Astros top prospect George Springer will turn 25 at the end of the season, and despite having a MONSTER season last year at Triple A (Oklahoma City RedHawks). Springer started the season with the RedHawks and has yet to receive one single AB with the major league team. Springer has been rated as a top Astros prospect since being drafted out of Connecticut in 2011.

The disappointing fact is that in the 2011 MLB draft, 24 players not named George Springer have played in the major leagues before Springer has made his debut. Names like Jose Fernandez and Gerrit Cole stand out, but 22 other guys with less then a resume of Springer have made their debuts.

Playoff teams like the Pirates, Nationals and Cardinals are bringing up there top prospects and giving them time, yet the Astros the worst team from last year can’t/won’t bring up Springer. Yes it’s true there is still something that Springer can learn down in the minors, but couldn’t he learn just as well with the Astros?

This season Springer should make his debut, but the fact that 24 players have made a debut before Springer is a little disconcerting. Below is a list of the players from the 2011 draft that have made the big leagues.

(No. 1) Gerrit Cole (23 years old) – Pirates – pitched 117.1 innings last season, is a starter this season.

(No. 3) Trevor Bauer (23 years old) – Indians – pitched 6 innings this season, sent back to the minors.

(No. 4) Dylan Bundy (21 years old) – Orioles – pitched for the Orioles in 2012 then had Tommy John surgery.

(No. 6) Anthony Rendon (23 years old) – Nationals – had 351 AB’s last year, starting this season.

(No. 11) George Springer (24 years old) – Astros – N/A

(No. 14) Jose Fernandez (21 years old) – Marlins – pitched 172.2 innings last season, is a starter this season.

(No. 18) Sonny Gray (23 years old) – Athletics – pitched 64 innings last season, is a starter this season.

(No. 22) Kolten Wong (23 years old) – Cardinals – had 59 AB’s last season, starting this season.

(No. 40) Jackie Bradley JR. (23 years old) Red Sox – had 95 AB’s last season, starting this season.

(No. 62) Brad Miller (24 years old) – Mariners – had 306 AB’s last season, starting this season.

(No. 80) Erik Johnson (24 years old) – White Sox – pitched 27.2 innings last season, is a starter this season.

(No. 104) Nick Maronde (24 years old) – Angels – pitched 6 innings in 2012, pitched 5.1 innnings in 2013, is a part of the Angels bullpen this season.

(No. 114) Tony Cingrani (24 years old) – Reds – 5 innings in 2012, 104.2 innings in 2013, is a starter this season.

(No. 121) Carter Capps (23 years old) – Marlins – pitched 25 innings in 2012, pitched 59 innings in 2013 both for the Mariners, was traded to the Marlins now in Triple A.

(No. 151) Cody Asche (23 years old) – Phillies – had 162 AB’s last season, starting this season.

(No. 197) Tyler Collins (23 years old) – Tigers – 4th outfielder this season.

(No. 201) Marcus Semien (23 years old) – White Sox – had 69 AB’s last season, starting this season.

(No. 227) Brian Flynn (23 years old) – Marlins – pitched 18 innings last season, starting in Triple A this season.

(No. 350) Seth Maness (25 years old) – Cardinals – pitched 62 innings last season, is a part of the bullpen this season

(No. 443) Burch Smith (24 years old) – Padres – pitched 36.1 innings last season, is starting in Triple A this season.

(No. 536) Gus Schlosser (25 years old) – Braves – pitched 3.2 innings this season

(No. 564) Nick Martinez (23 years old) – Rangers – pitched 6 innings this season

(No. 698) Cody Allen (25 years old) – Indians – pitched 29 innings in 2012, 70.1 innings in 2013 and is in the bullpen this season.

(No. 938) Michael Roth (24 years old) Angels – pitched 20 innings last season, starting in Double A.

(No. 979) Kevin Pillar (25 years old) Blue Jays – had 102 AB’s last season, starting in Triple A.

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