Sara Goodrum breaks down Astros’ prospects in Q&A

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Sara Goodrum has been on the job because the Astros’ participant growth director for 14 months, a job through which she oversees all participant growth employees and collaborates with coordinators on the recruiting, hiring and growth of the employees. Goodrum took a while to reply some questions concerning the state of Houston’s Minor League system this week earlier than the Astros’ 9-3 victory over the Braves on Wednesday:

MLB.com: You’ve been on the job for a little bit greater than a 12 months. What’s been your largest problem?

Goodrum: Going from Year 1 to Year 2 has been loads smoother. Year 1 was studying all these new names and faces of the 180 Minor League gamers and all of the employees. Coming in Year 2, it’s been good to be aware of the system and what we do and who’s what. Now, Year 2 is specializing in understanding what we need to prioritize to proceed the event of the Major League staff, and dealing intently with our coordinators to verify we’re figuring out the appropriate issues — and ensuring gamers are progressing the best way they need to be.

MLB.com: Outfielder Drew Gilbert, your No. 1 choose final 12 months out of the University of Tennessee, is again on the sector this spring after dislocating his proper elbow in a crash into the wall in Single-A (Fayetteville) final 12 months. How’s he regarded in his first camp and coming off a big harm?

Goodrum: Drew’s doing nicely. We’re actually excited to get him again in sport motion and he’s regarded actually good. What was actually spectacular, simply even within the quick clip (10 video games) we noticed him, was he confirmed his skill to manage the strike zone rather well. He swings the bat with lots of bat velocity, he has lots of intent along with his swing. I believe will probably be actually enjoyable to observe the offensive manufacturing this 12 months.

MLB.com: Spencer Arrighetti, a right-handed pitcher taken within the sixth spherical of the 2021 MLB Draft, is a reputation that will get talked about loads as somebody who has impressed throughout his time within the group. What’s made him a reputation persons are speaking about?

Goodrum: Spencer’s a competitor. He works actually exhausting, he’s actually in tune with what he must work on, he has a extremely good slider and a uniqueness about him that makes him exhausting to hit. He’s a extremely enjoyable, thrilling prospect that we’ve got.

MLB.com: We noticed Pedro Leon get time in a Grapefruit League sport Tuesday after he had hernia surgical procedure in January. He’s performed in heart area, shortstop and second base. What’s the long run maintain for him when it comes to defensive positioning?

Goodrum: I believe with Pedro the main target this 12 months might be enjoying some heart area, and you then would possibly see him get some second-base motion as nicely. … He’s extremely athletic, an extremely gifted participant, so I believe the thought course of there was to see how he can adapt to some totally different positions and see if there’s something there.

MLB.com: Are there any members of the 2022 Draft class which have actually stood out to you right here in Florida?

Goodrum: Honestly, this would possibly sound cliché, however there’s lots of them. That was simply an general actually spectacular Draft class. … We’re actually excited to see them in motion for a full season this 12 months. We didn’t fairly get all of the pitchers out in video games final 12 months, so simply throughout the board, it’s thrilling.

MLB.com: The Astros have promoted coaches up the ranks, type of like gamers, the previous few years and a few coaches find yourself transferring with the gamers. How has that helped in participant growth?

Goodrum: I don’t assume transferring (coaches up) ranges with gamers is finished by design. I do know that it’s actually vital to acknowledge exhausting work within the group, and I believe we’ve been blessed with such unbelievable coaches which can be actually gifted and good at what they do, as a result of it provides us the power to advertise from inside. And while you’re capable of have that, I believe it simply makes it much more particular. Because while you’re capable of promote somebody right into a management place that’s already aware of the group, I believe it motivates everybody round them, [because] they see we acknowledge the exhausting work they’re doing. It’s one thing that I actually worth from a employees growth standpoint, as nicely, too. We’re creating the gamers, nevertheless it’s additionally vital that our coaches are creating as nicely.