Astros stock up on college talent, RHPs in Draft
Brian McTaggart
@brianmctaggartHOUSTON -- In keeping with trends of recent years, the Astros stocked up on college talent in this year’s MLB Draft by selecting 35 players from the collegiate ranks, including 16 of their first 17 picks, and only five from high school.
The Astros selected 18 right-handed pitchers, three left-handed pitchers, four catchers, eight infielders and seven outfielders, including four center fielders in the first eight rounds.
The club began Wednesday’s third day of the Draft by taking 10 right-handed pitchers from among its first 12 picks. They finished their day selecting 18 pitchers, seven infielders, three outfielders and two catchers.
The Astros didn’t make any members of their front office available Wednesday to discuss the Draft.
Last year, the Astros used a pair of late-round picks to select the brothers of All-star third baseman Alex Bregman and All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa. Neither signed, and the Astros drafted J.C. Correa of Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, again Wednesday in the 38th round (they took him in the 33rd round last year).
The Astros also selected the son of the team’s vice president of communications, Gene Dias. High school outfielder Max Dias has a scholarship offer to the University of New Orleans and was taken in the 37th round. On Tuesday, the club drafted USC catcher C.J. Stubbs in the 10th round -- the brother of current Astros catcher Garrett Stubbs.
Including Dias and Correa, the Astros took seven players out of the state of Texas, a group that includes right-handers Blair Henley (seventh round, Texas), Garrett Gayle (12th round, Rice), Alex Palmer (20th round, Stephen F. Austin), Chandler Casey (26th round, Lubbock Christian) and infielder Bryan Arias (28th round, Texas-San Antonio).
A number of Astros’ Draft picks are set to begin NCAA Super Regional play this weekend, including shortstop Grae Kessinger (second round, Ole Miss), outfielder Jordan Brewer (third, Michigan) and right-handers Peyton Battenfield (ninth round, Oklahoma State) and Peyton Plumlee (31st round, Mississippi State).