Jake Bloss, It Is Now Your Turn

I’ve been critical about the Astros not truly addressing their ongoing pitching depth issues for some time now. Yes, I always knew there was potential for a logjam in the starting rotation once certain arms were back in the fold later this summer. But that plan was mostly dictated by hope for continued good health and no complications from those recovering. Other than a brief flirting period with Blake Snell, the Astros did little, if anything, in the offseason to address a pitching depth chart that would fall off a cliff like their playoff hopes if the injury bug came around again. About that…

I know some may think that a team can’t plan for this many injuries and I agree with that sentiment up to a point. With the magnitude of arm issues among pitchers in baseball today, it is challenging to have an adequate contingency plan in place for every possible scenario. There are limits, after all, in terms of resources and roster space. There is also the role to consider for any free agent pitcher, both in the short- and long-term. But this front office was perfectly aware of the limitations of this staff entering the season. An innings eater would’ve come in handy by now and figured out any potential logjam when, or perhaps if, you cross that bridge.

But as much as I didn’t prefer the Astros’ inaction on this front, I should note that improvement could also occur from within a system, even if it is borne out of necessity. Yes, the farm system is currently in the process of being replenished, but there are still some interesting prospects who could contribute. We’ve seen Dana Brown not afraid to call up Joey Loperfido, although his playing time distribution is a bit unsettling. But Brown hasn’t shown a reluctance in promoting prospects who he thinks could help the Major League roster right now. He thinks that Jake Bloss, who the Astros will reportedly promote, could help provide a boost on the heels of Justin Verlander going on the IL with neck discomfort.

A third-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, Brown’s first with the Astros, Bloss has arguably been the best pitcher in the club’s minor league system this season. Or, at least, the fastest riser. Ranked as the club’s second-best prospect, and top pitching prospect, by FanGraphs, the right-hander brings four, arguably five, pitches to the table: A four-seam fastball that can now touch the upper nineties known for its carry; a slider that he can alter its shape to be more like a sweeper or a cutter; a curveball with noticeable vertical movement; and a changeup that still needs a little bit of work. Although he hasn’t pitched above Double-A in his young pro career, Bloss’s results to start the season are encouraging, with a 1.74 ERA/3.26 FIP and a 25.8% K% across a combined 62 innings in High-A and Double-A.

Of course, expectations have to be kept in check. If it wasn’t for the sheer amount of injuries to the Astros’ rotation, it would’ve been safe to say that Bloss likely remains in the minor leagues for most, if not all, of the season. Verlander’s recent placement on the IL all but forced Brown to thrust one of the organization’s top prospects onto the active roster. But, again, the Astros’ general manager hasn’t shown any hesitation to call up promising prospects to see if they could provide a boost like he already has to some extent with Spencer Arrighetti and Joey Loperfido. Whether Bloss rewards Brown’s confidence, at least right now, remains to be seen, though. We’ll see what happens when Bloss makes his Major League debut against the Orioles on Friday.