Drafted in the 4th round (134th overall) by the Houston Astros in 2005 (signed for $217,500).
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SS Josh Flores was the top position player in the state last year, and scouts are still incredulous that he turned down a six-figure offer from the Braves, who took him in the 24th round. Atlanta still controls his rights because he wound up at Triton Junior College, where he ranks among the national juco leaders in hitting (.519) and steals (28). Flores has top-of-the-line speed, going from the right side of home plate to first base in 3.9 seconds, and has strength in his bat and his arm. However, he cheats on fastballs and doesn't adjust to breaking pitches, and he's not a long-term shortstop. He probably fits best in center field.
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Flores is one of the toolsiest outfielders in the organization, but it has been hard for the Astros to get a clear read on his ability because of injuries and inconsistency. After batting .219 there in 2007, he was set to return to Corpus Christi in 2008 but slipped on a curb outside a restaurant in the offseason, blew out his left knee and had surgery to repair two ligaments. That wiped out regular season for him. However, a return in instructional league to shake off the rust had the Astros optimistic about his ability to bounce back from the injury. Timid at first upon his return, Flores finished strong and did not appear bothered by the knee when jumping out of the box. Refining his hitting approach remains the biggest point of emphasis for Flores, as his game is (or should be) based on speed and putting the ball in play. In instructs last fall, he struggled with balls on the outer half of the plate. He needs better plate discipline to bat at the top of the order, and unfortunately has shown little interest in bunting. He has the speed to play center field, though he's still learning the nuances of the position, and an average arm. The key to Flores' success will be his legs, and he'll return to Corpus Christi and try to get back on track.
The Braves tried to sign Flores before and after he won the national juco batting title with a .519 average at Triton (Ill.) JC in 2005, but he declined six-figure offers on both occasions. He turned pro for $217,500 after the Astros made him a fourth-round pick that June. Flores has been inconsistent since signing, but he still has the best package of tools among the club's center-field prospects. He's a more well-rounded player than Michael Bourn, acquired from the Phillies in the offseason. Flores' most obvious tool is his speed, which grades as a 65 on the 20-80 scouting scale. Managers rated him the best baserunner in the high Class A Carolina League last year, when he stole 39 bases in 44 tries between two levels. Houston would like to see him get more aggressive and improve his reads of pitchers so he could steal more often. Similarly, he can get more out of his speed in center field once he learns to take better routes on flyballs. He has fringe-average arm strength, but that's fine for center field and he registered 12 assists last year. Flores' offensive performance has been up and down, typified in 2007 when he hit well in high Class A but couldn't solve Double-A pitching. He has a short stroke and good pop for a speedster, but he's vulnerable to being set up by advanced pitchers and slow to adjust when that happens. He has some grasp of the strike zone but needs better discipline, especially if he's to bat at the top of the order. Flores is a gifted athlete but doesn't have the best instincts. He'll give Double-A another try in 2008.
Flores won the national juco batting title with a .519 average in 2005, turning down sixfigure offers from the Braves both before and afterward. His gamble paid off, as the Astros gave him $217,500 as a fourth-rounder that June. After an encouraging pro debut, he struggled to adjust to the speed of the game in low Class A in 2006. Flores stood on top of the plate and tried to pull everything, failing to stay back and protect the outer third of the plate. He does have power, but he'll have to tighten his strike zone and adjust his approach. His best tool is his speed, which ranks as the best in the system, just ahead of Josh Anderson. Flores swiped bases at an 82 percent success rate last year, but he needs to be more aggressive and run more. A shortstop before turning pro, he's still learning in center field. He's good on balls hit directly in front of or behind him, but struggles to take efficient routes on drives in the gaps. His arm is average. Houston believes he has the makeup to succeed, and thus feels confident he can handle a jump to high Class A in 2007.
Some clubs soured on Flores after he turned down six-figure offers from the Braves as a 24th-rounder out of high school and again as a draft-and-follow last spring. He won the national juco batting title with a .519 average, and area scout Kevin Stein and regional supervisor Gerry Craft lobbied hard to draft him. After signing for $217,500, Flores earned Greeneville MVP and Appalachian League all-star honors. The fastest player in the system, Flores goes from the right side of the plate to first base in 3.9 seconds. More than just a speedster, he's an all-around athlete with hitting ability and surprising power. He has good range and a playable arm in center field. Though he led the Appy League in hits, Flores still needs to tighten his strike zone and do a better job recognizing breaking balls. A shortstop until he turned pro, he's still learning outfield nuances such as taking good routes and getting in position to throw. Flores will play in low Class A in 2006. He's a few years away, but he offers more upside than Astros incumbent Willy Taveras.
Minor League Top Prospects
If the Braves had been able to sign Flores as a 24th-round pick in 2004 or as a draft-and-follow during the spring, Danville's lineup would have had yet another dynamic bat. Atlanta's loss was the Astros' gain, as he wreaked havoc on the basepaths for Greeneville. Flores gets down the line exceptionally fast for a righthanded hitter, having been times in 3.9 seconds as an amateur. His most prominent tool is his speed, though his hitting and power may not be far behind. Bigger than the typical speedster, Flores may develop more power as he grows. He can be pitched to and will have to show improvement against breaking stuff. Flores played some center field for Greeneville, but spent most of his time in left because his arm is below average. "He's got plus speed, great hitting ability, and I like the way he carries himself for a 19-year-old," Greeneville manager Russ Nixon said. "He's been a force in this league."
Best Tools List
Rated Best Defensive Outfielder in the Houston Astros in 2009
Rated Best Baserunner in the Carolina League in 2007
Rated Fastest Baserunner in the Houston Astros in 2007
Rated Fastest Baserunner in the Houston Astros in 2006
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