Houston Astros Enter 2022 Draft With Fangraphs' 27th-Best Farm System

Looking to strengthen the farm system, the Houston Astros will pick in the first and the second rounds of the MLB Draft for the first time since 2019.

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With the 2022 draft rapidly approaching, we've updated our farm system rankings so you can see where each team stands prospect-wise. More info on that, plus thoughts from @longenhagen on which teams will likely rise in the rankings post-draft. https://t.co/abYqRjTNk7

— FanGraphs Baseball (@fangraphs) July 12, 2022

The Houston Astros will select in the first and the second rounds of the Major League Baseball Draft on Sunday for the first time since 2019. The franchise was stripped of four picks combined from 2020-2021 as punishment for the sign-stealing scandal. 

Poised to strengthen the 27th-best farm in MLB according to FanGraphs, general manager James Click enters his third Draft with the Astros — the first with a first-round and a second-round pick.

FanGraphs announced its system rankings Tuesday, putting the Astros bottom five in the sport based on prospect crop. But Houston's slot isn't anything new.

Jeff Luhnow traded away three top-10 prospects from the system in 2019 for Zack Greinke. Although the trade didn't lead to a second World Series victory in the last three seasons, Greinke contributed to three postseasons in Houston — two of which ended in the Fall Classic.

Following the sign-stealing scandal, Houston didn't have any ground to bolster the farm with first-round or second-round picks in 2020 or in 2021. This draft will be the first time Astros fans can really evaluate for Click and company on their selections.

Tennessee Volunteers Outfielder Drew Gilbert :: Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

FanGraphs did not run a mock draft for 2022, but other prospect publications have circled college outfielders for the Astros at the No. 28 pick. In his latest mock Draft from July 7, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline selected outfielder Drew Gilbert to Houston in the first round.

Callis predicts the Astros will target college bats early, piecing together a list of outfielders Sterlin Thompson (Florida), Jacob Melton (Oregon State) and Brock Jones (Stanford) along with Gilbert as options at No. 28. 

Callis also sees a pitcher on the forefront of Houston's mind, listing Mississippi State's Landon Sims and prep hurlers Jacob Miller (Ohio) and Owen Murphy (Illinois). After not drafting in the first two rounds in back-to-back summers, finding soon-to-be-ready depth may behoove the franchise — somewhat justifying going the college route.

The Astros drafted three college outfielders in 2021. They added another in Logan Cerny from Philadelphia in exchange for Garrett Stubbs following the postseason. Signing 17 of 19 draftees, Houston selected 15 college players in the first year of the 20-round draft format.

As two picks join the mix, more college players could be on the way as the Astros retool a depleted farm system while still looking to contend in the American League. 

Selecting in the first round with the No. 28 pick, Houston will follow with pick No. 64 in the second round before selecting with pick No. 80 — compensation for Carlos Correa signing with the Minnesota Twins — to wrap up the first day of the Draft which starts at 6 p.m. Sunday on MLB Network and ESPN.

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