With the 17th pick in the 2016 MLB draft, the Houston Astros selected right-handed pitcher Forrest Whitley from Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio, Texas. Coming out of high school, he was the top prospect in Texas and the 15th overall prospect in the country. Whitley had initially committed to Florida State University before signing with the Astros for a $3.15 million signing bonus. Having showcased his talent on the under-18 national team and winning the U-18 Baseball World Cup in 2015. The Astros anticipated Whitley as a future ace when they drafted him.
He even threw a no-hitter during his senior year. Upon signing, Whitley joined the Gulf Coast Astros in the Gulf Coast League. It’s a rookie-ball league where started his minor league career. Despite a challenging start with a 7.36 ERA in four appearances (including two starts), Whitley demonstrated glimpses of promise with his command, tallying 13 strikeouts and only three walks in 7.1 innings.
Photo Cred: MLB.com
After those four outings, he was transferred to the Greenville Astros in the Appalachian League. A rookie-ball league for high school prospects. He would conclude the 2016 season in Greensville. In his last four outings, all as starts, he recorded an impressive 3.18 ERA with 13 strikeouts. The year 2017 marked a breakout for Whitley. Beginning the season as the Astros’ No. 5 prospects, he was lights out. Across three minor league levels (A, A+, and AA), he boasted a 2.83 ERA over 23 appearances (18 of which were starts). Amassing 143 strikeouts across 92.1 innings. At just 19 years old, Whitley’s future seemed promising, but it was at this juncture that his fortunes took a turn for the worse.
Starting the 2018 season as the top RHP prospect and the No. 9 overall prospects in baseball. Whitley received a 50-game suspension on February 21st after failing an MLB-administered drug test. His first start didn’t come until June 8. During which he pitched four innings, surrendering one hit, and striking out five. He proceeded with seven more starts from June to mid-August, accruing a 3.76 ERA over 26.1 innings.
Photo Cred: New York Daily News
He started the next season in AAA but his performance was poor. He had an ERA exceeding 12 in eight games. By the end of the season, he had been demoted to three levels of the minors, finishing in the Arizona Fall League. Going from Triple-A to rookie ball, where he had started just three years prior, served as a harsh reality check for the pitcher. During this period, he suffered an injury that sidelined him, yet the Astros’ front office retained hope.
“He’s disappointed with how he’s performed, and I think this will be a good opportunity for him to take stock in where everything is and work with our pitching coaches and not be distracted by (pitching) 60 miles from his hometown,” then-Astros’ GM Jeff Luhnow said in an interview in 2019. “It’ll be a good opportunity for him. I think he’s mentally strong and I think he’s going to take this. He’s had setbacks before, and he’s made it through.”
Landing a spot on the 2020 40-man roster, Whitley was never called up and didn’t pitch during the 2020 season. Due to COVID-19, there was a cancellation of the minor league season in 2020. Returning for Spring Training the following season, Whitley was poised to play until encountering another setback. Experiencing discomfort in his right elbow, he was placed on the injured list once more. Eventually, he underwent Tommy John surgery and was sidelined for the entirety of 2021.
Photo Cred: ESPN
By the start of the 2022 season, he had returned and was ready to pitch, but he began at the bottom once more. Making one start for the Astros Blue team in the Florida Complex League, he allowed three runs over two innings. He then moved back up to single-A. He made two solid starts, allowing only one base runner over the two games. This performance earned him the call back up to AAA, but his struggles continued. He ended the 2022 season with an ERA of 7.09 in 40 innings.
In 2023, setbacks continued as he was diagnosed with a lat injury after eight games on the mound and 30 innings in AAA. This sidelined him for 3-4 months and effectively ended his season. Following this injury, the team decided to transition Whitley from the starting rotation to the bullpen. This is where he began the 2024 season and, although his appearances weren’t impressive, he was healthy: 7.20 ERA, 5.0 innings pitched, and eight strikeouts, giving up five hits, two walks, and three home runs.
With just five outings in the season, the front office saw all that they needed to. After eight long years, Forrest Whitley finally received the call he had been waiting for! On a team plagued by injuries, Whitley found a spot for himself. On April 14th, he was called up to the majors to make his debut, and he was on the mound in Houston facing off against the Atlanta Braves on the big stage just two days later!
He pitched in the ninth inning and secured the last two outs of the game, though he allowed a hit, one walk, and hit another batter. While he did not concede an earned run, Chadwick Tromp hit a two-RBI double on Whitley’s third pitch of the at-bat. This marked Whitley’s only appearance in the major leagues, as he was optioned shortly after the game to make room for Justin Verlander. Nevertheless, it was a moment he had awaited since being drafted almost 10 years earlier. Perhaps he will be called back up later in the year but, for now, we as baseball fans have seen our first glimpse of the 6’8 Forrest Whitley.
Photo Cred: Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle
