Forrest Whitley

Forrest Whitley

27-Year-Old PitcherRP
Houston Astros AAA
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Forrest Whitley in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
RANKS
Rest of Season
From Preseason
#361
ADP
$Signed a one-year contract with the Astros in March of 2024.
Heads back to minors
PHouston Astros  AAA
September 5, 2024
The Astros optioned Whitley to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
ANALYSIS
Whitley allowed two unearned runs while striking out five over 2.2 innings in a couple appearances this week. He threw 48 pitches in Wednesday's blowout loss to the Reds, so the Astros will swap him out for a fresh arm.
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Pitching Stats
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2024
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
31
Last 10 Games
31
Last 5 Games
31
How many pitches does Forrest Whitley generally throw?
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
What part of the game does Forrest Whitley generally pitch?
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
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9th
 
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2022
 
 
-14%
BAA vs LHP
2024
 
 
-14%
BAA vs LHP
2023
No Stats
2022
No Stats
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2022vs Left .286 7 2 0 2 0 0 0
Since 2022vs Right .333 13 3 3 3 1 0 0
2024vs Left .286 7 2 0 2 0 0 0
2024vs Right .333 13 3 3 3 1 0 0
2023vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
More Splits View More Split Stats
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2022
No Stats
2024
No Stats
2023
No Stats
2022
No Stats
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2022Home 0.00 3.00 .666666 0 0 0 0.0 13.5 0.0
Since 2022Away 0.00 2.25 2.2 0 0 0 16.9 6.8 0.0
2024Home 0.00 3.00 .666666 0 0 0 0.0 13.5 0.0
2024Away 0.00 2.25 2.2 0 0 0 16.9 6.8 0.0
2023Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
More Splits View More Split Stats
Stat Review
How does Forrest Whitley compare to other relievers?
This section compares his stats with all relief pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 30 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
  • K/BB
    Strikeout to walk ratio.
  • K/9
    Average strikeouts per nine innings.
  • BB/9
    Average walks per nine innings.
  • HR/9
    Average home runs allowed per nine innings.
  • Fastball
    Average fastball velocity.
  • ERA
    Earned run average. The average earned runs allowed per nine innings.
  • WHIP
    Walks plus hits per inning pitched.
  • BABIP
    Batting average on balls in play. Measures how many balls in play against a pitcher go for hits.
  • GB/FB
    Groundball to flyball ratio. The higher the number, the more likely a pitcher is to induce groundballs.
  • Left On Base
    The percentage of base runners that a pitcher strands on base over the course of a season.
  • Exit Velocity
    The speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact.
  • Barrels/BBE
    The percentage of batted ball events resulting in a Barrel. A Barrel is a batted ball with similar exit velocity and launch angle to past ones that led to a minimum .500 batting average and 1.500 slugging percentage.
  • Spin Rate
    Spin Rate is the rate of spin on a baseball after it is released. It is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm).
  • Balls Hit 95+ MPH
    The percentage of batted balls hit that met or exceeded the 95 MPH threshold.
  • Swinging Strike
    The percentage of pitches that result in a swing and a miss.
K/BB
1.67
 
K/9
13.5
 
BB/9
8.1
 
HR/9
0.0
 
Fastball
97.0 mph
 
ERA
0.00
 
WHIP
2.40
 
BABIP
.532
 
GB/FB
2.50
 
Left On Base
75.0%
 
Exit Velocity
80.9 mph
 
Barrels/BBE
6.3%
 
Spin Rate
2334 rpm
 
Balls Hit 95+ MPH
18.8%
 
Swinging Strike
7.4%
 
Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Forrest Whitley See More
Farm Futures: Top 400 Prospect Rankings Update
77 days ago
James Anderson answers dozens of questions from subscribers about this week's massive update to the Top 400 Prospect Rankings, in which Royals slugger Jac Caglianone creeps into the top 25.
Mound Musings: The “Kids on Parade” Early Edition Watch List
161 days ago
Brad Johnson recommends putting these pitching prospects at the top of your watch list, starting with the Mets Christian Scotts.
Farm Futures: Relief Pitching Prospect Rankings
272 days ago
James Anderson goes team-by-team to highlight which pitching prospects could ascend to the closer role in the coming years, including A's righty Mason Miller.
Mound Musings: A Look at Pitching in the AL West
280 days ago
Brad Johnson is back for the 2024 season and kicks off his column with a deep dive into the American League West pitching staffs, where in Houston ageless Justin Verlander leads the group.
Mound Musings: The “Kids on Parade” Early Edition Watch List
June 9, 2023
Brad Johnson ranks his favorite prospect-eligible pitchers, beginning with Miami's Eury Perez.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
Whitley was supposed to be an established big leaguer by now and one of the more dominant starters in baseball. Instead, he's been sidetracked by multiple injuries and control problems and has yet to make his major-league debut. Whitley made his season debut last July after completing his Tommy John surgery rehab but posted a 7.09 ERA with 25 walks in 33 Triple-A innings before his year ended with shoulder trouble. The good news is that the shoulder issue was deemed minor and the 25-year-old's stuff looked as it did when he was viewed as one of the top pitching prospects in the game. The upside with Whitley is still there if he can stay healthy and throw strikes, but it's been a while since he's done either with consistency.
Whitley looked as good as he has in years during Astros summer camp before suffering an undisclosed arm injury that eliminated his chances of contributing in 2020. Since the start of the 2018 season, Whitley has thrown 137 innings, with 51 of those coming in two stints in the Arizona Fall League. He reworked his delivery in 2019 to improve his posture and lessen the stress on his arm. With three 70-grade offerings and two 60-grade offerings, Whitley still has the best pure stuff in the minors, but it has seemingly been one step forward and two steps back every year since his breakout 2017 season. More than anything, he needs to stay healthy for a 15-20 start stretch in order to make strides with his command and pitchability. The Astros said they expect him to be healthy for spring training, but we should believe that when we see it. Health will dictate the course of his 2021 season.
After missing seven weeks with shoulder fatigue, Whitley adjusted his delivery to incorporate better upper-body posture that would lessen the stress on his arm and allow him to throw more strikes. The growing pains while making those adjustments were significant, but perhaps inevitable for a 6-foot-7 pitcher changing a delivery he had used for the past seven years. He walked 25 in 35 IP after coming off the injured list but also struck out 53 over that stretch. With his ace-level arsenal in tact, the lean, athletic righty went to the Arizona Fall League and finished the year on a high note (2.88 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 32:9 K:BB in 25 innings). Whitley still has the best pure stuff in the minors. His fastball, changeup and curveball can all be 70-grade pitches and he has a plus slider and cutter. Still just 22, Whitley will need to show he can consistently command his pitches before joining the Astros' rotation.
An athletic, 6-foot-7 righty, Whitley is the undisputed top pitching prospect in the game. He has five plus pitches, including two 70-grade offerings in his fastball and changeup. It is the most dominant minor-league arsenal in recent memory. The question is, how many innings will he log in the big leagues this season? He was suspended for the first 50 games of 2018 for violating the minor-league drug program (Adderall is the rumored drug) and then missed over five weeks with a mild oblique strain. When factoring in the Texas League playoffs and the Arizona Fall League, Whitley threw just 55 innings. This is the most important statistic to consider when evaluating him for redraft leagues. He has never pitched at Triple-A and will likely be limited to around 110 innings, so even if he is healthy and dominant, Whitley may only log around 15 starts in the majors. He will be awesome when he pitches, just be aware of the workload limitations.
Whitley joined Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Dylan Bundy and Chad Billingsley as the only prep first rounders over the last 20 years to reach Double-A in their first full season. He accomplished the feat in style, getting better as the year went on (23.6 K-BB% at Low-A, 31.8 K-BB% at High-A, 39.3 K-BB% at Double-A). At 6-foot-7, 240 pounds, he has the frame to eat innings and uses his length to get excellent extension on his pitches, allowing his 92-94 mph fastball to play up as a plus pitch. This is usually where we discuss which secondary pitches need to improve for a 20-year-old to eventually profile in the rotation, but Whitley already has a complete four-pitch repertoire. His curveball is a second plus offering, and he commands a quality changeup and improving slider. It was announced in late February that he will be suspended for the first 50 games of 2018 for testing positive for a drug of abuse. This won't have a major impact on his long-term prospects, but could delay his big-league debut.
A 6-foot-7, 240-pound prep righty, Whitley draws physical comparisons to Josh Johnson. He fell to the Astros with the 17th pick, and they happily gave him an over-slot $3.15 million bonus. Whitley has a mid-90s fastball that receives plus-plus grades thanks to superb late life, and he features three secondary offerings -- something that separates him from most hard-throwing 19-year-olds. His hammer curveball is his second-best pitch, but his slider also shows plus potential. Given his age and size, the fact that he already has feel for a changeup is another mark in his favor. Excluding a 1.1-inning relief appearance where Whitley gave up four earned runs, he notched a 3.12 ERA and 24:5 K:BB in 17.1 innings across stops in the Gulf Coast and Appalachian leagues. He should receive an assignment to the Midwest League to start 2017. There is plenty of risk in investing in 6-foot-7 prep arms, and there will undoubtedly be bumps along the developmental road, but Whitley has the tools and physical traits to be a special pitcher for a long time.
More Fantasy News
Up with big club
PHouston Astros  AAA
September 1, 2024
The Astros recalled Whitley from Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
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Activated from minor-league IL
PHouston Astros  AAA
June 23, 2024
Triple-A Sugar Land reinstated Whitley (elbow) from the 7-day injured list Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Resumes throwing at Triple-A
PHouston Astros  AAA
Elbow
June 3, 2024
Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Whitley (elbow) has resumed a throwing program at Triple-A Sugar Land, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Lands on minor-league IL
PHouston Astros  AAA
Elbow
April 27, 2024
Triple-A Sugar Land placed Whitley on its 7-day injured list Saturday with right elbow discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Sent back to minors
PHouston Astros  AAA
April 17, 2024
The Astros optioned Whitley to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Progressing through rehab
PHouston Astros  AAA
June 23, 2022
Whitley started for Single-A Fayetteville Wednesday and could move up to Triple-A at some point soon, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle.
ANALYSIS
Whitley tossed two shutout innings during Wednesday's rehab appearance, striking out two and allowing one hit. He threw 21 of his 29 pitches for strikes. He pitched two innings last week for the Astros' rookie-level Florida Complex League in his first game action since 2019. The 24-year-old had Tommy John surgery in March of 2021 after missing all of 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor-league season. Assuming his rehab progresses without any setbacks, it's likely Whitley will find his way back to Triple-A Sugar Land relatively soon.
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