These top prospects are turning heads with Astros
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This story was excerpted from Brian McTaggart’s Astros Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- In addition to right-handed pitcher Spencer Arrighetti, who has an outside chance to grab a spot on the club’s Opening Day roster, the two prospects who have turned the most heads in Major League camp for the Astros this spring are infielder/outfielder Joey Loperfido and outfielder Kenedy Corona.
In MLB Pipeline’s recently released Astros’ Top 30 prospects, Loperfido is ranked as Houston’s No. 6 prospect and Corona is slotted at No. 12. Loperfido, a seventh-round Draft pick in 2021 from Duke, was the Astros’ Minor League Player of the Year last season after hitting .278 with 27 doubles, 25 home runs, 78 RBIs, 65 walks and 27 stolen bases in 124 games between High-A Asheville, Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land.
“He’s opening some eyes,” Astros manager Joe Espada said last week. “We know how good he is and we see the progress in his game the last couple of years, but what he’s doing right now and how he’s hitting the ball to all fields, playing good defense, stealing bases, it’s been eye-popping for sure.”
Here's a look at the Astros' top prospects:
1. Jacob Melton, OF
2. Luis Baez, OF
3. Spencer Arrighetti, RHP
4. Brice Matthews, SS
5. Zach Dezenzo, 3B/2B
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Some in the organization are pushing for Loperfido to break camp with the Astros in a utility role, but it’s more likely he begins the season in Triple-A and reaches Houston at some point in 2024.
“It’s how polished he is, on the field but also in the clubhouse -- how he walks around,” Espada said. “There’s a maturity and presence about him that he didn’t have in years past. That will help him play at the Major League level, especially in a stage where the expectation is to win a World Series. He’s handling that aspect of things very well.”
Corona, 24, was signed by the Mets as an international free agent in 2019 and traded to the Astros along with left-handed pitcher Blake Taylor in exchange for outfielder Jake Marisnick in December 2019. He played all but six games last season at Corpus Christi, where he slashed .244/.324/.449 with 20 homers, 61 RBIs and 31 stolen bases, making him a power and speed threat. Corona also earned a 2023 Minor League Gold Glove Award for his defense in the outfield, while playing primarily center field.
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MLB Pipeline graded him as a 65 defender on the 20-80 scouting scale, with 60 being above average and 70-80 well above average. He made two great defensive plays on March 3 against the Mets, including a diving catch in foul territory and a strong throw to third base from center field to nab a baserunner.
“It’s just how explosive and twitchy he is,” Espada said. “The play he made the other day on a ball in foul territory, but also the throw. And he can do that in all three outfield positions, which is not easy to do. And how much he’s progressed when it comes to his at-bats. Everyone knew about his strength, but he’s a more polished hitter than he was in the years past.”
The Astros will have 22 of their Top 30 prospects, including each of their top nine prospects, on the roster for their March 17 game against top prospects from the Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla.