Astros take HS Pitcher Forrest Whitley in 1st Round of Draft

Astros take Alamo Heights Pitcher 17th overall

HOUSTON

The Houston Astros have selected right-handed pitcher Forrest Whitley with the 17th overall pick in the 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Recommended Videos



Whitley learned that he was drafted while pitching for San Antonio Alamo Heights High School at the UIL State Baseball Tournament in Round Rock.   Whitley, 19,  is a righthander and is 6-7, 240 pounds. 

  In regular season action, Whitley posted a 9-1 record and a 0.31 ERA in his senior season at Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio, Texas. He struck out 126 batters in his 68.0 innings of work. He is currently pitching tonight for Alamo Heights High School, which is facing off against College Station HS in the UIL Class 5A Semifinal at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas.

 In 2016, the 6-foot-7 righty was named to the Rawlings-Perfect Game 1st Team All-America and Texas All-Region 1st Team. In his junior year, he was named to the Perfect Game Underclass Second Team and played on the USA Baseball 18U National Team.

 The last right-handed pitcher taken out of high school in the first round by the Astros was RHP Lance McCullers out of Jesuit HS in Tampa, Fla., who was taken 41st overall in 2012. The last time the Astros had the 17th overall selection was in 1998, when they took RHP Brad Lidge out of the University of Notre Dame.

 Overall, Houston will make two total selections tonight, with their next pick being the 20th pick in the second round (#61 overall).  The remaining selection is expected to be made at approximately 9:40 p.m.

 For those wishing to cover tonight’s draft from Minute Maid Park, media can enter through the 1st base entrance with an Astros season credential. Media parking is available in the Diamond Lot or Lot A. Media that do not have a season credential with the Astros must request a daily pass through the Astros Media Relations department.