Houston Astros Prospect Dirden Wins Minor League Player of the Week

Justin Dirden, the Houston Astros No. 7 prospect, took home the Minor League Player of the Week award after a superb showing in the Pacific Coast League.

Many Houston Astros fans recognize the name Justin Dirden after the young prospect had a phenomenal spring showing for the Astros before being sent to Triple-A Sugar Land to start the season.

Dirden, a 25-year-old outfielder and the Astros' No. 7 prospect, took home Minor League Baseball Player of the Week honors in the Pacific Coast League for May 1-7.

Although Dirden didn't get things going the way he hoped, as he started the year with the Space Cowboys batting just .178 through his first 73 at-bats, that would soon change.

The ball really started moving -- and out of the ball park in a hurry -- this past week, as Dirden slashed a remarkable .500/.519/1.192 over the past five games, capped off with two grand slams and 15 RBI.

"I think a lot of it was just being able to simplify what I'm doing at the plate mechanically," Dirden told MLB Network. "That really allowed me to be on time a little bit more to the fastball. That really helped me to see the pitches a little bit deeper, especially with the off-speed from the lefties."

With his big week now in the books, Dirden is slashing .279/.350/.532 (111 at-bats) with 20 RBI, five home runs and two stolen bases this year for the Space Cowboys.

Over the past three seasons in the Minors, Dirden is slashing .290/.384/.548 (873 at-bats) and is patiently awaiting a chance to prove he belongs in the Majors.

That chance could come as early as this season, regardless of the outfield depth Houston bolsters, as injuries and setbacks continue to pile up for the Astros.

For Dirden, who went undrafted before inking with Houston in 2020, that's an opportunity he'll eagerly embrace.

"I could have gone back to school, but the dream was always to play ball," Dirden said. "Once you're on the field, compared to a first-rounder or second-rounder or a free agent, you're just a guy playing ball. You get that opportunity and see what you can do with it."

So far, so good.

And hopefully, the best is yet to come.

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