Life On The Farm: Houston Astros (# 30)

The team with back-to-back # 30 ranks by BA, can't get any worse right?

Graduated To Majors: Edwin Maysonet (UTIL, Unranked or UR), Tommy Manzella (SS, # 11), Chris Johnson (3B, # 5), Bud Norris (SP, # 2), Felipe Paulino (SP, # 7), Drew Sutton (2B, # 8, traded to Reds to complete Jeff Keppinger trade), Sammy Gervacio (RHP, # 19)

The Rest of The Top 10 (with quick commentary):
Hitters: BA-OBP-SLG, AB, HR-RBI, BB-K, SB-CS
Pitcher: G-GS, W-L, ERA, IP-H-HR-BB-K

1 - Jason Castro: C
Hi A: .309-.399-.517, 207, 7-44, 30-41, 1-1
AA: .293-.362-.385, 239, 3-29, 25-35, 2-1
Quick Take: Did not disappoint and continues on a crash course for Houston around the All Star Break next season.

3 - Ross Seaton: SP
Lo A: 24-24, 8-10, 3.29, 136.2-136-11-39-88
Quick Take: Not a terrible debut, but for a guy regarded as the 3rd best prospect in the organization, he did not put up strong K numbers.

4 - Brian Bogusevic: CF
AAA: .271-.342-.365, 520, 6-53, 53-118, 22-3
Quick Take: 4th OF appears to be his best bet with his strikeout numbers, though his basestealing numbers say he may be able to carve a niche.

6 - Jordan Lyles: SP
Lo A: 26-26, 7-11, 3.17, 144.2-134-5-38-167
Quick Take: Huge step forward and he looks like he should be the # 1 or # 2 prospect with Castro next season. No real pock marks on his line from this season. And, oh yea, he doesn't turn 20 until October 19th.

9 - Collin DeLome: LF/RF
AA: .255-.323-.465, 467, 20-61, 37-141, 15-8
Quick Take: Intriguing power (18 doubles, 20 homers) and speed (10 triples, 15 stolen bases) with no idea how to use either (141 strikeouts, 8 caught stealings). This was his age 23 season.

10 - Jay Austin: CF
Lo A: .267-.320-.360, 397, 1-33, 31-78, 23-23
Quick Take: Disappointment in first full season, but just 20 in August, so he will likely be repeating. Intriguing speed.

AAA: Round Rock Express (PCL)
Breakout Hitter: Tommy Manzella (# 11): .289-.339-.417, 530, 9-56, 40-99, 12-3
Disappointing Hitter: Brian Bogusevic (# 4): Line above.
Breakout Pitcher: Bud Norris (# 2): 19-19, 4-9, 2.63, 120-104-6-53-112
Disappointing Pitcher: Jose Capellan (former Braves/Brewers): 30-14, 2-10, 7.07, 98-133-12-49-74
Quick Take: Manzella and Norris took necessary steps to warrant promotions to the bigs. Bogusevic put up subpar power numbers and looks like a 4th OF. Capellan was a worthwhile risk taht appears to have blown up in their face.

AA: Corpus Christi Hoooks (TEX)
Breakout Hitter: Drew Locke (Unlisted): .338-.389-.531, 503, 20-109, 46-84, 2-2
Disappointing Hitter: Josh Flores (# 16): .239-.307-.344, 163, 1-10, 14-34, 9-2
Breakout Pitcher: Polin Trinidad (# 24): 13-12, 7-5, 2.94, 82.2-87-7-10-53
Disappointing Pitcher: Brad James (# 15): 23-21, 2-10, 6.69, 107.2-127-10-62-55
Quick Take: Locke, a 25 year old 1B, put up huge numbers after coming over in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft from the Dodgers in his first taste of AA. Trinidad worked into a promotion to AAA for the 2nd half of the year. James had an all around miserable season and will likely be falling out of the Top 30.

Hi A: Lancaster JetHawks (CAL)
Breakout Hitter: Koby Clemens (UR): .345-.419-.636, 423, 22-121, 51-110, 4-1
Disappointing Hitter: Craig Corrado (UR): .247-.275-.326, 417, 2-36, 15-79, 14-10
Breakout Pitcher: Chia-Jen Lo (# 12): 12-0, 1-0, 1.78, 25.1-10-1-13-36
Disappointing Pitcher: Chris Hicks (# 18): 26-26, 9-11, 6.12, 129.1-180-22-39-103
Quick Take: Clemens had his year in a hitter's paradise. Corrado was the choice for disappointing hitter as he got a ton of at bats for the level, meaning the Astros think they have something there. Lo got out of dodge quickly while Hicks is the default choice just due to ERA, as pitchers should not be judged for how they throw here.

Lo A: Lexington Legends (SAL)
Breakout Hitter: Brian Pellegrini (UR): .288-.394-.573, 351, 27-74, 58-102, 10-4
Disappointing Hitter: Federico Hernandez (# 20): .231-.268-.329, 347, 6-35, 17-65, 1-0
Breakout Pitcher: Jordan Lyles: Line above
Disappointing Pitcher: None
Quick Take: Pellegrini repeated, got promoted and slumped at Lancaster. Hernandez didn't show much with the bat in his 1st exposure to full season ball. Lyles was phenomenal.

TK's Early 2010 Top 10 Prospects:
1) Jordan Lyles: RHP
Has the making of an ace
2) Jason Castro: C
Has a shot to be an everyday catcher in the bigs, as soon as next year
3) Chia-Jen Lo: RHP
Another guy who could be making an appearance next year as a reliever
4) Jiovanni Mier: SS
Really impressed after being drafted in the 1st round this past year
5) Tanner Bushue: RHP
2nd round pick has a high upside.
6) Ross Seaton: RHP
Solid exposure to full season ball, can he build on it?
7) Polin Trinidad: LHP
Best lefty in a weak system should be ready in June
8) Jon Gaston: LF
Age 22 season, 31 doubles, 15 triples, 20 homers, 71 walks, 14 steals the good. Entire season at Lancaster, 164 strikeouts the bad.
9) Jay Austin: CF
Still extremely toolsy. Not much to choose from anymore.
10) Drew Locke: 1B
Huge season, can he continue to build towards something more or was this a fluke?

Dropped from Top 10 (not due to going to majors): Bogusevic (# 4), DeLome (#9)

Final Overview: Still a weak system. If Lyles, Seaton and company can survive Lancaster with their confidence still intact, the Astros may have something there. The system has quite a dearth of middle infielders and they are hoping Mier can reverse that. Their problem isn't the Top 5. It's the guys after that.