(SportsRadio 610) - Like many of us, Astros manager Dusty Baker has been hearing about pitching prospect Forrest Whitley for years.
It started in Baker's first spring training with the Astros three years ago, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic halted everything. Baker liked what he saw in bullpens from the Astros' former top prospect.
But every season's been derailed. Since being drafted 17th overall by the Astros in 2016, Whitley's been suspended for violating the league's drug prevention and treatment program in 2018, lost his 2020 season when the minor leagues were cut because of COVID-19 and then missed all of 2021 because of Tommy John surgery.
Two years ago, FanGraphs deemed Whitley "as enigmatic as any pitcher in the minors."
Then his return to minor league action last year left plenty to be desired. He posted a 6.53 ERA in 40 innings, which included 11 starts in 13 games pitched before shoulder pain shut down his season in September. Whitley told reporters at spring training this week that he would've missed only a couple of weeks if it had been the middle of the season, but they decided to be safe since it was the end.
Now, the 25-year-old, 6-foot-7 right-hander is looking to redeem what once looked to be a promising future with the Astros. He's slid from the team's top prospect to its No. 10-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline.
But Baker believes in Whitley's ability. He just needs to put it all together.
Whitley takes the mound Monday in a spring training start for the Astros against the Miami Marlins.
"We've just got to get him through Monday first," Baker said. "I'm hoping I'm seeing that I've been hearing about since I've been here. I remember the COVID year, I liked what I saw in his bullpens. I'm just hoping he can stay healthy and prosper from there because he certainly has the stuff."
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Brandon Scott is the editor for SportsRadio610.com. Follow him on Twitter @brandonkscott. Reach him directly via email: brandon.scott@audacy.com.
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