Luhnow, Astros keep prepping for June's Draft

BALTIMORE -- Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, who is deep in preparations for next month's First-Year Player Draft, was in Raleigh, N.C., on Friday to get another look at North Carolina State left-hander Carlos Rodon, who's among the players the team is considering for the top pick.

Rodon threw seven innings and held Wake Forest to one unearned run, four hits and one walk while striking out nine batters and pitching around a rain delay. In his last five outings, Rodon (5-7) has a 0.70 ERA with 51 strikeouts and 11 walks. His ERA is now 1.73.

In keeping with his policy, Luhnow won't discuss Rodon's performance or any of the players the Astros are scouting.

"We're still gathering information," he said. "That really won't stop until we convene in Houston and get everybody in a room and talk about the players. I know where I personally stand, but I haven't seen these guys near as much and seen nearly as many guys as everybody else."

Luhnow, scouting director Mike Elias, national crosschecker David Post and all the Astros scouts will gather at Union Station on June 1 for five days of meetings leading up to the Draft. The team will also hold an invitation-only workout for prospects June 2 at Minute Maid Park.

They will also have workouts for top prospects on May 18 in Los Angeles, May 26 in Atlanta and May 28 at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla., as they've done in past years.