Houston Astros' Prospects Brown, Diaz Partake in 2022 All-Star Futures Game

The Houston Astros were represented well Saturday with Hunter Brown and Yainer Diaz showing flashes of the future in Los Angeles.

Kenny Van Doren | Jul 17, 2022

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Greeted to boos at Dodger Stadium, prospects Hunter Brown and Yainer Diaz didn't receive warm welcomes at the 2022 All-Star Futures Game in part to the team they represented — the Houston Astros.

Nonetheless, both prospects showed glimpses of what they can add to the Astros this season and next. Brown — who was evaluated as a starting option for Saturday's contest — was scheduled to start the second inning for the American League.

The righty opened the frame with a four-pitch walk to Miguel Vargas. Four-straight balls aren't always a good sign, but what stood out for Brown was his first-pitch 99.8-mph four-seam fastball atop of the zone which is his fastest recorded pitch this season and the third-fastest pitch thrown at the Futures Game, according to Statcast.

The 23-year-old averaged 96.1 mph on his heater which flashed 48 percent of his 25 pitches Saturday. But with Vargas at first, Brown ditched the fastball. Throwing four breaking pitches, the right-hander surrendered a single on a 1-2 curveball at the bottom of the zone to Zac Veen.

With two on and no outs, Brown pumped two fastballs up to Mark Vientos who flew out to center fielder Jasson Dominguez. After punching out Masyn Winn on three pitches, Brown found himself, until Dominguez was tasked with another defensive chance.

Diego Cartaya drove a fly ball on a 3-1 count to center field that would have ended the frame if caught. Dominguez dropped it at the warning track with Vargas and Veen coming across to score and Cartaya reaching second.

Brown walked Corbin Carroll five pitches later. Runners occupied first and second with two outs again in the second inning before Brown yielded a one-run single on Robert Hassell III to put three total runs on the board for the National League.

Given the hook after Hassell's knock, Brown ended his Futures Game debut after 2/3 innings pitched with three runs (all unearned) on two hits and two walks to his one strikeout.

In the box, Yainer Diaz hit sixth as the designated hitter. The regular first baseman/catcher wasn't subbed out Saturday which granted him four trips to the plate — one which resulted in Statcast history.

Diaz got behind in the count in his first at-bat after the righty fouled off a 99-mph sinker and a 97-mph fastball. Rolling over on a curveball out of the zone, Diaz grounded out to shortstop Masyn Winn — who heaved a 100.5-mph strike to first base which was recorded as the fastest infield assist by Statcast (started in 2015).

St. Louis Cardinals' Prospect Masyn Winn / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Diaz wasn't done there though. The 23-year-old slapped a two-out single in the second inning at 107.6-mph off the bat — the second-hardest hit ball on the day. Diaz followed with another single on a 1-0 count in the fifth at 102.1 mph. In his final trip to the plate, the righty struck out on five pitches which stranded a runner at second.

Triple-A Sugar Land rosters both Brown and Diaz. As the two await their fate for seasons to come, they are left off the 40-man roster while Diaz remains eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this upcoming offseason.

Brown's dominance on the mound will soon pay dividends to the Astros' depth as an addition to the 40-man is only weeks away, one can theorize. But for Diaz, he will likely see his contributions in the majors next season as a third option behind Korey Lee and Martín Maldonado, who holds a team option for 2023.

The American League left Dodger Stadium victorious, 6-4, in the abridged seven-inning contest.

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Published Jul 17, 2022

KENNY VAN DOREN

Kenny Van Doren is a writer for FanNation's 'Inside the Astros,' part of Sports Illustrated. Kenny formerly covered the Astros for Climbing Tal's Hill of FanSided. Kenny also attends the University of Missouri where he studies journalism.