Brad Penner – USA TODAY Sports
It’s hard to keep track of all the prospects within the Houston Astros‘ minor league system, especially when they continuously add new and exciting players throughout the year. It’s the job of the prospect to separate himself from the pack and prove that he stands above the rest of the crop. Guys like George Springer have already done this, and there is nothing left for them to accomplish but major league success.
Delino Deshields Jr. is excelling within the Houston system. He’s not major league-ready, but he’s definitely starting to harness his talent and starting to really exhibit what his true strengths are.
All signs point to him having a bigger talent base than his father of the same name. The key piece that Junior has that his dad didn’t is power. At only 5-foot-9, power may seem unattainable, but he is a stout 205 and has shown surprising power while still having room to grow.
The AFL has been Deshields’ latest stage on which to shine, and he’s doing admirably. So far, the newly-converted outfielder is hitting a solid .283 with seven stolen bases from the leadoff spot within the Peoria Javelinas. Speed is obviously his biggest tool, and he’s showcasing it well. Just a year ago, he stole over 100 bases. He even cut down on his strikeout total, which is huge for the Astros.
While he may be a few years away from the Majors, Deshields has all the tools and work ethic to put it all together to become a major league star.
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