Houston Astros Farm System Ranked Near Bottom in Latest List

The Houston Astros have one of the worst farm systems in MLB according to a new rankings list from The Athletic.
Houston Astros Farm System Ranked Near Bottom in Latest List
Houston Astros Farm System Ranked Near Bottom in Latest List /
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Most major publications do not rate the Houston Astros farm system highly. The Astros have just one top-100 prospect in Hunter Brown and if everything goes right then they will none by the end of the 2023 MLB season.

It's a testament to their system that they are able to identify, develop, and the utilize prospects at the Major League level. It has kept the window for contention wide open and has helped mitigate the loss of star players such as Carlos Correa, George Springer, and now Justin Verlander, to name a few.

But their current lack of upper tier talent in the farm system means that window could shut closed in just a few years. That is why The Athletic's Keith Law has listed Houston's system #26 in his latest rankings.

"Not to be a broken record, but the Astros drafted without scouts for years, and it showed in the results, which were also hurt when the team was drafting at the end of the first round rather than the top. They also almost completely punted on international free agency after 2016, only signing three players for seven figures or more between then and 2022, two of them Cuban defectors (Pedro León and the since-released Elián Rodriguez). They did also lose their first two picks in 2021 to penalties for the sign-stealing scandal, but had a strong 2022 draft that mixed some high-floor and medium-ceiling college players, which at least should provide more tradeable players to keep the big-league club going."

Law highlights the flaws within the system as well as the issues the Astros have had to bear the last five years following the fallout of the sign-stealing mess. 

The hiring of Dana Brown as their general manager made it very clear that the farm system and the manner of evaluating and acquiring players is a priority. 

Brown's arrival should help mitigate some of these concerns that Law touches on and could even prop their window of contention open that much longer. 

More From SI's Inside The Astros:

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  2. Mariners Fans Inexplicably Outraged Following Houston Astros' Social Media Post About Sweep
  3. Report: Former Astros Pitcher Fiers' Contract Terminated By CPBL Club
  4. Six Houston Astros Declared Free Agents
  5. Watch: Yordan Álvarez's Home Run Wins Astros World Series
  6. Lucas Giolito Claims All Teams Were Cheating in 2017
  7. Dusty Baker Makes His Thoughts Known on Bonds and Judge Records
  8. Is it Time to Move on From the Houston Astros Cheating Scandal?
  9. Is There Any Hope for an Aging Yuli Gurriel?
  10. Astros' Álvarez Stopped Striking Out and Became the Best Hitter in Baseball

Make sure to follow Inside the Astros on Twitter @InsideAstrosSI!


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Kayla Skinner
KAYLA SKINNER

Kayla Skinner is the Director of Media for Inside the Astros. She attended Texas A&M University and is from New Braunfels, Texas.  In Kayla's free time she acts as a Special Olympics coach and is passionate about service work.