Marek

Houston

The 16th-overall selection in last year’s MLB Draft, Houston has gotten off to a nice start in the lower minors after a 15-homer effort during his final collegiate season at Wake Forrest. The 21-year-old is a phenomenal defensive shortstop, so any additional gains in the power department without sacrificing his athleticism will make him extremely interesting from a fantasy standpoint over the next few years. He’s a name to watch in all dynasty formats.

The Wake Forest product is thought of as the best defensive shortstop in the college class this year, while also hitting .354/.458/.597 over 61 games. The mix of offensive upside with his elite defensive traits makes Houston an intriguing prospect.

Houston revamped his swing prior to his junior season with Wake Forest, and it paid off. He homered 15 times for the Demon Deacons, and forged a slash of .354/.458/.597 over 61 games in the process. He doesn’t project to have more than average power, but that’s a big jump from what he showed in his first two seasons in the ACC. He’s a smart hitter who has shown the ability and willingness to draw free passes, and his plus speed should make him a threat on the bases as well. Houston is a very strong defender up the middle, and that could help him more quickly through the system, as well. It’s a very intriguing profile.