The Astros announced that right-hander Forrest Whitley has been designated for assignment. Left-hander Brandon Walter was called up from Triple-A Sugar Land in the corresponding move.
Selected 17th overall in the 2016 draft, Whitley was once viewed as one of baseball’s top pitching prospects, and he was a fixture on top-100 prospect lists even as injuries and a 50-game drug policy suspension in 2018 hampered his career. Due to the canceled 2020 minor league season and a Tommy John surgery, Whitley went over 21 months (from September 2, 2019 to June 16, 2022) between a proper in-game appearance in the minor leagues.
That long layoff was the turning point in Whitley’s career, as he only showed flashes of his prior form once he returned to the mound. A lat strain limited him to 30 Triple-A innings in 2023, but a move to full-time bullpen work in 2024 seemed to put Whitley on the right track, as a 1.89 ERA over 33 1/3 relief innings for Round Rock earned Whitley his first taste of MLB action in the form of three appearances for the 2024 Astros.
More injuries arose this year, as a left knee bone bruise and left knee sprain resulted in two separate trips to the IL for Whitley. It is quite possible his health issues impacted his performance, as the righty struggled to a 12.27 ERA over 7 1/3 innings for the Astros, with two home runs and six walks allowed within that small sample.
Whitley’s lack of effectiveness didn’t leave Houston with much choice beyond a DFA, as Whitley is out of options and can’t be sent to the minors without first being exposed to waivers. Should he clear waivers, Whitley can be outrighted off the Astros’ 40-man roster and returned to Sugar Land, though it is worth wondering if the Astros might be ready to simply move on from Whitley entirely.
Given Whitley’s past pedigree, it wouldn’t be a shock if another team claimed him away to see if a change of scenery could finally unlock the right-hander’s potential. The pure stuff still seems to be there, as Whitley’s fastball (96.3mph) and slider (96.7mph) have plenty of velocity even if his walk rates have spiraled upwards. Whitley is still only 27 years old, and might yet be able to join the long list of former top prospects who became late bloomers in terms of big league success.
I wish this was sad but it is the reality of the situation.
“Run, Forrest, Run!”
I remember several years back when some people practically had this guy in the Hall of Fame before he ever got out of AA. He may have had the talent before injury, but it just goes to show that it takes a lot more than just talent to form a HOF career. It takes durability and a lot of luck too.
Hi- Well said.Plenty of posters here think that promise equals ML success.
It often does not.
When the Pirates were shopping Cole I remember that this guy was untouchable.
They fortunately got Musgrave instead.
The majority of players who become stars in MLB were once very promising prospects. Of course they’re not all going to work out. Nobody thinks that.
Astros AAA is Sugar Land not Round Rock.
And they recently switched from the Skeeters to the Space Cowboys.
baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=whi…
He played for Round Rock in 2019.
RR was their AAA club then
In 2024? Nope.
Poor man is going to have to resurrect his career in Colorado now
Miami does well with pitchers. Idk who else other than those two could possibly claim him ?
He’ll have plenty suitors
CWS
SD
LAD
PIT
TB
OAK
MIL
MIA
Any rebuilding teams or teams that believe in their pitching labs. I actually wouldn’t be surprised if a team trades for him.
Nailed it ! Good call
Round Rock is the Rangers affiliate guys.
Whitley pitched for Round Rock, but that was back in 2019. He pitched for Sugar Land in the years referenced in the article.
They edited it guy
Good
Nice First round bust from 2017
It just goes to show you that it’s a massive gamble taking any pitcher in the 1st round
Especially a HS pitcher. However, that whole first round was a bust. Wil Smith is the top talent in that round. Cal Quantril is second in career WAR in the 2016 1st round. That says a lot.
Here’s an article following the 2016 draft with pick-by-pick analysis by Jim Callis. There are plenty of “high floor” guys who missed. This is not meant as a knock on Callis. More than in other sports, the MLB draft is an inexact science.
mlb.com/news/mlb-draft-pick-by-pick-selections-ana…
Cole Ragans and Will Smith. Other than them, a bunch of guys whose names we barely recognize.
Thanks El.
There is a stigma attached to first rounders as they are supposed to be can’t miss.
I do not get too excited about minor league players until they perform extremely well at AAA for at least a couple of months.
Once in awhile there is someone who is extremely talented who can skip that level with success but rarely.
Your attached list does indeed prove that it is an inexact science no matter what the statistics say.
That’s a bit of exaggeration. There are plenty of guys that while not stars have been solid MLB players. In the Lottery Round A you had Bryan Reynolds and Bo Bichette drafted.
The craziest one was seeing Alex Kirilloff drafted and him already retiring
Both Reynolds and Bo were 2nd round picks
Well the article is broken down as “lottery round A”
You missed “Second Round”
Pick 42 starts the second. Look again. Honest mistake.
Of the very few major leaguers from the First Round and Comp round A the Cincinnati Reds have 3 of the 41 on their roster.. Gavin Lux, Will Benson and Nick Lodolo
Would be interested in seeing what Stearns & Hefner could do with him.
Step one is keeping him off the Stearns & Foster
Right!
Loved him in “Fast times at Ridgemont High!!”
Would love to see O’s claim him.
Well first off he was ready before all the injuries and they kept him down trying to expand the years of control over him. All the clubs do it. Then guys get hurt in the minors. They need to start bring up guys when they are ready then at least you get something out of them. Plus maybe injuries won’t happen if up with the technology. Tired of pencil pushers deciding when guys are ready. Honestly dont know how anyone can have a HOF career now. Time to get back to the old ways
Just like with Jordan Lawlar. He came up briefly at the end of 2023. Then they sent him back to the minors for no apparent reason at the start of 2024. He got hurt in the minors and that set him back. Also, the Marlins with Max Meyer last year. He started out great in the majors and then they sent him down for no good reason and ruined his confidence. He’s only shown flashes of brilliance since.
I’ve never heard of a pitcher whose slider in thrown faster than his fastball? 96.7 for his slider and 96.3 for his fastball???
I was wondering about the accuracy of that to..
Take a flyer San Diego, cannot be any worst than hart
Get to MIL and let the Crew go to work on him!
AMEN!!
He really needs to go to AAA to be able to really start a ML pitching career.
He seems to be injury prone but may have promise if he can get a solid restart.
Rays or Guardians can take a shot at rebuilding him into a quality reliever.
He can still get signed by another MLB team.
I him him being in DFA limbo as teams claim him, DFA him, and try to pass him through waivers. If I were to gamble, I’d say he’ll be on three different teams before the season is out.
Having arm talent doesn’t necessarily mean a guy is a competitor. Who knows, maybe a change of scenery will help him.
Love 2 see pirates claim him and use in pen ,Thinks Marin’s magic would work on Whitley