As the 2023 season approaches, it is time to take a look at the top prospects at each position. This week, we are focusing on the second base position, where there is plenty of depth and talent in the Houston Astros system. In this blog post, I will be summarizing the top three prospects at the position and why they could be key contributors for the Astros in the upcoming season.
Topping the list is Joe Perez, who had a breakout performance in 2021 and an up-and-down season in 2022. He made his big-league debut early due to injuries, and he finished the season in Triple-A with a .483 batting average in 8 games. Perez has the most upside of anyone on the list, with potential to add more power to his game. He has a great arm at the hot corner and is still only 23 years old. His 2022 stats were 83 G, .290 BA/.359 OBP/.417 SLG, 20 2B, 7 HR, 37 RBI, and 4 SB.
Second on the list is Will Wagner, the son of former Astros closer Billy Wagner. He had a good first full season in the Astros organization after a solid college career. Wagner played in 117 games between High-A and Double-A and slashed .261/.374/.394 with 19 2B, 10 HR, 53 RBI. He also put up a really good walk rate (13.5%) and strikeout rate (19.7%) as he made his way up the system. Wagner has played multiple infield positions but has the arm strength to succeed at third base.
Ranking third on the list is Corey Julks, who had a breakout season in 2022. He led the Astros system with 31 HR in 130 games, all coming in Triple-A. He also managed to hit .270 and steal 22 bases with the increased power. Julks started his career in the outfield but saw a lot of time at third in 2022.
The second base position is one of the deepest in the Astros organization and these three prospects could be key contributors in the upcoming season. Be sure to check out the full list of top 30 prospects before the season starts!
Source: www.crawfishboxes.com