Results tagged ‘ Houston Astros ’
‘Tis the (Draft) season
As I’m hoping you already know, Draft season officially started on MLB.com yesterday. Yes, I know, Draft season started long before that in terms of scouting, etc., but I meant in terms of our coverage.
In case you missed it, 2012 Draft Central is up and running (and sponsored by CenturyLink). It’s going to be the place to go for Draft news and features leading up to the June 4-6 event.
So far, there are two newer stories up there, written by yours truly, to get the ball rolling. One is a general preview on how the new rules could change things, especially for teams with multiple early picks. The other is a look at what the new Top 100 looks like.
Oh, and yes, that means the Top 100 list is alive and well. Keep in mind, this is a list based on talent, not a projection. So while Byron Buxton is No. 1 on this list, that doesn’t mean that he’s necessarily going to be taken by the Houston Astros. More on this to come in a story on Friday about who the candidates to go No. 1 are (along with a story from the Astros by our intrepid beat writer Brian McTaggart), but most seem to think the Astros won’t take the high school outfielder from Georgia.
We will have much, much more — mock drafts, chats, you name it — in this month run-up to June 4. So check back early and often.
OMG: Houston Astros
Here’s your Houston Astros’ Top 10 prospects list and now, here’s OMG (One More Guy) from their system:
Mike Kvasnicka, C: Initially an outfielder at the University of Minnesota, Kvasnicka moved behind the plate and became a much more intriguing prospect. He ended up going at the front of the sandwich round (No. 33 overall) and was in many first-round conversations as the Draft approached.
Kvasnicka has a good approach at the plate, from both sides of the plate. He hasn’t shown much power to date, though he has a very good line-drive stroke. He should hit for average and some power will come as he develops. He’s got a very strong arm, his best defensive tool that should work well behind the plate, especially if he learns the nuances of catching. That being said, it looks like he’s mostly going to play third this year. He’s not bad athletically and probably should adjust to the position eventually (and that arm will play just fine there, too).
Hopefully, the Astros will settle on a defensive home for Kvasnicka soon. He might have the most value behind the plate, though perhaps he’ll be able to advanced faster if he doesn’t have to worry about learning that craft. His bat should allow him to move fairly quickly.
Jonathan Mayo
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