Highlights from Chat with Scouting Director/GM Bobby Heck

The Chronicle's Jose de Jesus Ortiz had Bobby Heck available for a chat earlier today on the Chron website.  Here are some highlights in easy-to-read form.

On 2nd Rounder Tanner Bushue

Bobby Heck:  I think we view our second-rounder Tanner Bushue along th[e same] lines [as Jordan Lyles, Ross Seaton and Brad Dydalewicz]. He's an athletic kid with a natural athletic and simple delivery and good arm action. We project him to have a plus fastball and a plus curveball and to be a good strike thrower. We're comfortable at this time saying he projects as a major league starter.

On 3rd Rounder Telving Nash

Bobby Heck:  We see Nash as  a potential power hitter with 30-plus home run potential. He was another two-sport athlete from the Atlanta Area. Griffin High school, the same high school Tim Beckham, who was the first pick in the 2008 draft.  Telvin passed on some Division I football scholarships and needs to catch up as far as games he's missed in the falls when he played football while others were playing baseball.

On 3rd Round Supplemental Pick Jonathan Meyer

Bobby Heck:  We'll continue to look at switch-hitting because the left side is still what we would say at infant stages. A solid all-round player, a good defender at third base who will hit for power. Fundamentally sound and a good leader.  This guy is made well.

On what Heck likes about 11th Rounder David "Bubby" Williams

Bobby Heck:  His tools energy and toughness, all good ingredients for the position of catcher. But I did not know he was referred to as Bubby.

On Mark Jones, the 6'7" pitcher we took in the 22nd round (and the tallest of our draft class)

Bobby Heck:  This is a pitcher that was dug up by our area scout Everett Stull, our area scout in the mid atlantic states who is a former major league pitcher. He thinks he has a chance to be a starter down the road. He thought he'd have a 3-4 pitch mix when it was all said and done and liked the progress he made in the spring.

On later round picks to keep your eye on:

Bobby Heck:  29th rounder Garen Wright a center fielder from Putnam High in Oklahoma. He was a multi-sport athlete in high school. His size and athleticism are very intriguing. He turned down multiple Division I basketball scholarship offers. He also turned down multiple Division I baseball scholarships. He wanted to get out and play. He's a not a fast-track guy. He's more of a developmental players. We're excited about his tools and upside. It's fair to say he wasn't treated like a 29th rounder.

On the best athlete from this year's draft class

Bobby Heck:  I would say it's Garen Wright, the kid from Putnam City High in Oklahoma.

On who has the best pitches out of this year's Astros draft class:

Best fastball is shared by fourth-rounder B.J. Hyatt and 17th rounder Justin Harper, both of whom throw up to 95-mph.

Best curveball is Tanner Bushue, the second-round pick.

Best changeup is possessed by 7th-rounder Dallas Keuchel.

On who was a "steal" in the draft:

Bobby Heck:  Probably Dallas Keuchel was a guy we thought dollar for dollar, although we haven't signed him yet because he's in the College World Series. He is a college lefthander in the SEC who had success, and you usually don't find him in the seventh round.

On how they decide which minor league team to place new draftees with:

Bobby Heck:  Tri-City is geared mostly toward college players. The NY-Penn league is mostly toward college players. The Appalachian League is geared to second-year profesional players, advanced high school draft picks and junior college draft picks. The Gulf Coast League is more a first-year landing spot for players from Latin America as well as some of your high school draft who may need additional acclimation to profesional baseball.  [Bushue and Nash are] heading to the Gulf Coast to start. That doesn't meant they'll end the season there.

On the lack of local picks in the most recent draft

Bobby Heck:  With all things being equal, we would rather select a local kid if we view the talent as the same when selecting a player. We got arguably the best talent in the Houston area last year in Ross Seaton, but you are correct in your observation but sometimes you're a victim or where you select.

On the factors they consider when making up their draft board:

No. 1 is talent. Skill set, tool set, where the players profiles at the major leagues, athleticism, makeup, desire to be a major league player, desire to start his path to the major leagues at this time. And, of course, the word of the last 10 years: signability.

On using stats and projecting college players

Bobby Heck:  Using stats is all parts of our evalutions process, but we're projecting them not against their college peers but projecting them on what they will be in the major leagues. So what is applicable and functional at the major league level because very paramount in our evaluation of college pitchers, as they are close to their ceiling.

On 2008 Draft Picks J.B. Shuck and Jon Gaston

Bobby Heck:  We're very happy with how they've performed thus. I cannot comment on their development as of yet because I'm just getting out to see our minor league clubs. But don't forget about T.J. Steele in that outfield mix. He missed some time because of a lingering hamstring injury early in the year, but he's playing well now.

On 2008, Danny Meszaros, who was taken in the 48th round, but is already pitching well in AA

Bobby Heck:  That's exciting for a kid that wen't from the 48th round in last year. Clarence Johns and I signed him in a Courtyard Hotel in Cape Cob. He went straight from there to Tri-City, had success there and has had continued success at Lexington and to Double A. I'm very proud of him,  happy for him and happy for the Astros.

Bobby Heck:  I don't think anyone can expect their 48th-rounders to be in Double-A baseball the next year. As for picking that guy from the 2009 draft, I think we would just be happy to have some type of return like that.

On what he wishes he could change about the 2008 Draft

Bobby Heck:  Signing third rounder Chase Davidson, but I'm now over that since we have now signed our compensation for him, Jonathan Meyer. And also not read about how my first two picks were overdrafts. [emphasis mine. -AstroAndy]

On the 2010 draft

Bobby Heck:  Next year's draft class is good. There's more first-round position players in it. There's better depth in the first round, especially in bats and position player prospects.

Bobby Heck:  My thoughts on Bryce Harper is a big body and big  velocity. I'm saying this solely  from reading reports because we took him on  our area scout Jim Stevenson's recommendations.