MiLB.com
On Thursday, MiLB named the Houston Astros farm system as tops during the 2015 season. The organization had seven teams make the postseason and led the MiLB with the best overall winning percentage with a 502-405 (.553) record.
As the parent club made its first appearance in the postseason since the 2005 season, Triple-A Fresno and Rookie level Greeneville captured their respective championship titles.
The Fresno Grizzlies finished at 84-59 and defeated the Columbus Clippers 7-0, to take the Pacific Coast League Triple-A Title.
The Greeneville Astros completed their 2015 season with a 34-33 second place finish, but in the first round of the playoffs, they took 2 of 3 from the Kingsport Mets and in the final, won 2 of 3 from the Princeton Rays to clinch the Appalachian League Title.
Adding to the awards, first baseman A.J. Reed won the MiLB Offensive Player of the Year, after batting .340, scoring 133 runs, belting 34 home runs and driving in 127 RBI’s between Class-A Advanced Lancaster JetHawks and Double-A Corpus Christi.
Third baseman Matt Duffy, who spent the 2015 season with Triple-A Fresno, was named the Pacific Coast League MVP after hitting 20 home runs and driving in 104 RBI’s. Duffy was rewarded for his hard work and great season, when he was called up to the majors and made his debut on September 16 against the Texas Rangers. He was 0 for 2 in that game, but three days later against the Oakland A’s, he recorded his first major league hit with a double.
As much as the organization dazzled at the plate, they also dominated on the mound as No. 9 prospect Joe Musgrove led the way with a 12-1 record, a 1.88 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 100.2 innings.
Astros GM Jeff Luhnow shared with MLB.com his take on the success of the minor league season.
“The most important measure of a system is, ‘How does it graduate its players?’ We were able to do that pretty well this year, especially in the case of [Carlos] Correa. The guys who came up were much accomplished, and we think that’s because they had the experience of winning in the Minor Leagues. We’re always walking the fine line between winning and development, though, and when we can do both, it’s a reflection on the scouts and coaches we have. We’re pretty happy with how everything’s shaken out.”
“This is the beginning of the next chapter, that’s all it is. We’re still maintaining our same philosophies, even if we’ve had some success here, but the culmination of our work won’t come until we’re sipping champagne.”
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