MLB Prospect Preview: Forrest Whitley
Welcome to the new Sports Chief edition of previewing top MLB prospects. There are exactly 12 weeks to go until the season begins, so for the next 12 weeks I will highlight one top prospect who is primed to make a splash in the majors this upcoming season. This is not a countdown of best prospects, instead a series of players who I feel every MLB fan should know about.
Photo: mlb.com
Forrest Whitley
RHP
Houston Astros
Rated by MLB.com as the top pitching prospect, the Houston Astros have a good one here. The righty is from Alamo Heights, Texas, getting the opportunity to play for the MLB team only three hours away in Houston. Whitley has the ultimate frame for a pitcher, standing at 6’ 7”, an inch taller than Chris Sale. At just 21 years old, he is fully expected to arrive with the Astros at some point this season. His arsenal features four pitches, all of which he can consistently throw for strikes, which is very impressive for someone as young as he is. His best pitch is his fastball that can get up to 97 mph and has dangerous cutting action. Combined with the fact it’s thrown on such a steep downward plane, it makes it very difficult for hitters to make solid contact.
There are some scouts that have said Forrest Whitley is one of the most promising pitching prospects they have ever seen. No one argues that he has potential to be a #1 starter in this league. During the 2017 season, his first season in the minors, Whitley averaged 13.9 strikeouts per nine innings and jumped all the way to Double-A. Last season he had to sit out the first 50 games due to a drug violation, and battled through some injuries, which limited him to only 26.1 innings, but he should be ready to pick back up this year and compete for a spot in Houston’s crowded, and very talented, rotation.
Garett