- 21 years old – (LoA Quad Cities / HiA Lancaster)
- International Free Agent – 2015
- Look for Hernandez to begin his ascent up the prospect ladder this Spring. The 21 year old breezed through two levels this past season, but more impressively, excelled in the tough environs of the California League. Kid has produced since coming out of Mexico and look for him to repeat with Lancaster to start 2017.
- 21 years old – (LoA Quad Cities / Hi Lancaster)
- International Free Agent – 2014
- Another Hernandez that will be trailing Jose up through the organization. The Astros had both at Hi-A Lancaster in 2016, but Elieser was over matched and should have seasoned at Quad Cities. Let’s see how he fares back in Lancaster in 2017.
- 22 years old – (HiA Lancaster / LoA Quad Cities)
- 23rd round – 2015
- Fantasy players are always looking for that prospect that could fast-track to the Majors. Those in deeper leagues have no issue on taking fliers to stash in their roster. Bower could be that pitcher for the Astros, who desperately need left-handed depth. He’s another young arm who displayed success at Lancaster with a 10.6 K9 rate in a short stint. Overall, he allowed a 3.6 BB9 rate in 110.1 innings, but is wholly capable of missing bats (136 K’s).
- 22 years old – (LoA Quad Cities / HiA Lancaster / Double-A Corpus Christi)
- International Free Agent – 2014
- The Astros system has some intriguing talented under the radar kids, as my list indicates. Armenteros quickly found himself at HiA Lancaster and proved his stuff with a late season stint at AA-Corpus Christi. Only 22 years-old, the Cuban native has already displayed consistent mechanics and the ability to vary his tempo. He throws a mid 90’s fastball and an advanced slider that could be termed as a cutter. More success at Double-A in 2017 could have Armenteros in Houston toward the end of next season.
- 22 years old – (HiA Lancaster / Double-A Corpus Christi)
- 5th round – 2015
- Thornton made his way to Corpus Christi in only his second season as a pro. His full season assignment began at Hi-A Lancaster, a tall order, but his peripherals were outstanding despite allowing 14 home runs over 89.2 innings. Thornton displays the attitude and pitchability to get him to Houston very quickly. He already has a 4-pitch mix of a 4-seamer, cutter with lateral movement (tough on lefties, over-the-top curveball, and a slider with good movement. He also throws a work-in-progress changeup. Thornton rounds out my top 5 which is possibly the most solid among the American League.
- 23 years old – (LoA Quad Cities / HiA Lancaster / Double-A Corpus Christi)
- 36th round – 2015
- 24 years old – (HiA Lancaster / Double-A Corpus Christi)
- 23rd round – 2014
- 23 years old – (HiA Lancaster / Double-A Corpus Christi)
- 37th round – 2014
Under The Radar Minors 