The Houston Astros have a quartet of rookies that could help them at some point in 2013. Here is a look at them:
Jarred Cosart: 22-year old righty starting pitcher Jarred Cosart comes into this season as the Astros’ #7 prospect according to Baseball America. Cosart pitched in 21 games (20 starts) in AA+AAA-ball for the Astros last year and he was 6-7 with a 3.30 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. He has now pitched in 69 games (65 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 25-22 with a 3.65 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP.
Jonathan Villar: 21-year old switch-hitting SS Jonathan Villar comes into this season as the Astros’ #12 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 86 games in AA-ball for the Astros last year and he was 85 for 326 (.261 avg, .732 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 11 homers, 50 RBIs and 39 stolen bases. Villar has now played in 452 games in his first five years in the minors and he is 428 of 1,671 (.256 avg, .707 OPS) with 268 runs scored, 31 homers, 197 RBIs and 162 stolen bases.
Josh Fields: 27-year old righty reliever Josh Fields comes into this season as the Astros’ #25 prospect. He was a Rule 5 Pick over the winter, so I look for him to be in the Astros’ pen for the entire 2013 season. Fields pitched in 42 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball for the Red Sox last year and he was 4-3 with 12 saves, a 2.01 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. Fields has now pitched in 132 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 11-8 with 23 saves, a 3.57 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP.
Brad Peacock: 25-year old righty starting pitcher Brad Peacock came into this season as the A’s #5 prospect according to Baseball America. Peacock pitched in 28 games (25 starts) in AAA-ball for the A’s last year and he was 12-9 with a 6.01 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. He has now pitched in 141 games (126 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 46-47 with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Peacock did pitch in the majors for the Washington Nationals in 2011, working in 3 games (2 starts) in which he was 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP.