Whitley threw live batting practice at the main camp at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Whitley, who has spent time at both the main and alternate camps, will not be part of the 30-man active roster when the regular season starts. As such, he will spend the season in the player pool, which will shift activities to Corpus Christi on July 24.

Whitley is part of the Astros' player pool working out at the alternate camp on the campus of the University of Houston, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Whitley, the team's top prospect, is expected to stay at the University of Houston through July 24 before heading to Corpus Christi when the regular season begins.

Whitley is part of the Astros' 60-man player pool.

EDGE Analysis

Whitley may not make it to the eventual 30-man roster (or three-man taxi squad), but the Astros want their top pitching prospect to get work in as part of the extended roster.

Astros pitching coach Brent Strom said Tuesday that he expects Whitley to be assigned to Triple-A Fresno to begin the 2020 season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

This was the expectation, but Strom essentially confirmed that the team's top pitching prospect is not in the hunt for a spot in the Opening Day rotation. "And when it's right, it'll happen, but I don't think right now I would consider him, you know, a viable candidate [for the No. 5 spot]." Whitley struggled to a 12.21 ERA in eight appearances at the Triple-A level last year while battling through shoulder fatigue. He returned late in the calendar year, putting up an impressive 32:9 K:BB in 25 innings in the Arizona Fall League. Whitley is in camp with the big-league squad.

Whitley was invited to the Astros' big-league camp Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

A first-round pick back in 2016, Whitley endured a tough 2019 campaign. In 11 starts for Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Round Rock last season, he posted a 9.00 ERA and 1.85 WHIP while featuring a 29.5 percent strikeout rate and 15.43 percent walk rate. With just five of those starts coming at the Triple-A level, the highly rated prospect likely needs some more minor-league experience before he's ready to push for a big-league roster spot.

Whitley, who took a no-hitter into the fifth inning of his 2019 Arizona Fall League debut, attributed a lot of his woes this season to trying to make some necessary mechanical adjustments that he hopes will ease the stress on his shoulder going forward, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports. "I'm getting a lot more comfortable with the newer delivery, throwing a lot more strikes as of late, bullpen [sessions] have been really solid lately," Whitley said.

EDGE Analysis

He missed seven weeks with shoulder fatigue this year, which is what led to the mechanical tweaks that he says resulted in some growing pains that will be worth it in the long run. Whitley is working on maintaining a better posture in is upper body, and it is understandably not an overnight fix when adjusting a delivery that he has been using for the past seven years. He struck out six while allowing one hit and two walks in 4.2 innings for Peoria over the weekend. Whitley is simply too talented to struggle for much longer if his health cooperates. He won't make the big-league rotation out of spring training, but if his mechanical adjustments pay off, he could spend a good chunk of 2020 in the majors.

Whitley will throw in the Arizona Fall League, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Astros top pitching prospect has endured a season plagued by injuries and ineffectiveness. Whitley pitched to a 12.21 ERA over his first eight starts before the organization sent him to Florida for a two-month reset, a period during which he was on the minor-league injured list with right shoulder fatigue. Since his return to full-season affiliates, the right-hander has been inconsistent, posting a 4.94 ERA over six starts for Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Round Rock.

Whitley (shoulder) could still contribute in some capacity in the majors this season, but he faces an uphill battle to do so, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. "He would have to prove to us in August that he could help us, which is a high bar (because) he's not currently on the (40-man) roster," general manager Jeff Luhnow said Saturday. "But I'm not going to rule it out, that's for sure."

EDGE Analysis

He walked five and only threw 42 of 82 pitches for strikes in 3.2 innings Saturday for Double-A Corpus Christi, interrupting what had been a nice three-game run for him. In his three previous starts -- two at High-A and one at Double-A -- Whitley struck out 16 and walked only three in 12.1 innings of three-run ball. Whitley is certainly talented enough to make a case for joining the big-league roster in September, but he would really have to be lights-out going forward to force the Astros to clear a 40-man roster spot for him. In all likelihood, he will make his big-league debut in 2020.

Whitley (shoulder) will make another start for Double-A Corpus Christi on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander fared well in his first rehab start for Corpus Christi on Aug. 4, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out five over four innings against Midland. Whitley has been slowly working his way back from a bout of shoulder fatigue, which sidelined him initially in late May. It's not out of the question that we could still see Whitley with the big club in September, but he's not on the 40-man roster, and the Astros may very well decide they're set without Whitley this season.

Whitley (shoulder) was transferred to Double-A Corpus Christi on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Whitley has been sidelined since late May with shoulder fatigue, but he's ready to move his rehab to the upper minors after striking out nine and allowing just one hit across five scoreless innings in his most recent outing with High-A Fayetteville on Tuesday. It remains to be seen how many appearances the young righty will make with the Hooks before rejoining Triple-A Round Rock.