Below is a list of the Astros draft picks, a quick write-up on them, and their signing status. I will update this as the signings come out.
Rd 1, #28) Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State
Janek was seen as the best defensive catcher in the draft, showing up a plus arm and a quick release. But he also made huge strides with the bat during college too. The 21-year-old has above average bat speed and the ability to produce 20+ homers at the major league level. He hit .364 with 17 homers, 58 runs batted in and 13 stolen bases in 58 games in 2024 for the Bearkats.
Signing Status: Signed – $3,130,000 (Slot: $3,130,000)
Rd 3, #101) Ryan Forcucci, RHP, UC San Diego
Forcucci is a right-handed pitcher listed at 6’3″ and 205 lbs. The 21-year-old only made five starts in 2024, but was dominant posting a 2.16 ERA with 37 K in 25 innings. He has a mid 90s fastball that tops at 97 and a wipeout slider in the 80s. The only question is durability, but when he is on the field he has pitched well. He was ranked #86 by MLB and was a potential first rounder coming into the season.
Signing Status: Signed – $1,000,000 (Slot: $724,800)
Rd 4, #131) Parker Smith, RHP, Rice
Smith, a native Houstonian, was one of the big time starters for Rice over the last two years. MLB notes he is 91-94 but can touch 96 and has a potential plus chanegup with a developing slider. He struck out 78 over 89.1 innings for Rice in 2024.
Signing Status: Signed – $447,500 (Slot: $541,100)
Rd 5, #163) Cole Hertzler, RHP, Liberty
A big kid listed at 6’4″ and 235 lbs. He can tough 96 and offers a four pitch mix. This year he struck out 94 in 84.1 innings for Liberty as their Friday night starter. He was a reliever in 2023, and there is still some upside there for him to grow into.
Signing Status: Signed – $393,700 (Slot: $396,200)
Rd 6, #193) Caden Powell, SS, Seminole State
Powell played for Oklahoma before transferring to Seminole State. There he won NJCAA player of the year after hitting .502 with 32 homers and 16 stolen bases. He is a good athlete and has a commitment to Oklahoma State but I think he will sign.
Signing Status: Signed – $$422,500 (Slot: $307,600)
Rd 7, #223) Joseph Sullivan, OF, South Alabama
While Sullivan is 22-year-old, he has a ton of upside. He is a great athlete with plus speed and the chance to stick in center field. He has some gap power and a chance to develop more. His numbers were down a bit this year with a hamate injury but should be good next year.
Signing Status: Signed – $239,900 (Slot: $242,400)
Rd 8, #253) Dylan Howard, RHP, Radford
Howard is a nice upside pick from Radford. The 21-year-old right-hander had a 4.78 ERA in 2024, but also had 19 BB/76 K in 69.2 innings. Good command and reportedly up to 96 MPH in fall ball, according to @EephusTosser.
Signing Status: Signed – $201,000 (Slot: $203,500)
Rd 9, #283) Ryan Smith, RHP, Illinois-Chicago
Smith is a 21-year-old who pitched primarily in relief for Illinois-Chicago. In 35 innings for the Flames he struck out 42 batters. He is listed at 6’2″ and 195 lbs. Reports have his fastball up yo 98 MPH in relief.
Signing Status: Signed – $177,500 (Slot: $187,800)
Rd 10, #313) Ramsey David, RHP, Southeastern University
David is a 23-year-old right handed pitching prospect. In 2024 he posted a 2.79 ERA with 87 K in 61.1 innings for Southeastern. He also pitched in the Cape Cod League in 2024 striking out 14 in 12 innings. Up to 94 with the fastball and throws a lot of strikes.
Signing Status: Signed – $105,000 (Slot: $178,800)
Rd 11, #343) Jason Schiavone, C, James Madison
Schiavone is a 21-year-old catcher who put up a strong junior year for James Madison. In 61 games, he hit .284 with 18 homers, 9 stolen bases and a 1.020 OPS. He has a great arm and a quick pop with a good chance to stick at catcher.
Signing Status: Signed – $150,000 (Slot: $150,000)
Rd 12, #373) Ryan Verdugo, RHP, CSU Bakerfield
Verdugo struggled his first couple of seasons in college but turned things around in 2024 posting a 2.72 ERA with 93 K in 89.1 innings. The 21-year-old runs the fastball up to 95, but sits low 90s, and has a plus slider.
Signing Status: Signed – $172,500 (Slot: $150,000)
Rd 13, #403) Bryce Boettcher, OF, Oregon
Boettcher, listed at 6’2″ and 220 lbs, also played football for Oregon. The 22-year-old has his best season in college hitting .276 with 12 homers and 15 stolen bases for the Ducks. His playing time was limited until this year so there should be room for growth.
Signing Status: Signed – $150,000 (Slot: $150,000)
Rd 14, #433) Ryan Mathiesen, RHP, The Master’s University
Mathiesen was a two-way player at the Master’s University. On the mound, he struck out 34 in 25.2 innings in relief. As a hitter, he batted .400 with 12 homers. The Astros announced him as a pitcher.
Signing Status: Signed – $150,000 (Slot: $150,000)
Rd 15, #463) Drew Vogel, SS, Murray State
Vogel played four years for Murray State and had a breakout senior season as the starting shortstop hitting .331 with 20 homers and 16 stolen bases. He’s had some success in wood bat leagues too.
Signing Status: Signed – $130,000 (Slot: $150,000)
Rd 16, #493) Bryce Mayer, RHP, Missouri
Mayer started his college career at St. Charles Community College before finishing his college career with Missouri. In 2024, the right-hander struck out 57 over 53.1 innings.
Signing Status: Signed
Rd 17, #523) Ethan Wagner, OF, P27 Academy (SC)
Wagner was the first high-school pick for the Astros this draft. The 18-year-old outfielder is listed at 6’0″ and 215 lbs. and has a commitment to Tennessee. He hit .460 his last year for P27 Academy.
Signing Status: Signed – $150,000 (Slot: $150,000)
Rd 18, #553) Grant Burleson, RHP, Western Kentucky
Burleson pitched at Columbia State Community College before transferring to Western Kentucky. In 2024, the right-hander struck out 39 over 34 innings pitching mainly in relief.
Signing Status: Signed – $125,000 (Slot: $150,000)
Rd 19, #583) Twine Palmer, RHP, Connors St. College
Palmer is a big pitcher, listed at 6’5″ and 203 lbs. The 20-year-old had a good year for Connors St. going 10-3 with a 2.87 ERA, striking out 110 batters in 94 innings.
Signing Status: Signed – $197,500 (Slot: $150,000)
Rd 20, #613) Ky McGary, OF, Sandra Day O’Connor HS (AZ)
The Astros swung big here on McGary, rated by MLB as the #212 prospect in the draft. The outfielder has good pop and is a plus athlete, but has a strong commitment to the his hometown college, Arizona State.
Signing Status: Unsigned
Undrafted Free Agents:
Max Holy, SS, Central Missouri
Holy, who just turned 22-year-old, had a monster year for Central Missouri hitting .365 with 14 homers, 75 runs batted in and 33 stolen bases. He also had some good performances in wood bat leagues in the summer.
Danny Trehey, RHP, Florida Atlantic
Trehey is a 23-year-old relief pitching prospect who had some dominant numbers at Florida Atlantic. The right-hander struck out 66 over 44.1 innings with a 1.83 ERA.
Lucas Spence, OF, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Spence had a great year for SIUE hitting .385 with 5 homers, 36 runs batted in and 12 stolen bases. The left-handed hitting outfielder doesn’t have a ton of pop, but puts the bat on the ball consistently.
Justin Trimble, 3B, UC Santa Barbara
Trimble didn’t see a ton of playing time until 2024 where he played in 58 games for UC Santa Barbara. In those games, the third-baseman posted a .841 OPS with 12 homers, 50 runs batted in across 58 games.
Trevor Austin, INF, Missouri
Austin was a consistent player for the Tigers over his four year career. He hit .297 as a sophomore, .312 as a junior and .297 as a senior. His senior year, he also had 13 HR and a career high 1.001 OPS.
Jagger Beck, RHP, Sutter Union HS (CA)
Beck is a 6’6″ right-handed pitcher from California. The Astros were able to get him away from his Hawaii commit. He’s throws strikes, has solid spin rates and plenty of room to continue development.
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