Wednesday, March 12

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Despite being on the same team with players like Jacob Melton, Cam Smith and Chase Jaworsky, 19-year-old Astros prospect Nehomar Ochoa Jr. could be the most athletic youngster on the field during the Astros’ Spring Breakout game against the Nationals on March 14.

Ochoa (the Astros’ No. 23-ranked prospect) is a 6-foot-4, 230-pound outfielder with raw power and arm strength -- he threw 95 mph off the mound in high school. He’ll be among 19 of the Astros’ Top 30 prospects competing in Spring Breakout, a series of exhibition games between teams comprising each MLB organization’s top prospects.

“I’m pretty excited,” Ochoa said. “I’m looking forward to it. I’ve always wanted to play in that Spring Breakout Game. Thank God I’m in this position now, and I’m looking forward to playing in the game.”

In his first full pro season, Ochoa slashed .222/.317/.359 with 10 homers and 17 steals in 103 games for Fayetteville as the second-youngest batting qualifier (age 18) in the Single-A Carolina League. He started 83 games in right field, 19 in left field and two games in center field. He threw out 12 runners from right field.

“I learned a lot of things, especially coming from high school ball,” Ochoa said. “It’s a whole different environment, really. I never thought it would be this different. I would say last season, I had an all right year. I feel like I could have done better. I had some struggles here and there, but overall I think I had a pretty solid season.”
 
Astros senior director of player development and performance science Jacob Buffa said Ochoa showed a lot of tools last year, including power, arm strength and speed.
 
“He’s a smart kid,” Buffa said. “I thought he was fantastic. I think the other thing that gets overlooked is we sent him to winter ball right before the season as an 18-year-old, and he goes overseas, plays winter ball and then comes and lasts a whole season in the Minor Leagues. That’s tough to do, but it’s a testament to his work ethic. He’s very confident. He’s just very mature.”

Ochoa has a quick right-handed swing and plus raw power that plays mostly to left field because of his pull and launch-heavy mindset. He has enough natural pop to hit 25 or more homers per season without swinging for the fences. He'll have to moderate his approach as he advances because he chases too much and is overmatched by breaking balls from righties.
 
He struck out in about one-third of his at-bats last year (116 strikeouts in 343 at-bats), so having a better approach is at the top of Ochoa’s list of things needing improvement.
 
“Someone that has the tools he has, we’re going to refine the game within the game, how to approach at-bats,” Buffa said. “We’re going to work on trying to improve the contact rate, essentially through knowing what his strengths are, knowing what the pitcher is trying to do. I don’t think there’s any drastic physical changes that need to be made. It’s just finding these things that eventually keep you in the big leagues for multiple years.”

Ochoa was born in Venezuela and came to the U.S. when he was 10 years old. His father, Nehomar Ochoa, was a pitcher who played parts of three seasons (2003-05) in the Expos/Nationals system. His career was cut short when he fell off a horse and injured his shoulder.

The younger Nehomar moved to the United States at age 10 and blossomed into a physical and toolsy outfielder, before signing with the local Astros for $300,000 (double slot value) as an 11th-rounder in 2023.

While his father’s big league dreams were cut short, Ochoa Jr. said his dad is thrilled to see his son on the track to the Major Leagues.

“My dad is really happy,” he said. “He didn’t think I would have the season I had, even though he believed in me. For most guys, the first year is up and down, but overall he was pretty happy.”

After throwing 2 2/3 scoreless innings against the Mets on Thursday night, right-handed pitching prospect Ryan Gusto (the team’s No. 21 prospect) was optioned to Minor League camp. The 6-foot-4, 232-pound Gusto allowed one earned run, three hits, four walks and struck out six in 6 1/3 Grapefruit League innings and will lead the rotation at Triple-A Sugar Land this year.

Gusto was set to make his Major League debut in last year’s season finale against the Guardians in Cleveland, but the game was rained out. Gusto went 8-6 with a 3.70 ERA in 29 games (26 starts) last year at Sugar Land and is a favorite of general manager Dana Brown.

“I know our pitching department really likes him, and I know Dana was excited about Gusto when he saw him throw in Minor League camp,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “He performed well last season and good enough for us to bring him into the big leagues and pitch in the Major Leagues. He throws a ton of strikes, he can create swing and miss, he’s effective against both righties and lefties. His presence is solid on the mound. He’s got some intangibles that we look for in a starter. I told him, ‘You are in the plans.’ I expect him at some point this season to come to the big leagues and help us win some games.”

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