Corpus Christi Hooks Media Guide 2018 Corpus Christi Hooks Media Guide | Page 54

FORREST WHITLEY RHP BORN September 15, 1997 in San Antonio, TX OPENING DAY AGE 20 HEIGHT 6’7 WEIGHT 207 BATS Right THROWS Right HOMETOWN San Antonio, TX ACQUIRED Selected in the 1st round (5th overall pick) of the June 2016 draft Career Highlights: 2018 – Entered season as Houston’s best overall prospect and the 9th-best prospect in Minor League Baseball, according to MLB.com. Has the “Best Slider” and “Best Changeup” among Astros minor league pitchers, according to Baseball America. 2017 – Named the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 5-4 with a 2.83 ERA in 23 games (18 starts) between Quad Cities, Buies Creek, and Corpus Christi. Ranked 2nd among Houston’s minor league pitchers in strikeouts (143) in 92 1/3 innings. Walked just 34 batters. Had a 1.21 WHIP. Averaged 13.9 strikeouts per-9 innings and 4.21 strikeouts-per-walk. Started campaign with Quad Cities, going 5 scoreless frames (1 H, 6 K, 2 BB) in season debut on April 11 at Peoria. Went 5 scoreless innings again (1 H, 6 K, 1 BB) on May 18 at Kane County. Best month in Midwest League came in June, posting a 1.74 ERA in 5 games (4 starts) while throwing 20 2/3 innings with 31 strikeouts and 12 walks. Went 4 2/3 scoreless innings with 7 strikeouts on June 11 at Beloit. Tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief with 8 strikeouts on June 16 at Beloit. Finished time with Quad Cities after 5 1/3 scoreless innings (4 H, 6 K, 4 BB) on June 28 at Wisconsin. Made Buies Creek debut on July 3 vs. Potomac, going 5 no-hit innings (9 K, 1 BB). On July 15 vs. Frederick, struck out 10 batters and gave up 3 hits in 5 2/3 innings while throwing a season-high 98 pitches. Promoted to Corpus Christi in mid-August. Made Texas League debut on August 17 at Tulsa, registering a career-high 11 strikeouts and allowing 2 hits in 6 scoreless innings. Went 2 scoreless frames (4 K, 3 BB) out of the bullpen on August 25 at San Antonio. Allowed 3 earned runs in final 2 outings (6 2/3 IP, 6 H, 11 K, 1 BB) to finish campaign. 2016 – Started with GCL Astros in late July before being called up to Greeneville. Made Appalachian League debut on August 12 vs. J ohnson City, tossing 2 2/3 innings and allowing 0 earned runs (5 H, 3 K). Went 3 innings (1 ER, 2 H, 3 K, 0 BB) on August 18 at Danville. Finished season with 3 innings (1 ER, 1 H, 6 K, 1 BB) on August 28 vs. Elizabethton. Career Notes: In 2017, became only the 5th high school 1st round pick to pitch in Double-A during 1st full pro season in this century. The previous 4 pitchers were Chad Billingsley, Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, and Dylan Bundy. Holding hitters to a .234 batting average against in minor league career. Averaging 13.7 strikeouts per-9 innings. Personal Notes: Went to Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio, leading the program to a Class 5A semifinal victory over College Station. Posted a 9-1 record with a 0.31 ERA during senior season, striking out 126 batters in 68 innings. Played on the USA Baseball 18U National Team. Named to the Rawlings-Perfect Game 1st Team All-America and Texas All-Region 1st Team. YEAR CLUB 2016 GCL Astros (R) Greeneville (R) 2017 Quad Cities (A) Buies Creek (A) Corpus Christi (AA) Career Totals W-L ERA G GS CG SO SV IP H R ER BB K 1-1 7.36 4 2 0 0 0 7.1 8 6 6 3 13 0-1 3.18 4 4 0 0 0 11.1 11 6 4 3 13 2-3 2.91 12 10 0 0 0 46.1 42 16 15 21 67 3-1 3.16 7 6 0 0 0 31.1 28 11 11 9 50 0-0 1.84 4 2 0 0 0 14.2 8 3 3 4 26 6-6 3.16 31 24 0 0 0 111.0 97 42 39 40 169 54