With the 53rd pick in the draft (2nd Round), the Astros selected 6'3" 210lbs Joe Perez out of Archbishop McCarthy High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Archbishop McCarthy has won three straight state titles (this one over Lance McCullers' alma mater), and Perez was the Miami Sun-Sentinel's Class 6A-1A Player of the Year.
Perez was drafted as a 3B by the Astros, where MLB.com said he was a 5th-6th Round talent. But he has far higher upside as an RHP...down the road after he gets Tommy John surgery, tomorrow, apparently.
Baseball America had him ranked as the #99 prospect in their Top 500, noting that Perez hit 99mph
MLB.com:
When he's 100% he has one of the most explosive fastballs, especially in the high school ranks.
He has a 92-97mph fastball and an "inconsistent" slider that "flashes plus." Perez threw 18.2IP in four games, going 4-0, allowing 12H/5ER, 40K:13BB.
But that's down the road, as Perez was, again, drafted as a 3B. This Spring, Perez hit .526/.581/1.145 - you read that correctly - with 4K:10BB, 14 2B, 9 HR in 76 at-bats.
Perfect Game wrote of Perez (in June 2016):
...Took an outstanding BP, showed big bat speed and raw pull power, used his lower half very well, ball explodes off the bat...Big arm strength at third base. Potential primary pitcher in the future, has limited present experience on the mound.
Perez has a commitment to the University of Miami, which may change given the $1.3m slot for the 53rd overall pick, though he wants to pitch and play 3B. Perez:
At UM, I'm going to do both and hopefully I get to do both for as long as possible.
Jake Kaplan said the Astros' plan is to develop Perez as a 3B.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
