Astros prospect Forrest Whitley to pitch in Arizona Fall League

Houston Astros starting pitcher Forrest Whitley (68) pitches during the first inning of a spring training game at Minute Maid Park on Monday, March 25, 2019, in Houston. Houston Astros starting pitcher Forrest Whitley (68) pitches during the first inning of a spring training game at Minute Maid Park on Monday, March 25, 2019, in Houston. Photo: Jon Shapley/Staff Photographer Photo: Jon Shapley/Staff Photographer Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Astros prospect Forrest Whitley to pitch in Arizona Fall League 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

After a minor league season beset by ineffectiveness and injury, Forrest Whitley will return to the prestigious Arizona Fall League alongside some of baseball's best prospects.

The Astros top pitching prospect will play for the Peoria Javelinas, the league announced Tuesday. The team's pitching coach is Drew French, who holds the same title for Houston's Class AAA affiliate in Round Rock.

Whitley threw to a 2.32 ERA in 26 innings in last season's Fall League. He struck out 36, walked seven and yielded seven earned runs. The touted righthander threw so well that, during one start, a scout texted Astros manager A.J. Hinch claiming he could start the major league team's postseason game the next day.

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Similar success has eluded Whitley during another lost minor league season. The former first rounder had a 12.21 ERA with Class AAA Round Rock before he was jettisoned to West Palm Beach, Fla. for a two-month "season reset." Officially, he resided on the minor league injured list with "right shoulder fatigue."

Since returning to full-season affiliates in July, Whitley's work has been inconsistent. Across six starts between High-A Fayetteville and Class AA Corpus Christi, Whitley's struck out 36, yielded 13 earned runs and walked 15 in 23 ⅔ innings.

Whitley is scheduled to start again on Wednesday for the Corpus Christi Hooks.