An international signee out of the Dominican Republic, Javier was added to the Astros 40-man roster, shielding him from the Rule 5 draft. The 6-foot-1 righthander features a fastball in the low 90s, touching 96. Not surprisingly considering the organization, what Javier's fastball lacks in velocity is made up for via high spin. He throws a curve and slider, both highly reliant on rotation. Javier's fate may depend on how well he develops his change-up, an offering better with less spin. With that effective pitch to combat lefthanders, Javier's long-term role is in the rotation with the bullpen as a fallback. Javier worked at three levels last season, finishing with a short stint at Triple-A Round Rock where he'll likely start the 2020 campaign. Javier has excelled at every level. If he impresses with the Express, he could get a look as a reliever later in the season as Houston often does with young arms. Read Past Outlooks