The 2024 season is finally here. While the Astros may not have the system they once had back 10 years ago, the system is underrated and there are a lot of strong performers on this list. For the ranking, I try to focus on a mix of production and potential, rather than just one side of it. Below is the Astros top 30 prospects for 2024!
1. Jacob Melton, OF
Level: Double-A DOB: 09/07/00
Melton was drafted by the Astros in the 2nd round of the 2022 draft out of Oregon State. Melton had a standout junior year in college slashing .360/.424/.671 with 22 2B, 17 HR, 21 SB as he earned Pac-12 player of the year honors. Melton is a left handed swinging outfielder who stands at 6’3″ and 210 lbs. Melton has an advanced approach at the plate and has above average power with the potential to be plus as he also makes a lot of contact. The lefty is a plus runner on the bases and in the outfield and should stick in center field defensively. He has played 2023 between High-A and Double-A connecting on 23 homers and stealing 46 bases. Melton has posted really strong exit velocities numbers and has a chance to be a power outfielder at the major league level. Read more on Melton here.
2. Joey Loperfido, OF
Level: Triple-A DOB: 05/11/99
Loperfido was drafted in the 2021 draft after putting together a really good senior season. The lefty hitting Loperfido has the ability to work counts, draw walks and make a lot of contact. He had a breakout 2022 season slashing .316/.408/.492 with 25 2B, 12 HR, 32 SB. Loperfido is a plus athlete that should be able to provide above average defense at multiple positions. In 2023 he has his best season as a pro hitting 25 homers, stealing 27 bases and posting a .880 OPS as he made it up to Triple-A. Loperfido possesses above average athleticism which shows on the bases with 60 SB in his minor league career. Read more here.
3. Zach Dezenzo, INF
Level: Double-A DOB: 05/11/00
Dezenzo was drafted in the 12th round of the 2022 draft and is looking like an absolute steal. He was a senior who put up a strong year at Ohio State slugging .701 with 19 HR in 51 games before dominating the MLB Draft League. The right-hander has plus power and really strong exit velocities numbers. He is a bat-first prospect who bas played both third base and first base, but has the bat profile to fit at either. Dezenzo had his best season as a professional in 2023 hitting .305 with 23 doubles, 18 homers and 22 stolen bases as he moved up to Double-A. Read more on Dezenzo here.
4. Spencer Arrighetti, RHP
Level: Triple-A DOB: 01/02/00
Arrighetti has had an interesting ride to this point. He college career consisted of three different schools with him ultimately getting drafted in the 6th round of the 2021 draft out of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. He has a mid 90s fastball which has topped at 98 MPH before, and a plus slider to go with it. He has an improving curveball and changeup as well. Arrighetti’s fastball also has a lot of ride on it creating an advantageous approach angle for him. In 2022, Arrighetti struck out 152 in 116.2 innings. In 2023 he made it up to Triple-A racking up 141 strike outs in 124.2 innings. Read more on Arrighetti here.
5. Brice Matthews, SS
Level: High-A DOB: 03/16/02
Matthews was seen as one of the best athletes in the Big 1o going into the 2023 draft. The 21-year-old had a breakout junior season slashing .359/.481/.723 with 20 HR, 20 SB for Nebraska. He has a quick swing with strong exit velocities, even for his size. Scouts note he has 20-25 HR potential with good pull power. He covers a lot of ground at shortstop and has a strong arm but also the potential to be a plus center fielder if he has to move positions. He has some swing and miss in his game but the other positives make up for it. He played in 33 games in Single-A following the draft posting a .740 OPS.
6. Luis Baez, OF
Level: High-A DOB: 01/11/04
The Astros signed Luis Baez for $1.3 million during the 2022 international signing period. The 19-year-old is well built at 6’1″ and 205 lbs and possesses plus power from the right side. He is a solid athlete but won’t provide a ton on the bases, though he should be an adequate defender in the corner outfield spots. In 2023, Baez made his way up to Single-A finishing with 15 doubles, 11 homers in 58 games overall. Scouts note he has the power to be a 25+ HR guy in the big leagues.
7. Colton Gordon, LHP
Level: Triple-A DOB: 12/20/98
Gordon was an intriguing draft pick in 2021 after a good college career, but went into the draft after having Tommy John Surgery. After recovering and making his way back, Gordon dominated on the mount in 2022. He dominated once he got on the mound in 2022 posting a 2.35 ERA with 78 K in 53.2 innings. He won’t over power hitters with his fastball in the low 90s, but he has phenomenal command and pitchability with his secondary offerings making him an uncomfortable at-bat. In 2023, he struck out 151 batters in 128.1 innings with a 4.14 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A. Read more on Gordon here.
8. Will Wagner, INF
Level: Triple-A DOB: 07/29/98
Wagner was an 18th round pick by the Astros in 2021. The son of former Astros closer Billy Wagner, Will is a right handed thrower, lefty swinger. He plays primarily second and third base in the infield, but has moved around a bit. He is an advanced hitter who has a good command of the strike zone and makes a lot of contact. Wagner had a strong 2022 slashing .261/.374/.394 also putting up a really good walk rate (13.5%) and strikeout rate (19.7%) as he made his way up the system. He was great in 2023, hitting .337 with 20 doubles, 7 homers and 38 RBI in 65 games between Double-A and Triple-A. Read more here.
9. Kenedy Corona, OF
Level: Double-A DOB: 03/21/00
Corona was acquired in the deal that sent Jake Marisnick to the Mets. He is listed at 5’11” and 184 lbs, but is built really well and packs a punch in his swing. In 2022, the right-hander had a .857 OPS with 24 2B, 19 HR, 28 SB in 107 games between Single-A and High-A. He possesses above average speed and some intriguing pop that has continued to improve as he has matured. In 2023 in Double-A, Corona put up 22 HR and 32 SB in 117 games overall. He also has the ability to play all three outfield positions and has the knack for making the highlight reel play and was ranked as the best defensive outfielder in the system by Baseball America.
10. Rhett Kouba, RHP
Level: Triple-A DOB: 09/03/99
Kouba was a 12th round pick of the Astros during the 2021 draft. The right-hander has a mid 90s fastball and a solid mix of off-speed pitches (changeup, slider, curveball). After having a good 2022 season, Kouba has experienced a breakout 2023 pitching in Double-A and Triple-A. He finished the season with 37 BB/136 K in 128 innings with a 3.45 ERA. Kouba is deceptive but also has very good control, allowing him to challenge hitters and not put many free runners on base.
11. Zach Cole, OF
Level: High-A DOB: 08/04/00
Cole was drafted in the 10th round in the 2022 draft. The left-handed hitting outfielder has plus speed and a lot of pop in his bat. After struggling in his first taste of pro ball, Cole has put together an impressive 2023 season. In 111 games between Single-A and High-A, Cole is hitting .258 with 20 2B, 8 3B, 19 HR, 37 SB. He has some swing and miss to his game but his highs are really high. At just 23-years-old, Cole is one of the more higher potential outfielders in the system. Read more on Cole here.
12. Alonzo Tredwell, RHP
Level: Rookie DOB: 05/08/02
Tredwell is a monster on the mound, standing at 6’8″ and 230 lbs. The 2023 2nd round pick had a nice college career at UCLA posting a 2.83 ERA with 13 K in 92.1 innings. The right-hander has a mid-90s fastball that can tough 96. He also has a solid slider as his main secondary offering. Tredwell’s fastball also generates a lot of swings and misses thanks to his carry up in the zone. Baseball America said his curveball has the potential to be a plus pitch and he has plenty of room improvement. Read more on Tredwell here.
13. Michael Knorr, RHP
Level: Double-A DOB: 05/12/00
The Astros drafted Knorr in the 3rd round of the 2022 draft. Knorr spent his first three seasons at Cal State Fullerton before moving to Coastal Carolina for his senior year where he struck out 86 in 69 innings. Knorr has a fastball that reaches 98 MPH and a good changeup. He also has some deception in his delivery and if he can command his fastball a bit better, he can move up the system pretty quickly with his fastball/changeup combination. In 2023 he struck out 78 on 58.1 innings between Single-A and High-A, though he missed some time with an injury.
14. A.J. Blubaugh
Level: Double-A DOB: 07/04/00
Blubaugh was a 7th round pick back in the 2022 draft out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Astros have been aggressive with him, pushing him up to Double-A in 2023. Despite a higher ERA in High-A, Blubaugh struck out 112 in 100 innings including 19 K in 14.1 innings with a 1.26 ERA in Double-A to end the season. He was sent to the Arizona Fall League where he had a 2.25 ERA with 17 K in 12 innings. He has a low to mid 90s fastball with a nice pair of breaking balls. Read more on him here.
15. Cam Fisher, OF
Level: High-A DOB: 06/12/01
Fisher was drafted by the Astros in 2023 after having a great college career at UNC Charlotte. The lefty hitter slashed .348/.507/.813 with 30 HR, 64 BB in 64 games this season. He offers plus power and bat speed. He gets on base but some scouts noted the strikeout concerns. Fisher is an adequate athlete and scouts have noted he might stick in right field or possibly end up in left field. Fisher played in 31 games following the draft and hit 5 homers while batting .273 with a .896 OPS.
16. Trey Dombroski, LHP
Level: High-A DOB: 03/13/01
Dombroski was drafted by the Astros in the 4th round of the 2022 draft after a standout career at Monmouth University, including 14 BB/130 K in 95 innings as a junior. The lefty stands at 6’5″ and 235 lbs. While he doesn’t blow you away with his stuff, he really knows how to pitch and has very good command. Dombroski pitched the full season in Single-A striking out 148 in 119 innings with a 3.71 ERA. Read more on Dombroski here.
17. Jose Fleury, RHP
Level: Double-A DOB: 03/08/02
Fleury was signed during the 2021 international signing period for just $10,000, but could be another diamond in the rough for the Astros. As a 20-year-old, he dominated the DSL posting a 1.42 ERA with 4 BB/60 K in 38 innings. He has a really good changeup, which Baseball America ranked as the best in the system, and that he pairs with a low to mid 90s fastball. MLB noted that he has outstanding vertical movement on his fastball that helps it play up from its velocity. In 2023 he put up some gaudy numbers racking up 139 K in 98.2 innings with a 3.65 ERA.
18. Colin Barber, OF
Level: Double-A DOB: 12/04/00
Barber was drafted in the 4th round of high school in the 2019 draft. He signed for $1 million, which was almost $600k over slot. Barber has good bat speed and possesses above-average raw power. He has struggled to stay healthy a bit, but when he has been healthy he has performed well (.808 OPS in 189 minor league games). He has a patient approach at the plate and the ability to hit the ball all over the park. In 2023 in Double-A he had .792 OPS in 79 games. Read more on Barber here.
19. Andrew Taylor, RHP
Level: High-A DOB: 09/23/01
The Astros nabbed a tall right hander in Andrew Taylor, who stands at 6’5″ and 190 lbs, with their compensation pick for losing Carlos Correa. Taylor has a low 90s fastball but generates a ton of swings and misses with high spin rate and carry, which is throws the majority of the time. The righty had an impressive college career for Central Michigan posting a 2.45 ERA with 261 K in 195 innings. Taylor also possesses a solid changeup and two other breaking pitches. While the ERA was a bit higher, he racked up 126 K in 84 innings in 2023. Read more on Taylor here.
20. Pedro Leon, OF
Level: Triple-A DOB: 05/28/98
The Astros were rumored to be the favorites for Leon for quite a while but COVID threw a wrench in the plans. He was eventually signed in January of 2021 for $4 million. Leon possesses above-average raw power and is a plus runner on the bases. While he has some swing and miss to his game, he has been able to get on base and still hit for power too. While Leon has shown some elite tools, he has yet to fully put it together. He is still just 20 yea5s old and has the chance to make an impact at the big league level.
21. Jake Bloss, RHP
Level: Single-A DOB: 06/23/01
Bloss was a 3rd round pick in 2023 after a solid career at Georgetown, including a 2.58 ERA in his final season. He made his debut following the draft posting a 2.76 ERA with 20 K in 16.1 innings. He sits low to mid 90s with the fastball, touching 97 in college. He has three off-speed pitches, a curveball, slider, and changeup, giving him a nice four pitch mix. The Astros could be aggressive with him in 2024.
22. Waner Luciano, 3B
Level: Single-A DOB: 01/13/05
Luciano didn’t get a huge bonus coming out of the Dominican Republic, just $45,000, but he is looking like a bargain at this point. The right-hander is listed at 6’1″ and 170 lbs. At 17 in the DSL, he posted a .807 OPS. At just 18 he made his stateside debut, playing in 45 games in the FCL and connecting on 10 homers, showing off his raw power. He has good strike zone discipline and draws walks too. He should be making his full-season debut in 2024.
23. Chase Jaworsky, SS
Level: Single-A DOB: 07/31/04
Jaworksy was the Astros 5th round pick in 2023, and signed for $800k, nearly $500k overslot. Jaworsky is a smooth athlete listed at 6’1″ and 170 lbs. He is a righty thrower, lefty hitter. Scouts have noted he has a strong arm, good range at shortstop and a left handed swing that has some pop. Jaworksy gives the Astros some high potential in the middle of the diamond. He only played in 9 games following the draft but hit .281 with 6 walks.
24. Nolan DeVos, RHP
Level: High-A DOB: 08/11/00
DeVos was a 5th round pick by the Astros in 2022. The right-hander had a dominant college career at Davidson posting a 2.19 ERA with 155 K in 119.1 innings. While he isn’t overpowering, DeVos is deceptive and has a high vertical approach angle, giving him the look of the invisible fastball, though he has seen an increase in velocity. DeVos had some dominant numbers in 2023 striking out 117 in 98.2 innings between Single-A and High-A. Read more here.
25. Misael Tamarez, RHP
Level: Triple-A DOB: 01/16/00
The Astros signed Tamarez out of the Dominican Republic in 2018. He pitched in rookie league in 2019 but broke out a big way in 2021. As a 21 year old between Low-A and High-A, Tamarez posted a 3.76 ERA with 103 K in 76.2 innings. He followed that up with 142 K in 121.1 innings in 2022, though walks were a problem. Tamarez has a strong frame at 6-1 and over 200 lbs. Tamarez possesses a heavy fastball sitting miod 90s hitting and touching 97 MPH. He also possesses has a changeup and improving slider that can give him a deadly three pitch mix. He has been up and down but has the raw stuff to get to the big leagues.
26. Miguel Ullola, RHP
Level: High-A DOB: 06/19/02
Ullola is a young flame throwing right hander. The 21-year-old features a plus fastball that sits mid-90s and touches 99 MPH, even when in multi-inning spots. While he has some command issues, he has overpowered the hitters in lower levels with the fastball/slider combination. He might end up in the bullpen, but that may not be a bad thing given what kind of stuff he could have in one innings spurts. The fastball and slider are his two best pitches, but he does throw a curveball as well.
27. Zach Daniels, OF
Level: Double-A DOB: 01/23/99
Daniels was the Astros 4th round pick in 2020, and a selection that got a lot of people intrigued due to his power/speed combination. He was having a great year at Tennessee before COVID cancelled the season, which probably hurt his draft status. Since coming into the system he has shown his potential including a 2022 season posting a .894 OPS with 23 HR, 22 SB. In 2023 in Double-A, Daniels has a .817 OPS with 13 HR, 22 SB. He has some strikeout concerns, but when he makes contact it’s normally really loud.
28. Shay Whitcomb, SS
Level: Triple-A DOB: 09/28/98
Whitcomb was the Astros 5th round pick in the 2020 draft signing for just $56,000. He had a breakout 2021 season posting a .893 OPS with 23 HR, 30 SB. In 2022, Whitcomb struggled in Double-A but made some adjustments and came back in a big way this year. In 133 games between Double-A and Triple-A, Whitcomb had 35 HR (which led all of minor league baseball) and 102 RBI. He has some swing and miss to his game, but is a capable defender and has the ability to drive the ball to all fields. Read more on him here.
29. Alimber Santa, RHP
Level: Single-A DOB: 05/03/03
Santa was signed as an international free agent and is listed at just 5’10”, 163 lbs but really turned heads in spring training when Chandler Rome reported that the right hander sat 96-97 MPH with his fastball and has a changeup, slider and curveball. Santa ended up getting hurt in 2022 and wasn’t able to show what he could do but was healthy in 2023 and despite a high amount of walks, he racked up 119 strikeouts in 87.1 innings.
30. Ryan Gusto, RHP
Level: Double-A DOB: 03/11/99
Gusto has been in the system since being an 11th round pick in 2019. He is a little older than the normal prospect but has continued to make progress in the system. In 2023, he finished the season in Double-A posting a 2.93 ERA with 62 K in 61.1 innings. Gusto was clocked up to 98 MPH this spring and worked on refining a sweeper/slider last year. He could be a dark horse option to make his big league debut this year.
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