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MLB rumors: 5 prospects who can help the Astros in 2019

By David Salituro

HOUSTON, TX - JULY 07: Kyle Tucker #3 of the Houston Astros singles to right field in the seventh inning for his first major league hit against the Chicago White Sox at Minute Maid Park on July 7, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - JULY 07: Kyle Tucker #3 of the Houston Astros singles to right field in the seventh inning for his first major league hit against the Chicago White Sox at Minute Maid Park on July 7, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – JULY 15: Yordan Alvarez #45 of the World Team singles in the fifth inning during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on Sunday, July 15, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – JULY 15: Yordan Alvarez #45 of the World Team singles in the fifth inning during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on Sunday, July 15, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

3. Yordan Alvarez

Yordan Alvarez is an imposing man. The 21-year-old stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 225 pounds. Naturally, he possesses the power to go along with that size.

Alvarez has played just eight games so far in 2019 for AAA Round Rock but already has five home runs with a .346 AVG and 1.469 OPS. Last year, splitting time between AAA and AA, he combined to hit .293 with 20 home runs.

“He’s an intimidating presence in the batter’s box, knows a ball from a strike, knows what he can do well, hits the ball hard. I can see why we like him,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said during Spring Training.

Alvarez was originally signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 after defecting from Cuba but was traded to the Astros for pitcher Josh Fields in August of that year. MLB Pipeline rates him as the 43rd best prospect in baseball and third in the Astros organization.

Alvarez plays primarily in the outfield, but also has experience at first base. So far this season he’s worked on cutting down on his strikeouts, seeing his strikeout rate decline from 24.9 percent last year to 17.9 percent in 2019. At the same time, his walk rate has increased to 17.9 percent from 12.2 a year ago.

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