Astros Prospect Report: Games of May 2nd, 2015

Tacoma Rainiers 5, Fresno Grizzlies 1

This was never a really close game. Brady Rodgers was hit consistently by the Rainiers, and although the bullpen kept it clean, the offense was very blah, only getting on base five times. Richard Rodriguez has settled down lately, not allowing a run over his past four outings (9 IP). He's also boasted a decent 6:2 K:BB ratio over that time to go with just two hits allowed.

Matt Duffy provided the only offense of the night with a solo shot, his first hit since April 22. After a hot start, he has cooled down considerately. I'm not quite sure why Joe Sclafani was the guy sent down to Double-A. Duffy is 26, and barring a power resurgence, he's not going to be anything more than an org guy.

Frisco Roughriders 2, Corpus Christi Hooks 0

Where was the offense tonight? While the Hooks did get on base eight times (versus five by Frisco), the team just couldn't execute, and a Royce Bollinger two-run shot off McCullers provided the difference. As a matter of fact, that home run was the first time McCullers allowed an earned run this year. He doesn't seem to be due for that much regression (before this game, his BABIP was high and his FIP was under two) and he's struck out 28 batters in 20 innings. For a year I predicted would be his undoing as a starter, he is proving me more and more wrong with every game.

Leo Heras was probably the only bright spot at the plate today (outside of Gregor). He singled, walked, and stole a base. Heras probably won't evolve into much, but an OBP .95 points higher than his BA, along with a 7:7 BB:K ratio, could make him a passable fourth outfielder in an org less deep than this one.

Modesto Nuts 8, Lancaster Jethawks 6

Ouch. Eight runs in the bottom of the ninth. There were two on, two out for Jordan Patterson against Gonzalo Sanudo, and he took the ball to deep right for a walk-off three-run homer. This ruined an otherwise effective night for the Lancaster staff. Feliz, as in games past, wasn't totally on top of his game, but he did deflate his ERA to under five runs. The California League has not been kind to him, but the more worrying problem is his control. His K:BB on 20:9 isn't terrible, per se, but it's a far cry from last year (111:37). Now that he's on the 40-man, you'd expect to see him rushed a bit, but he hasn't been performing all that well recently. Hopefully, this is just a SSS, and he'll be right back to his KKKKKKKKK ways soon enough.

Brett Phillips is the best outfielder in the system. He's almost two years younger than Domingo Santana, so we're not using that argument. He's got five average-to-above-average tools, so Fisher isn't ahead of him in that respect. All the man does is hit. With the exception of three games (one of which had him drawing a walk) Phillips has gotten a hit every night, and most nights are multi-hit nights. His slash line is .352/.385/.626 for a 1.012 OPS. He'll probably stay in Lancaster for at least half the season, and then get called up to AA. My prediction: When Tony Kemp gets called up to AAA at some point this summer (All-Star Break?), Phillips takes his spot in CC.

Quad Cities River Bandits 5, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 2

Quite a good game for two unheralded players: Mott Hyde and Nick Tanielu. Tanielu doubled twice to go along with three RBIs, and Hyde had two doubles and a single. Both players were 2014 draft picks. Last year, Tanielu tore up the NYPL, but this year, Hyde is dominating the MWL to the tune of a .338/.444/.529 slash line. His BABIP is probably unsustainable (.357 before this game) but his 13:9 BB:K ratio is definitely legit.

Eric Peterson, drafted in Round 37 last year, has done rather well in his 6 appearances (11.2 innings) this season. He has a 12:4 K:BB ratio and has only allowed two earned runs on the season. He turned 22 about a month before the season, so he still has a chance to turn into a legit prospect if his 6'4", 195 lb. frame ever fills out.