Astros sign 10 amateur players, including all 2020 Draft picks
HOUSTON, TX - The Houston Astros have signed 10 amateur players this week, including all four of their selections in the 2020 MLB Draft and an additional six undrafted free agents. Terms of the deals were not disclosed. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager James Click.
The drafted players to sign this week were RHP Alex Santos II (#72 overall), who officially signed today, RHP Tyler Brown (third round), OF Zach Daniels (fourth round) and SS Shay Whitcomb (fifth round). The undrafted free agents to sign with Houston this week were 2B J.C. Correa, the younger brother of Astros SS Carlos Correa, OF Justin Dirden, RHP Cesar Gomez, RHP Kyle Gruller, RHP Zack Matthews and 1B/LF Peter Zimmermann.
Santos, 18, highlights the Astros draft class as the club’s top selection and as the only high school player taken by the Astros in this year’s draft. Drafted out of Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx, NY, Santos had his high school senior season canceled in 2020, but did play extensively on the Summer showcase circuit, earning a spot on the 2019 USA Baseball’s 40-man 18U National Team Trials Roster. Entering the draft, Santos was ranked as the 15th overall high school prospect by Baseball America and as the 56th overall player in the draft by MLB Pipeline.
Santos is one of five right-handed pitchers to sign with the Astros, while the club has also added three infielders and two outfielders to make up their 10 current signees.
The Astros 2020 draft selections and undrafted free agent signings*:
Rnd (Pick) Player School Ht/Wt Date Signed
2C (72) RHP Alex Santos II Mount Saint Michael Academy HS (NY) 6-3/185 6/19
3 (101) RHP Tyler Brown Vanderbilt 6-4/242 6/17
4 (131) OF Zach Daniels Tennessee 6-1/210 6/16
5 (160) SS Shay Whitcomb University of California San Diego 6-3/200 6/16
UDFA 2B J.C. Correa Lamar University 6-0/195 6/18
UDFA OF Justin Dirden Southeast Missouri State 6-4/214 6/17
UDFA RHP Cesar Gomez University of Texas - Arlington 6-3/195 6/17
UDFA RHP Kyle Gruller Houston Baptist University 6-3/240 6/18
UDFA RHP Zack Matthews Oklahoma 5-11/210 6/19
UDFA 1B/LF Peter Zimmermann Missouri 6-3/225 6/17