VIDEO: Astros Top Prospect Forrest Whitley Reveals He Reverted Back to High School Technique to Get Right

The Houston Astros were expecting big things out of top pitching prospect Forrest Whitley in 2019. Unfortunately, Whitley took a major step backwards in what was nothing short of a disastrous campaign. Well looking to bounce back, the right-hander made his first start of the spring in 2020 and fared well, lasting 1.2 scoreless innings. When talking to the media after the game, Whitley revealed some tweaks he made over the offseason, including reverting back to the arm swing he used in high school.

He explains how his coaches have asked him to try loosening up and implementing the approach he used in his impressive high school career, when he was a top recruit out of the state of Texas.

In 2019, Whitley featured across four different minor league levels, getting as high as Triple-A before being shut down for the year due to injury. In total, Whitley recorded a glaringly bad 7.99 ERA, though he did manage to whiff 86 in just 59.2 innings. Triple-A was particularly rough for the 22 year old, who ran up a 12.21 ERA in eight appearances.

Considering the tumultuous offseason the Astros just endured, the last thing the team needs is another rough season from Whitley. Still heralded as the game's No. 19 prospect, Whitley boasts as much upside as any minor-league pitcher in the game, he just needs to figure everything out. Hopefully returning to his old motion will help him return to form.