Positional versatility was a prevailing theme of the Astros’ player development efforts in the minor leagues this season.
Center fielder Myles Straw became a part-time shortstop. Corner outfielder Kyle Tucker dabbled at first base. Third baseman Abraham Toro was exposed to the other side of the infield. Even catcher Garrett Stubbs, undersized for his position but also sneaky fast, played second base.
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Their experimentation will continue in the Arizona Fall League, which begins on Wednesday. The Astros are sending Colton Shaver, a 6-foot-1, 240-pound first base/designated hitter-type, among their contingent of minor leaguers. The purpose is the intriguing part — they want to see if he can catch.
Through Shaver’s five-plus weeks surrounded by touted prospects, the Astros might learn whether the project is worth continuing in spring training and beyond. But the fact it’s still active reflects the team’s belief that there’s a chance the right-handed-hitting slugger from BYU could prove to be at least serviceable behind the plate.
Given the state of catching in their system, it makes sense for the Astros to try and create one. The lone catcher on their 40-man roster they have under team control beyond this season is Stubbs, who likely projects best as a part-time or backup major leaguer. Their best prospect at the position is first-rounder Korey Lee, but he was drafted only three months ago.
The Astros tried to convert the strong-armed Toro into a catcher when he was in Single A but it didn’t take. In Shaver’s case, the player initiated the idea in spring training after catching his training partners, including Forrest Whitley, in the offseason. Shaver grew up catching and was recruited to BYU as a catcher but was primarily a DH in college because he was blocked by older catchers on the Cougars’ roster.
“I really like it back there. I like how you’re always engaged in each and every pitch,” Shaver said. “That’s always been my first love as a position.”
Shaver was a first and third baseman in 2017, his first partial pro season, and 2018, his first full pro season. After broaching with the Astros during spring training the possibility of catching this year, he got back behind the plate in April to catch teammates’ bullpen sessions in High A. He made his professional game debut at the position for Fayetteville on April 28.
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In all, Shaver caught 29 games during the minor league season — nine in High A and 20 after his mid-June promotion to Double A. Before this year he hadn’t caught since the summer of 2016 in the Cape Cod League, where he was eventually supplanted on his team by Georgia Tech star Joey Bart, the second overall pick in the 2018 draft. Shaver is very much a work in progress at the position, with his receiving, blocking and footwork each needing improvement. His retention of attack plans and game-calling are considered to be his strengths.
Shaver’s arm is strong enough, and his throws to the bases figure to improve if he cleans up his footwork. Though he’s in much better shape than when he was drafted, he needs to further improve his physical conditioning to enhance his overall mobility behind the plate.
Shaver, who turns 24 on Wednesday, has defied the odds by even reaching Double A. He was the lowest-drafted player from Houston’s 2017 draft class to sign, having been selected in the 39th of the 40 rounds and 1,171st out of 1,215 players. He was a college junior and teams might’ve had visions of drafting him the subsequent June as a senior. But he was ready to begin his pro career, $10,000 bonus and all.
“I’m very grateful for how BYU went about my college process. They gave me an opportunity to keep playing and play every day. The thing with (signing after being taken in) the 39th round was I was able to get an opportunity, and that’s all I was looking for,” Shaver said. “Not too many guys go out of BYU, especially as seniors, so I was just grateful that I was able to get the opportunity as a junior and be able to take it and continue and chase my dream.”
Shaver produced offensively at BYU and in his summer on the Cape. A slow start to his junior season hurt him but scouts also questioned his body and his lack of a position. That the Astros started him at rookie-level Greeneville, an Appalachian League affiliate in Tennessee with which they no longer partner, suggests they didn’t expect very much.
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His minor league coaches have lauded Shaver for his work ethic. He’s worked hard to get his body in better shape to a point where there is hope he can catch. Coming out of the draft, it wasn’t a sure thing in the mind of scouts that he would even stick at first base.
“In college I had the football mindset,” said Shaver, a high school linebacker. “It was go in and lift as much as I can, try to get as strong as I can and every day was a max day. That was just what I was chasing in college. Now I try to be smarter about my body and what do I need, what’s better for me? I still have a long road. I still have a long way to go. But I’ve definitely made improvements.”
Shaver’s power has long been his best tool. He slugged .500 in Double A this season, significantly better than the .386 Texas League average, behind 15 homers, a triple and five doubles in 227 plate appearances. The Astros have helped him simplify his swing mechanics to generate more power. He could stand to improve his swing decisions at the plate to further bolster his production.
If his bat continues to develop, perhaps Shaver could carve out an Evan Gattis-type role in the majors. First basemen with power in the upper minors are abundant, but catchers who can slug are in short supply. The heavily scouted AFL, where Shaver will catch power arms like Whitley and fellow Astros prospect Jojanse Torres, will be his biggest test yet.
(Top photo of Colton Shaver: Olivia Rook / Corpus Christi Hooks)