Valdez Breaks Into Houston Astros' Top-30 Prospect Ranking

With the graduation of J.J. Matijevic, Enmanuel Valdez breaks into the Houston Astros' top-30 prospect list.

Lucas Boland/Caller Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Lefty batter Enmanuel Valdez enters the #Astros' Top 30 Prospects list with J.J. Matijevic's graduation.

More on the 23-year-old, who has produced a 1.014 OPS this year: https://t.co/qld3dTGq11 pic.twitter.com/0JtdzBPMaE

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 30, 2022

MLB Pipeline announced Saturday the addition of Enmanuel Valdez to the Houston Astros' top-30 prospect ranking. Valdez replaced J.J. Matijevic — who graduated from prospect status.

Valdez is now ranked 29th in the Astros' system before the outlets post-draft update which would likely move the utility man into the top-15. The lefty entered Saturday slashing .328/.411/.603 on the year between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land.

After winning Texas League Player of the Month for May and posting a 1.112 OPS for the Hooks, the 23-year-old received his first promotion to Triple-A in his career. Since he landed with the Space Cowboys on June 7, Valdez has an .898 OPS and nine home runs in 36 games.

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