Houston Astros: Breaking Down the Top 5 Prospects in the Astros Farm System

After years of overpaying for mediocre players and a poor drafting philosophy, the Houston Astros are tearing the whole thing down and starting from scratch.

Despite trading a number of their top players over the last two years—Roy Oswalt, Lance Berkman, Hunter Pence—the system is not loaded with a lot of high-end talent. They did get some good pieces in those deals, and at least one potential star, but there is still a lot of work to do in order for this franchise to be hopeful about the future. 

New ownership and a new general manager have brought hope to Houston, but there is a lot of work that has to be done. It is going to be a long, slow climb back up, so patience is a virtue. 

Here are the top five prospects in the Astros farm system coming into the 2012 season. 

1. Jarred Cosart, RHP, 21

Cosart was one of the key pieces the Astros got back for Hunter Pence last July. He is a high-risk, high-reward player, but for me, his upside slightly pushes him ahead of Jonathan Singleton. The two are incredibly close, so if you were to ask me tomorrow, my opinion could change. 

Strengths: He has a great fastball-curveball combination that makes everyone who sees him fall in love with him. His change-up has gotten better over the last year, which could potentially give him three plus pitches. 

Weaknesses: Concern with Cosart comes from his delivery. It is a maximum-effort motion that has already led to him having elbow problems in his career. His durability is always going to be a concern as long as his delivery remains so physically taxing. He has never had great command of his pitches, relying on overpowering opposing hitters instead of trying to pitch. 

Report: Cosart has the potential to be a No. 1 starter thanks to his dominant stuff, but he is going to have to clean up his delivery in order to stay healthy and improve his command. He could end up as a closer or late-inning reliever. 

ETA: 2014

2. Jonathan Singleton, 1B, 20

Another piece that the Astros got for Hunter Pence, Singleton is one of the best first-base prospects in the game. The Phillies tried to use him in the outfield last season since Ryan Howard is getting paid $25 million per year, but he doesn't have the body to handle that role.

Strengths: Singleton is a tremendous hitter. He has a great knowledge of the strike zone, has already shown that he is willing to take a walk and will develop more power as his body continues to fill out. He should hit 25-30 home runs per season at his peak. 

Weaknesses: There are some questions about Singleton's defense. He was never going to be an outfielder, like the Phillies tried, and he is still trying to get better at first base. He may never be elite defensively, but his offense will more than make up for his limitations with a glove. 

Report: Unlike Cosart, Singleton is much more likely to reach his ceiling because he has already given us a glimpse of what he is capable of in the minors. He is going to be a solid No. 3 or 4 hitter with multiple All-Star game appearances in his career. 

ETA: 2013

3. George Springer, OF, 22

One of the big changes the Astros did last year was go after young players with tremendous upside, which has not always been their philosophy. Springer was the team's first-round draft pick in 2011, one of the few gifts that Ed Wade left before being fired.

Strengths: Springer was one of the best pure athletes in last year's draft. He showed much better discipline at the plate in 2011, though his home run total did decrease from 18 in 2010 to 12 last year, but that is not a big concern right now. He has good speed and enough arm strength to play in center field. 

Weaknesses: There is a hitch in his swing where he drops his back shoulder. That could lead to a lot of pop-ups and prevent him from being able to drive the ball. He also gets fooled by breaking pitches and has trouble reading the ball out of the pitcher's hand. 

Report: He is not a perfect prospect, but he is the most dynamic player in the system. He could be a five-tool star if he is able to correct some flaws with his hitting and learn to read pitches better. His improved plate discipline last year is a positive sign, and he has to continue showing improvement this year. Despite being a college player, he is still raw with room to grow. 

ETA: 2014

4. Domingo Santana, OF, 19

The third prospect on the list that the Astros acquired in the Hunter Pence trade, Santana doesn't have the pedigree that Cosart or Singleton do, but he does have great upside and is an intriguing prospect for this team if he can figure a few things out as he gains more experience. 

Strengths: Santana's best tool is his raw power. He has excellent bat speed and good leverage in his swing that should allow him to hit a lot of home runs. He shows the potential to be a solid defender in right field. He has a great arm for the position and should get more comfortable out there the more he plays. 

Weaknesses: As great as Santana's power potential is, he has yet to warm up to the other areas of hitting. He strikes out a lot already and does not show a willingness to work a count or take a walk. His swing gets long at times, which contributes to the low contact rate. He is not likely to hit for a high average. 

Report: Santana is still a raw player. The tools are there for him to be an impact right fielder, but he must show improvements at the plate in order to get there. If he starts seeing more pitches, working counts better and taking more walks, he can be an above-average regular. 

ETA: 2015

5. Jonathan Villar, SS, 20

It should tell you something about the state of the Astros system that four of their top five prospects were acquired from the Phillies. Villar was acquired in the Roy Oswalt trade and might have more upside than anyone else in the system. 

Strengths: Villar is a true shortstop. His best tools are his speed and defense. He displays good range and instincts at the position, and he has a terrific arm that can make all the throws. He is not going to hit a lot of home runs, but could have doubles power in his prime. 

Weaknesses: As great as Villar's raw tools are, they have yet to show on the field. He is an undisciplined hitter, as evidenced by his 156 strikeouts in 498 at-bats last year. He also tries to be flashy on defense instead of just making plays. His attitude and inability to make adjustments are holding him back. 

Report: This is an important year for Villar. He is going to be 21 in May, so he is approaching that area where his raw tools have to start yielding results on the field. It is not a make-or-break season, but there does have to be improvement across the board. Still, the potential is too great to ignore at the shortstop position. 

ETA: 2014

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