Prospecting - Joey Dixon and Ryan Johnson

+ the plan moving forward

One of the topics I hope to cover more this season is the Astros minor leaguers because they are the future of an organization that is at a turning point with personnel.

How that coverage manifests, I’m not sure. With 162 games and daily updates + the new stuff listed below, that leaves little time or space in my brain, but I think it’s important and readers enjoy them.

In our fourth installment, we take a look at 2023 seventh-round pick Joey Dixon and 2023 eighth-rounder Ryan Johnson.

Joey Dixon - Round 7, 224th Overall

Listed at 6’2, 204 pounds, right-handed pitcher Joey Dixon came to the Astros via Stanford University.

Over three seasons in Palo Alto, Dixon compiled a 15-4 record with a 4.18 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 183 innings, finishing 2023 at 7-0 with a 4.73 ERA and 90 Ks in 83.2 innings over 21 appearances including 14 starts.

After signing on July 15th, Dixon was assigned to the FCL Astros where he made 1 appearance of a single inning, giving up a hit and not striking out or walking a batter.

There isn’t much additional public info available on Dixon, but there is this article from Astros Future.

Ryan Johnson - Round 8, 254th Overall

The Astros selected Johnson, a second baseman, in the 8th round and unlike some of the other draftees, the now 23-year-old saw extensive action in the minors immediately after the draft.

Listed as a second baseman, catcher and third baseman, Johnson saw time at 2nd and 3rd with the FCL Astros, and 2nd, 3rd and shortstop with Fayetteville.

Like the others, the 6’0, 175-pounder’s time with the FCL Astros was brief, going 2 for 4 with an HBP in 5 plate appearances over 2 games before moving on to Fayetteville.

In Class A Johnson slashed .192/.285/.350 with 4 homers and 12 RBI in 120 at-bats while striking out 48 times.

Johnson was also listed with 8 errors in 111.0 innings at second base, covering 13 games (12 starts).

2024 Content Plan Starting to Take Shape

I’ve completed the quality start research and will be ready to publish the findings later this week.

I also wrote about why you should consider Framber for the Cy Young.

My 2024 content plan is coming into focus, though how it all shows up on these pages is still a question.

Here’s what I have as of right now:

1. Daily season projections for Astros

2. Daily standings projections for MLB

3. Tracking Quality Start data for Astros and MLB

4. Tracking of leverage index for Astros home runs

5. Tracking of clutch for Astros hitters

6. Tracking Stress Index for Astros pitchers

7. Tracking of Umpire Ratings for Astros games (working on prototype)

8. A nascent idea of Game Score+ for pitchers

Once we get into the season I may find some of these things don’t need daily tracking or become too time-consuming at the expense of other content. It’ll all work itself out.

There will inevitably be days that I miss as with last year’s 4th of July broken ankle situation and this year the kid and I already have trips planned for Oakland (yes, Oakland) and Round Rock, so bear with me on those days.

I will also be writing for BetSided, using the Quality Start data to suggest betting opportunities and using the standings projections data to identify teams that are likely to regress.

If you’d be so kind to share the content with other Astros and MLB fans I’d be grateful.

Thanks for reading!