Posted on 29 January 2009
H/W: 6-2 200 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 12/18/85
The former Lamar Cardinal split time between Low-A Lexington and HIgh-A Salem to hit .246 with 22 HR 71 RBI 14 SB and 81 runs scored. Drafted in the 5th round in '07, DeLome was widely considered one of the top overall athletes in the draft. With a compact left-handed swing, DeLome demonstrated that he can hit for above average power, but his high strikeout totals (128 in 129 games) may well impact his ability to hit for a decent batting average at the major league level. Collin has very good speed that plays well on the basepaths and at any outfield position, though he needs considerable work at making good reads and taking proper routes on flyballs. Despite his struggles, Collin DeLome has some tremendous athletic tools that a drastically thinned out Houston Astros organization will work dilligently to shape into MLB-quality skills.
2009 Projection: DeLome should start the '09 season in Houston's new High-A affiliate Lancaster. This California League ballpark may be they most hitter friendly environment in all of minor league baseball. With that in mind, DeLome should be able to put up some big power numbers in this league. Don't get seduced by these numbers! Rather, watch the BB/K ratio. If it improves there is reason to believe that DeLome can develop into a solid MLB player, and if it doesn't, even the gaudiest of Lancaster-induced numbers could prove to ring hollow once DeLome advances. The 'Stros have had a rough time in recent years in developing young OF talent (Josh Flores, Eli Iorg, Jordan Parraz, Mitch Einertson). Hopefully DeLome will avoid this scrap heap and take a developmental path similar to Hunter Pence.
Key Collin DeLome Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/819
- 2008 Donruss Threads Letterman Patch Auto #/240
Posted on 11 January 2009
H/W: 5-11 170 lb. B/T: L/L DOB: 8/10/90
The Houston Astros used their 2nd round pick of the '08 draft to select this 1st team All-American OF out of Atlanta. Austin was widely regarded as the speediest player in the draft and an elite prep football player. Despite his small frame, Jay belted 15 HR and 52 RBI during his senior season. Things didn't go so well during his debut professional season at Greenville where he hit an anemic .198 with just 6 XBH and 14 SB in 24 attempts. Offensively, Austin is extremely raw with sub-par plate discipline (19 BB/69 K) and several mechanical flaws in his swing. Austin has some extreme defensive upside, as his world class speed and strong throwing arm plays well at any OF position. The Astros farm system has been ravaged in recent years by trades, losses of draft picks, and dubious draft selections. The upside for Austin is extremely high, but he will need to overcome several developmental obstacles if he wishes to separate himself from the rest of the underachieving pack.
2009 Projection: Austin, despite his slow start, will likely get a taste of Low-A ball. The Astros are hoping an offseason of hard work and good instruction will help to iron out some of the technical deficiencies in Austin's game. Don't be shocked if the Astros send him back to extended spring training if Jay struggles in the early going. Given his considerable upside, Austin will be handled with care and thoroughness. Look at the BB/K rates early on as well as the XBH. If he can make improvements in these numbers, Austin could quickly vault the glut of mediocre OF prospects (Eli Iorg, Collin DeLome, Mitch Einertson, Jordan Parraz, etc..). That, however, is by no means a foregone conclusion.
Key Jay Austin Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Playoff Prime Cuts Auto #/249
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/249
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1499
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
Posted on 25 December 2008
H/W: 6-3 210 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 6/18/87
The former Stanford Cardinal backstop has been impressive since the Astros selected him in the first round of the '08 draft. After hitting .275 with 2 HR and 12 RBI at short season Low-A Tri-Cities, Castro bumped up his production in the Hawaiian Winter League hitting .333 with 2 HR 13 RBI and a solid 16 BB/22 K ratio. Long and well built, Castro has the ability to be an impact hitter with plus power and batting average at the major league level. He is one of the more athletic catchers in the 2008 draft class whose speed should not make him a liability on the basepaths. Defensively, Castro is a work in progress, though his improvements over the last year lead many to believe that he will develop into a solid average catcher down the road. Castro needs to continue to work on his defensive skills as well as his pitch recognition at the plate in order to become a special player.
2009 Projection: The Astros farm system is one of, if not the, weakest in all of baseball. Other top catching prospects like J.R. Towles and Max Sapp have failed to develop as quickly and completely as Houston would like. This bodes well for Castro who, despite his fallacies, may be Houston's best backstop. The HWL provided a big boost for Jason, who should begin the '09 season at Low-A Lexington. If all goes well he could move quickly. Keep an eye on his batting average and power numbers. The more that he produces in these areas, the quicker and more likely it will be that he will surpass the organization's other catchers.
Key Jason Castro Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Razor Signature Series Auto #/1199
- 2008 Razor Exclusive Auto
H/W: 6-2 200 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 12/18/85
