Baseball's top pitching prospect Forrest Whitley made his Minute Maid debut
Astros star prospect Whitley knocked around early
Mar 25, 2019, 8:45 pm
Forrest Whitley. Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Baseball's best pitching prospect will start the season in the minor leagues and just like his pro baseball journey to this point his Minute Maid debut was filled with ups and downs.
Forrest Whitley tossed three innings, allowing six hits and three runs while striking out two. He threw 67 pitches with 43 being thrown for strikes. He mixed in his slider and changeup with a fastball that sat at or above 95 mph most of the night. He occasionally went to his curveball as well.
"This outing was pretty weird," Whitley said after his start. "I haven't had one of these in a while, kind of had everything but my fastball. It's kinda hard to pitch without the fastball without the number one."
The Pirates got to the 21-year-old early. After the lead-off batter singled to right Sterling Marte took a 1-2 offering deep to right field for a double. Later in the inning with a runner on first Pirates catcher Francisco Cerveelli would blast a 2-0 fastball for a no-doubter home run to left field. Whitley would recover for a strikeout of Melky Cabrera producing three swings and misses and the strikeout with his slider in the dirt.
He settled down in the second inning producing a groundout, flyout, and strikeout swinging with his fastball on 15 pitches. The third saw him induce a pair of groundouts before an infield single. Jung Ho Kang would square up a ball for a hard hit single that would draw pitching coach Brent Strom from the dugout. Whitley would force a flyout to end the inning and his day.
How was the first of hopefully many starts in the Astros home ballpark?
"It was cool," said Whitley. "Very cool stadium, a lot bigger than I anticipated but it was a good time for sure."
Whitley said spending time with veteran pitchers Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole was very important for him this spring. He said the preparation routine of each pitcher was different but both resulted in positive outcomes. Whitley said while he learned about their routines, he will be exploring his own process ahead of his return to the majors.
The 6-feet-7 inch tall righty played all of last season for the Astros Double-A affiliate where he appeared in just eight games for the Hooks due to is 50-game suspension to start the season. He produced a 3.76 ERA in his minor league work last year. He also pitched in the Arizona Fall League where his ERA was 4.15. He will begin the 2019 campaign playing for the Astros Triple-A affiliate the Round Rock Express.
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The Astros received a major sigh of relief as Christian Walker’s sore oblique showed no signs of strain. The potential injury scare could have had significant implications for Houston’s roster construction, particularly for top prospect Cam Smith. If Walker had been sidelined for an extended period, it might have opened the door for Smith to make the big league roster sooner rather than later.
When Smith does make his debut, the Astros face a crucial decision on his defensive position. Will he slot in at third base, with Isaac Paredes shifting to second? Or will Houston continue experimenting with him in right field, despite his limited experience at the position? The uncertainty surrounding Chas McCormick’s role in right field could factor into the equation as well. If McCormick struggles early, the Astros may be forced to accelerate Smith’s transition to the outfield.
Meanwhile, Astros general manager Dana Brown has openly acknowledged that the bullpen remains an area of concern. He emphasized that innings 5-7 are still up in the air, which led to Houston signing left-handed pitcher Jalen Beeks, who posted a 4.50 ERA and recorded 10 saves between the Pirates and Rockies last season. Whether Beeks is the answer remains to be seen, but Brown’s comments suggest the team is still exploring additional reinforcements.
While Houston has had its share of injury struggles, the Yankees are now facing their own health crises. Gerrit Cole, their ace, is likely headed for Tommy John surgery, which would sideline him for the entire season. Additionally, slugger Giancarlo Stanton is battling elbow issues that could keep him out for an extended period. Last season, the Astros dealt with key injuries to Cristian Javier, Jose Urquidy, Justin Verlander, and JP France, and now it appears New York is suffering a similar fate. With the Yankees' roster in flux, their status as the favorites to win the American League could be in jeopardy.
As the Astros navigate these uncertainties, one thing is clear: the roster puzzle is far from complete. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining how Houston solidifies its bullpen, outfield, and infield depth to ensure another competitive season.
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