Drafted in the 7th round (212th overall) by the Houston Astros in 2008 (signed for $150,000).
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Arizona's position players offer mostly mediocrity after the dynamic T.J. Steele. Jon Gaston should be the first one picked due to his present strength, decent athleticism and lefthanded bat. He's not athletic but runs and throws average.
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One year after hitting .193 with two homers in his first taste of pro ball, Gaston took advantage of the hitter-friendly winds at Lancaster's Clear Channel Stadium. He hit .308/.397/.692 at home en route to leading the minors in runs (119), homers (35), extra-base hits (81) and total bases (310). He continued to show power in the Arizona Fall League after the season. The Astros helped Gaston tap into his power by getting his hands deeper and into a better position to drive the ball. When teams pitch around him, he's willing to take a walk. Though his bat will have to carry him, he has more athleticism than his stocky build might indicate, with fringe-average speed and a solid arm. Gaston uses a big-load mechanism, angling his bat to get into a launch position and tilting his back side to turn and drive the ball. It's an all-or-nothing approach, which is why he struck out 164 times, and more advanced pitchers in less favorable hitting environments could exploit the holes in his swing. He'll have to work to become an adequate defender on an outfield corner, and if he loses a step he might be destined for first base. In Double-A, Gaston will get the chance to prove his 2009 numbers weren't entirely a product of Lancaster. If he does, he'll be on the fast track to Houston.
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Rated Best Outfield Arm in the Houston Astros in 2011
Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Houston Astros in 2011
Rated Best Power Hitter in the Houston Astros in 2010
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