Woodpeckers Watchlist: 2022 Edition

Official minor league rosters are just days from being announced as the Houston Astros get ready to wrap up Spring Training in West Palm Beach. Here are some projected names to watch out for in Fayetteville that have a chance to breakout in the early season.

Joey Loperfido - OF

Loperfido captured the hearts of Duke baseball fans in 2021 during the Blue Devils magical run to their first ACC tournament title in program history. After earning the honor of ACC tournament MVP, Loperfido was snagged by the Astros in the 7th Round of the MLB draft and got a taste of pro ball with 19 games played for Fayetteville. His biggest swing of the season came on September 8th when he drilled a two-run game-winning home run off the center field batter’s eye at Atrium Health Ballpark in Kannapolis. Expected to make a return to Fayetteville in 2022, Loperfido profiles as one of the top outfielders to watch throughout the entire Carolina League and is already making highlight reel plays with the glove in Astros Spring Training.

Astros prospect and friend of the show @joeyloperfido lays out and makes the grab in his Spring Training debut with the big league team! pic.twitter.com/5Tqmy9YMDO

— The Call Up | An MLB Prospect Podcast (@The_CallUpPod) March 25, 2022

One of the biggest changes for Loperfido heading into 2022 has come out of the weightroom. During an interview with The Call Up Podcast hosted by Aram Leighton, Loperfido touched on a new offseason training program that has helped him gain nearly 20 pounds from his sub-200 weight at the end of the 2021 season which should only upgrade his already impressive pop at the plate.

Tyler Whitaker - Outfielder

At just 19-years-old the Astros top draft pick from 2021 is ready to make the jump to full-season action and is another top outfield prospect to watch this season in the Carolina League. Whitaker was grabbed in the 3rd round (87th overall) out of Bishop Gorman High school in Nevada, a program known for producing past big leaguers including Joey Gallo, Bryce Harper, Marty Cordova and Joey Rickhard. While Whitaker will primarily rotate throughout the outfield, the Astros have experimented with his strong arm on the infield, giving him a chance to see time at third base for the Woodpeckers as well.

Over 29 games in the Florida Complex League in 2021, Whitaker slashed .202/.263/.590 and showcased an impressive mix of power and speed, connecting for 3 HR, 2 doubles, 6 RBI and 8 stolen bases.

Alimber Santa - RHP

The Astros have shown a knack for identifying future big league pitching talent in Latin America with the likes of Luis Garcia and Christian Javier making the pass through Fayetteville in 2019. Rising prospects Misael Tamarez and Jaime Melendez dominated Low-A hitters in 2021, continuing a wave of fireballers that is trending to continue with 18-year-old Alimber Santa. Reports out of West Palm Beach acknowledge that the right-hander from Azuna, Dominican Republic is standing out with his 96-97 mph fastball, high-spin curve, and newly formed slider.

Only one game today on the backfields due to weather but I got a gift in #Astros righty Alimber Santa. The 18 YO sat 94-95 mph and touched 97 mph, mixed in a high spin CB at 77-78 (2700+ rpms) and showed a changeup. #ForTheH pic.twitter.com/TmyO1DnYDE

— Geoff Pontes (@GeoffPontesBA) March 24, 2022

Santa signed for $75,000 in February of 2020 and is ready for his first full-season assignment in Fayetteville after combining for 21 innings in the Dominican Summer and the Florida Complex Leagues in 2021. Over the stretch he totaled 22 strikeouts, issued eight walks and held opposing hitters to a .244 average.

Bryant Salgado - RHP

Houston native Bryant Salgado is enjoying the rare opportunity of playing for the club he admired as a young teenager. After moving to the states from Puerto Rico, Salgado’s college journey started at San Jacinto Junior College and concluded at one of the powerhouses of the PAC-12 with the Oregon State Beavers. Over 23 relief appearances as a draft-eligible sophomore, Salgado preserved his ERA to a miniscule 1.01 while using an advanced curveball to hold opposing bats to just three extra base hits over 26.2 innings.

Oregon St RHP Bryant Salgado, from Klein Forest & San Jac,was taken in the 14th round by the #Astros in the MLB Draft.Moved here from Puerto Rico at age 10,learned English by listening to music.He’s a huge fan of the Astros & Carlos Correa (@TeamCJCorrea),who he’s worked out with pic.twitter.com/RJczuoXctB

— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) July 14, 2021

The Astros drafted Salgado with a 14th round selection and gave him a taste of pro ball with 11.1 total innings in Fayetteville over August and September where he racked up 10 K’s and 9 walks. Now with a full Spring Training under his belt, the newly-turned 22-year old will have a chance to hone in his command of the zone that he displayed at the college level.

Dauri Lorenzo - Middle INF

Lorenzo begins the 2022 season as the #22 overall prospect in the Astros system according to Baseball America’s preseason rankings and should patrol the middle infield for the Woodpeckers at some point during the first half of the season. The Dominican Republic native signed with the Astros at 16-years old and debuted in the US with 41 games at the Florida Complex League in 2021.

His switch-hitting approach favored his left-handed swing, slashing .257/.331/.330 vs. right-handed pitchers and .219/.265/.250 against lefties. At just 19-years old, Lorenzo still has time to add weight and complement his plate vision with added power from both sides of the plate. Some scouting reports project Lorenzo as a future 2nd baseman but he will see plenty of time at shortstop in Fayetteville.

Quincy Hamilton - OF

The Horizon League Player of the year showcased in Fayetteville why he was deserving of a 5th round draft selection out of Wright State University in 2021. Hamilton skipped over the Florida Complex League and began his Low-A career with nine hits and four multi-hit efforts in his first five games helping fuel a .723 OPS for the season.

Although the home-run swing was dormant for the majority of August and September, Hamilton entered the offseason on a high note, homering in two of his final three games against the Carolina Mudcats. He also showed his ability to cover all three outfield positions while making strong first reads on a pair of diving catches in center field.

This Quincy Hamilton catch for @WoodpeckersNC is a 10! pic.twitter.com/JMhw8Ezhoo

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) September 18, 2021

Colton Gordon - LHP

Gordon’s final year at UCF ended prematurely due to Tommy John Surgery in May of 2021, however his 72 program-leading strikeouts and strong 2020/2021 numbers were enough to earn him an 8th round selection by the Astros last summer. Now in his tenth month on the long road to recovery, Gordon shared news of his return to bullpen sessions and could join the Woodpeckers as soon as May or early June.

While left-handed pitching was scarce in Fayetteville in 2021, the Woodpeckers did see nice showings from south paws Brayan De Paula and Julio Robaina who both earned promotions to High-A Asheville. Now Gordon, with his good size at 6’4 225 LBS, holds the badge as the only left-handed pitcher taken by the Astros in the most recent draft and will display his stuff at the pro level for the first time in 2022.