Astros DFA former first-round pick Forrest Whitley

Field Level Media|published: 06/08/2025, 1:27pm EDT

May 31, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros relief pitcher Forrest Whitley (55) walks off the mound after pitching during the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Right-hander Forrest Whitley, once a top-10 prospect in baseball, was designated for assignment by the Houston Astros on Sunday.

The Astros selected him with the No. 17 pick of the 2016 MLB Draft out of high school in San Antonio and gave him a $3.148 million signing bonus, but he failed to reached expectations.

Now 27, he didn't debut in Houston until the 2024 season and made three relief appearances, giving up no earned runs in 3 1/3 innings.

This season, Whitley appeared in five games for Houston, with opponents scoring 10 earned runs on nine hits and six walks in 7 1/3 innings. He has no decisions with an ERA of 12.27.

In the minor leagues, he has 117 appearances (65 starts) and a 17-20 record with a 4.75 ERA over 306 2/3 innings. He struck out 421 batters and walked 160.

In a corresponding move, the Astros recalled left-hander Brandon Walter from Triple-A Sugar Land.

Walter, 28, made one start for the Astros this season, giving up three hits, walking one and striking out five in five innings against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 20. He didn't figure into the decision of the 3-2 Houston loss.

--Field Level Media