Whitley was promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Whitley has been progressing quickly through the Astros' farm system this season, posting a 2.91 ERA with Low-A Quad Cities before being promoted to High-A Buies Creek, where he currently holds a 3.16 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 50:9 K:BB over seven games (six starts). The 19-year-old will look to continue his rapid ascension at the next tier, though likely remains a couple years away from the majors.

Whitley has notched a 0.90 ERA, 0.60 WHIP and 14:1 K:BB over 10 innings in two starts since being promoted to High-A Buies Creek.

EDGE Analysis

The 6-foot-7 power righty continues to lay waste to lower levels of the minors, with two of his best starts of the season coming after his promotion from the Midwest League to the Carolina League. He now boasts a 2.56 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 81:22 K:BB in 56.1 innings across Low-A and High-A, and has solidified his status as one of the game's best pitching prospects.

Whitley, 19, has a 3.41 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 54:16 K:BB in 37 innings for Low-A Quad Cities.

EDGE Analysis

For the most part, Whitley has been capped at around 70 pitches per start, and he has generally struggled to be efficient, failing to log five innings in each of his last five starts. That said, he is missing bats at a monster clip. His 34.6 percent strikeout rate ranks second in the Midwest League and his 24.4 K-BB% ranks third. There are clearly things he could work on (command, control, sequencing) but this is the type of special arm that will be able to dominate in the lower levels even when he struggles to hit his spots.

Whitley, 19, sports a 3.60 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 19:2 K:BB in 10 innings (three starts) with Low-A Quad Cities.

EDGE Analysis

His outlandish 47.5 percent strikeout rate is due, in part, to him lasting just two innings while fanning six in his last outing, but this is still a pretty excellent start to the season for last year's 17th overall pick. Whitley has frontline upside, thanks to the potential for three plus or plus-plus pitches. As a 6-foot-7, 240-pound pitcher, he may take a little longer than the typical high-end pitching prospect to put it all together, but he could be worth the wait.

Whitley tossed five scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out six for Low-A Quad Cities on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Whitley, the Astros' first-round pick in 2016, was making his debut for a full-season affiliate. The 19-year-old Texan has a powerful arm and an advanced feel for pitching, so we won't be surprised if he skates through the Midwest League.

Whitley threw a live batting-practice session Thursday, Mike Rosenbaum of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Whitley, the Astros first-round draft pick (17th overall) in the 2016 draft, said his main focus is calming down his tempo. Pitchers that throw as hard as Whitley can get into the habit of overthrowing. He met with Astros pitching coordinator Doug White, who told him easing up on his delivery will take some stress of his arm and body. The 19-year-old right-hander could start the season at Low-A Quad Cities.

The Astros have a plan in place that will take Whitley's first partial pro season through the middle of August, the Houston Chronicle's Jake Kaplan reports.

EDGE Analysis

He made his pro debut Friday in the Gulf Coast League, allowing one run on a hit and a walk while striking out two over one inning. "The pitches looked good," general manager Jeff Luhnow said of Whitley's debut. "He was able to get his work in. So it was a good first step for him." If all goes well, Whitley could get an appearance or two with the team's Appalachian League affiliate before he is shut down for the season. Houston is very cognizant of Whitley's high school workload, and will therefore take it easy with him this season. The 6-foot-7 Texan has a the potential for three plus pitches down the road, depending on how his changeup comes along, and his thick 250-pound frame was built for logging innings, making him an appealing option among the prep pitchers in this year's draft class.