospectus' Organizational Top 10 (11/4/13)
1. SS Carlos Correa
2. OF George Springer
3. RHP Mark Appel
4. RHP Mike Foltynewicz
5. 1B Jon Singleton
6. RHP Vincent Velasquez
7. RHP Lance McCullers
8. OF Domingo Santana
9. 3B Rio Ruiz
10. RHP Michael Feliz

Keith Law's ESPN.com Organizational Top 10 (1/30/14) via House of Houston
1. SS Carlos Correa
2. RHP Mark Appel
3. OF George Springer
4. RHP Mike Foltynewicz
5. 1B Jon Singleton
6. OF Delino DeShields
7. RHP Vincent Velasquez
8. RHP Lance McCullers
9. 3B Rio Ruiz
10. RHP Michael Feliz

John Sickels (minorleagueball.com) Organizational Top 20 (coming soon)

Jonathan Mayo's MLB.com Organizational Top 20 (coming soon)

OVERALL TOP PROSPECT LISTS

Baseball Prospectus' Top 101 Prospect List (1/27/14)
5. SS Carlos Correa
20. OF George Springer
21. RHP Mark Appel
43. RHP Mike Foltynewicz
57. 1B Jon Singleton

Jonathan Mayo's MLB.com Top 100 (1/23/14)
8. SS Carlos Correa (#3 on SS list)
17. RHP Mark Appel (#6 on RHP list)
21. OF George Springer (#5 on OF list)
50. 1B Jon Singleton (#1 on 1B list)
52. RHP Lance McCullers
54. RHP Mike Foltynewicz
66. OF Delino DeShields

Here's my take on how the 2014 list compared to 2013, as well as how the Astros fared vs. the other AL West teams.

Keith Law's ESPN.com Top 100 Prospect List (1/29/14) via Astros County
4. SS Carlos Correa
11. RHP Mark Appel
19. OF George Springer
70. RHP Mike Foltynewicz
78. 1B Jon Singleton
80. OF Delino DeShields
82. RHP Vincent Velasquez

Baseball America's Top 100 Prospect List (coming soon)

FARM SYSTEM RANKINGS

Keith Law's ESPN.com Farm System Rankings (1/28/14) via Astros County
2014 - Ranked 1st
2013 - Ranked 4th
2012 - Ranked 27th

Baseball America's Farm System Rankings (coming out in the Prospect Handbook)
However, they had this take in October that ranked the Astros system #2.
2014 -
2013 - Ranked 9th
2012 - Ranked 17th

John Sickels (minorleagueball.com) Farm System Rankings (coming ?)
2014 -
2013 - Ranked 10th
2012 - Ranked 25th

Baseball Prospectus' Farm System Rankings (came out late March in 2013)
2014 -
2013 - Ranked 9th
2012 - Ranked 26th

2013 Consensus Astros Top Prospect List

To get a general consensus regarding the Astros top prospects, I took top prospect lists from the Baseball America 2013 Prospect Handbook, John Sickels with Minor League Ball at SB Nation, Fan Graphs, Baseball Prospectus and Jonathan Mayo's 2013 Pre-Season Top 20 Prospect List and averaged the rankings. If a prospect was on at least three of the five lists, he qualified (with the following caveat).

I reached out to John Manuel of Baseball America to find out where Brad Peacock and Max Stassi would rank given that the Prospect Handbook had already been released prior to the Jed Lowrie trade; that information is included in these overall rankings. John Sickels and Jonathan Mayo had already revised their lists to include Peacock and Stassi. Fan Graphs and Baseball Prospectus did not revise their lists to include those two prospects.

Jon Singleton - Corpus Christi June 2012

Photo by Jayne Hansen

1. 1B Jonathan Singleton
2. SS Carlos Correa
3. OF George Springer
4. 2B Delino DeShields
5. RHP Jarred Cosart
6. RHP Lance McCullers
7. RHP Michael Foltynewciz
8. 3B Rio Ruiz
9. RHP Nick Tropeano
10T. OF Domingo Santana
10T. SS Jonathan Villar
12. RHP Brad Peacock
13. SS Nolan Fontana
14. RHP Asher Wojciechowski
15. RHP Vincent Velasquez
16. OF Robbie Grossman
17. RHP Adrian Houser
18. C Max Stassi
19. C Carlos Perez

Two additional prospects were ranked by two of the five: RHP Brady Rodgers and RHP Aaron West.

There were several more who were ranked by one of the five: OF Marc Krauss, OF Ariel Ovando, RHP Jose Cisnero, OF Brett Phillips, LHP Brett Oberholtzer, RHP Ross Seaton, RHP Chia-Jen Lo, OF Andrew Aplin, RHP Josh Fields, OF Austin Wates, RHP Paul Clemens, C Tyler Heineman, LHP Kevin Chapman, RHP Joe Musgrove, RHP Kevin Comer, and LHP Colton Cain.

Others who were listed as players to watch by at least one of the five: 1B Nate Freiman, OF Preston Tucker, 3B/OF Bobby Borchering, RHP Alex Gillingham, RHP Matt Heidenreich, LHP Kenny Long, SS Jiovanni Mier, LHP Rudy Owens, RHP Bobby Doran, and OF Teoscar Hernandez.

For reference (and a walk down memory lane), here is the 2012 Consensus List that I put together last year about this time.

2012 Consensus Prospect Rankings

I took the most recent prospect lists from John Sickels, Jonathan Mayo and Kevin Goldstein, added in the top 30 from Baseball America's Prospect Handbook, averaged the rankings if the prospect appeared on at least 3 of the 4 lists and came up with a consensus ranking of the Astros top prospects.

1.      Jonathan Singleton
2.      Jarred Cosart
3.      George Springer
4.      Jonathan Villar
5.      Brett Oberholtzer
6.      Paul Clemens
7.      Domingo Santana
8.      Mike Foltynewicz
9.      Delino DeShields Jr.
10.    Telvin Nash
T11. Adrian Houser
T11. Nick Tropeano
13.   Austin Wates
14.   Jake Buchanan
15.   Ariel Ovando
16.   Juan Abreu
17.   Tanner Bushue
18.   Jio Mier
19.   Chris Wallace

The top 10 on the list were on all 4 lists, as were Austin Wates, Ariel Ovando and Juan Abreu.

Others who appeared on 2 of the 4 lists in order of average ranking:
Kyle Weiland
J.B. Shuck
Ross Seaton
Jack Armstrong
Mike Kvasnicka
Vincent Velasquez