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Astros Go Name-Crazy, Select P Mike Foltynewicz And 3B Mike Kvasnicka To Complete Day One

The Astros completed the first day of the draft by selecting Minooka HS starting pitcher Mike Foltynewicz and Minnesota catcher Mike Kvasnicka, whom the Astros have listed as a third baseman.

Foltynewicz can reach 96 on the gun and has an effective sinker to boot. The Chicago Sun-Times has more on the Illinois product.

Foltynewicz, who is signed to play at the University of Texas, was nothing short of dominant this spring. He finished with a 9-1 record, an earned run average of 0.38 and a 128/24 strikeout/walk ratio in 72 2/3 innings. His lone loss was a three-hitter in which he didn’t allow an earned run in a 1-0 defeat. He also had a huge year at the plate with eight homers and 39 RBI.

Kvasnicka, as noted, is projected to be a third baseman in the majors, since the Astros already have a top catcher prospect in Jason Castro. Regardless of his position, David Coleman doesn’t particularly like the selection.

There are times when I haven’t agreed with a draft pick because it was a bad spot to take them. With Kvasnicka, I just don’t like the player. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe the Astros are projecting this guy to be awesome with the bat. It’s telling that they drafted him as a third baseman. I just don’t like his bat.

Here’s hoping that Bobby Heck and crew know their stuff. As always, we’ll never know how great or how poor these picks are until a few years down the road, so for now, get ready for day two tomorrow to see who else the Astros will select.

Images by eflon used in background images under a Creative Commons license. Thank you.