Michael Feliz

Feliz has a top 25th percentile fastball that he threw as hard as 99 mph last season, but his slider is his preferred pitch when he wants to miss bats. The swinging-strike rate on his slider was three times greater than the one of his fastball, but he still throws his fastball 70% of the time. The issue for Feliz is pitch control; he gets plenty of strikeouts, but double-digit walk rates offset those gains and home runs have plagued him throughout his career. Last year marked the third time in four full seasons in which he struck out at least 30% of the hitters he faced, and he had a career-best year limiting hitters to a .210 batting average. However, 11 homers in 56.1 innings and the walks continue to keep a higher-leverage role at arm's length as he has yet to earn a save at the major-league level. Speculate elsewhere on saves.

Feliz underwhelmed in his first year with the Pirates after being acquired in the deal that sent Gerrit Cole to Houston, posting a 5.66 ERA and 1.51 WHIP in 47.2 innings of relief. After allowing four runs without recording an out in his first appearance for Pittsburgh, the righty turned in a 0.90 ERA and 26:6 K:BB over his next 21 appearances (20 innings). Unfortunately, things went downhill from there, as Feliz struggled to an 8.27 ERA and 4.9 BB/9 over his next 17 outings (20.2 innings) before being demoted to Triple-A in July. Feliz made a trip to the DL in the middle of that stretch due to shoulder inflammation and it's possible some of his struggles were tied to that issue. He experienced a slight decrease in velocity as the season progressed and walked too many batters (4.3 BB/9), making him a tough sell for fantasy as a middle-inning arm with no clear path to saves.

The Astros continued to use Feliz in a relief role in 2017 after he was used predominantly as a starter during his time in the minors. Feliz's fastball topped out at a career-best average of 96.2 mph last season, and he paired his heater with a slider that was often punished when he failed to locate it properly as opposing hitters slugged .548 against that offering despite his 23.6 percent whiff rate with it. With an increased walk rate and a spike to his hard-hit rate, Feliz's overall numbers took a big step back, as his ERA soared to 5.63 despite skills that supported an ERA nearly two runs lower (3.78 FIP). Walks have been a problem for Feliz on a few occasions in his career, but 2016 (3.1 BB/9) offers hope that he can turn things around. Following the trade to Pittsburgh in January, Feliz has a chance to take a step forward in 2018 as part of the Pirates' setup corps.

Feliz spent most of 2016 as a reliever for the Astros, and pitched quite well over 65 innings. While his ERA was 4.43, he had a 1.18 WHIP and an outstanding 95:22 K:BB. Feliz has an electric mid-90s fastball and a nasty slider, so he only threw his changeup five percent of the time in 2016. The Astros have oscillated on whether or not they want to develop Feliz as a starter, and his changeup will need further development for him to be an effective major league starter. Reports are that Feliz will be working toward a starting role in the offseason, and may compete for a fifth starter role in spring training. Fellow reliever Chris Devenski threw more extended relief outings last year, and seems to initially be ahead of Feliz, although the team also brought in veteran right-hander Charlie Morton, who could earn the spot as well. Feliz's value will depend on his eventual role, but he's one of the more intriguing Astros arms to watch given his high-strikeout potential.

Many times players who get a taste of the big leagues return to the minors with a sense of entitlement or bitterness from the demotion. That wasn't the case for Feliz, who had a few cups of coffee with the Astros last season before spending much of the year with Double-A Corpus Christi. Hooks pitching coach Doug Brocail praised the 22-year-old right-hander for his work ethic and composure on the mound, as he made 15 appearances (12 starts) for the team with a 2.17 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 70:20 K:BB over 78.2 innings. He also earned Texas League Pitcher of the Week honors in August. While Feliz made five low-leverage appearances out of the Astros' bullpen with poor results (7.88 ERA, 1.63 WHIP over eight innings), Houston continues to develop him as a starter. He's likely to open 2016 in that role with Triple-A Fresno.

Feliz, 21, went 8-6 with a 4.03 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 25 games (19 starts) for Low-A Quad Cities in 2014. At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, he's an imposing presence on the mound whose fastball reaches the mid-90s. His control (3.2 BB/9) needs improvement, but he'll get the opportunity to work on that in the hitter-friendly confines of the California League this season. How Feliz performs in that environment should give the Astros better insight into his future as a starter or reliever, but the organization thought enough of him to protect him from December's Rule 5 draft by adding him to the 40-man roster over the winter.