If Forrest Whitley's time in the Houston Astros organization is done - the team designated him for assignment Sunday, giving it seven days to trade him or place him on waivers - his nine-year tenure will be one of lost promise.

Nearly a decade after it began, the Forrest Whitley experiment in Houston now appears over. Whitley, a first-round pick by the Astros in 2017 and the team's top prospect from 2018-21, was designated for assignment on Sunday. Houston will now either trade Whitley, place him on waivers, or release him outright.

The team recently designated the 27-year-old for assignment, who will now either be traded, placed on waivers, or released outright. It is a disappointing day for Whitley and the Astros, who had high hopes for their former top prospect and 2016 Draft first-round pick.