The Astros farm system has seen its turnover through the years, but there is still some good and underrated talent here. Let’s take a look at the updated top 30 prospects (and maybe more…) for 2025!
1. Cam Smith, INF
Level: Double-A DOB: 02/22/03
Originally a first round pick of the Cubs (#14 overall) in 2024, Smith was acquired in the deal that sent Kyle Tucker to Chicago. Smith was a standout at Florida State showing off an advanced approach that led to him hitting .387 with 16 homers his junior year after a monster Cape Cod league where he hit .347 with a .981 OPS in 44 games. Following the draft, Smith played in 32 games and hit .313 with 7 home runs and 24 runs batted in, making his way up to Double-A. Smith is a good athlete that generates high exit velocities and shows off good bat speed. He has well above-average power and could profile for 30+ homers at the highest level. Smith has a strong arm and if he outgrows third base, he could move to a corner outfield spot.
2. Brice Matthews, SS
Level: Triple-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. Matthews showed off the tools in 2024, making his way up to Triple-A and finishing with 15 homers and 32 stolen bases in 79 games. Read more on Matthews here.
3. Jacob Melton, OF
Level: Triple-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. Melton also made it up to Triple-A in 2024 and finished with 15 homers, 30 stolen bases between Double-A and Triple-A, including hitting .260 in Triple-A. Read more on Melton here.
4. Walker Janek, C
Level: High-A DOB: 09/24/02
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. His raw power has improved and he has chance to be a gold glove type at catcher while hitting for average and power. He struggled with the bat a bit after the draft, but it was quite the bump up to High-A for him.
5. Zach Dezenzo, INF
Level: MLB 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. Dezezno’s bat is legit and he showed in 2024 hitting .300 as he made his way up to Triple-A, and hit .242 in his limited chances upon his call-up to the MLB. Read more on Dezenzo here.
6. Miguel Ullola, RHP
Level: Triple-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. Ullola put up some dominant numbers in 2024 striking out 171 over 130.1 innings allowing just 74 hits, including one start in Triple-A.
7. A.J. Blubaugh, RHP
Level: Triple-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. Blubaugh had a strong 2024 season where he posted a 3.71 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A- (only one outing in Double-A) and striking out 133 over 128.2 innings. Read more on him here.
8. Luis Baez, OF
Level: Double-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. Baez has shown off the bat at times this year, but he hasn’t walked much and strikeouts are a little high, though he is still very young for his league. In 2024, Baez connected on 21 homers and drove in 76 runs in 106 games as he made it up to Double-A. Read more on Baez here.
9. Ryan Forcucci, RHP
Level: Rookie DOB: 12/02/02
Forcucci is a right-handed pitcher listed at 6’3″ and 205 lbs that the Astros selected in the third round of the draft this year. 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 seen as a potential first rounder early in the season but Tommy John surgery caused him to slide.
10. Shay Whitcomb, SS
Level: MLB 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. Whitcomb has some swing and miss to his game, but he has made adjustments and cut down on the strikeouts while still showing power with 25 homers and 26 stolen bases in Triple-A and hit .220 in 41 at-bats at the MLB level. Read more on him here.
11. Ethan Pecko, RHP
Level: Double-A DOB: 08/25/02
Pecko was a 6th round pick by the Astros in the 2023 draft. Despite just 59.2 college innings, the Astros saw something in him and have been right so far. Pecko started the season in Single-A racking up 63 K in 46.2 innings earning a promotion to High-A (34 K in 22.2 inning) and then another promotion to Double-A where he posted a 2.36 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 26.2 innings. Overall, he had 125 K in 96 innings earning Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year.. Pecko has a mid 90s fastball and mixes that with a slider, cutter, curveball and changeup. Read more on Pecko here.
12. 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 started this year out in Single-A and despite a lower average, he has connected on 20 doubles and 4 homers to go along with 28 stolen bases. Jaworsky saw his batting average go up every month but the season was cut short at the end of July due to an injury. Read more on Jaworsky here.
13. Anderson Brito, RHP
Level: Single-A DOB: 07/07/04
Brito was signed by the Astros out of Venezuela for $10,000 in 2023. He has had a really quick rise to this point starting the 2024 season in the Dominican Summer League and making his way to Single-A. Through 34.1 innings this season, the right-hander has racked up 57 strikeouts. Despite being smaller in stature, listed at 5’10” and 155 lbs, he has a monster fastball that sits around 96 MPH and can tough 99. He also has a good slider and changeup too. Brito pitched in the DSL, FCL and Single-A in 2024 and struck out 82 batters in 53.2 innings with a 1.51 ERA.
14. Jackson Nezuh, RHP
Level: High-A DOB: 02/11/02
Nezuh was the Astros 14th round pick in 2023 out of Louisiana-Lafayette and is looking like a steal. He started the year in Single-A and racked up 105 K in 81.2 innings. He was promoted to High-A and has been even better posting a 2.79 ERA with 46 K in 38.2 innings as he totaled 151 strikeouts in 120.1 innings in his first full season. Nezuh has a low to mid 90s fastball and pairs it with a really good split-change, a slider and a sweeper that has helped him rack up the strikeouts. Read more on him here.
15. Kenni Gomez, OF
Level: High-A DOB: 05/14/05
Gomez was signed by the Astros out of Cuba for $775,000 in 2022. Gomez has made his way stateside this season and had a .632 OPS in rookie ball, but showed enough that the Astros were willing to let him start the year in Fayetteville this season at 18 years old. He has performed well posting a .753 OPS with 33 extra base hits and 13 stolen bases. He earned a late season promotion to High-A where he hit .272 in 20 games. The left-handed hitter makes a lot of contact but also has room to add power in his frame. A great athlete, Gomez is a plus runner and should be a threat on the bases and have the ability to stick in center field.
16. Ryan Gusto, RHP
Level: Triple-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. After a slow start, Gusto went on an insane run posting a 2.08 ERA over 18 games and 108 innings. He’s had a good spring too, and should get a chance to make his big league debut in 2025. Read more on him here.
17. Kevin Alvarez, OF
Level: Rookie DOB: 01/13/08
Alvarez was signed by the Astros this winter for $2 million, one of the highest international bonuses the organization has given out. Alvarez, who is only 17-years-old, was seen as one of the best hitters in the 2025 International Class. The lefty hitter projects to have above average power. He also is a great athlete that excels with his arm and defense. Scouts gave him at 60 grade hit and power with a 55 grade overall. Francys Romero noted that scouts find his body and skills at that age similar to those of Kyle Tucker or young Paul O’Neil.
18. Joseph Sullivan, OF
Level: Single-A DOB: 07/01/02
Sullivan was the Astros 7th round pick in 2024 after a solid college career at South Alabama. The outfielder was a mid round selection but has a lot upside. He is a great athlete with plus speed and the chance to stick in center field. Sullivan grades well on swing decisions and has good raw power. He has a great makeup and has an edge to him in the weight room and on the field. In 2024 after the draft, Sullivan played in 20 games and hit .250 with 13 walks, 11 strikeouts, 5 doubles and 8 stolen bases for the Woodpeckers. The Astros are very excited for him and 2025 could be a big year for him.
19. 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. In 2023 he put up some gaudy numbers racking up 139 K in 98.2 innings with a 3.65 ERA. Fleury has missed some time with injuries this year, but still posted a 3.82 ERA with 74 K in 68.1 innings in Double-A at 22-years-old.
20. 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. Gordon dominated the lower minors posting a 2.35 ERA in 2022. In 2023, he had a 4.14 ERA making it up to Triple-A. In 2024, he improved on those numbers posting a 3.95 ERA with 124 K in 123.1 innings for Sugar Land. 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. Read more on Gordon here.
21. Parker Smith, RHP
Level: Rookie DOB: 03/05/03
Smith, a native Houstonian and a 4th round pick by the Astros this season, was one of the big time starters for Rice over the last couple of years. Smith operates with a low to mid 90s fastball, touching 96 MPH. He also has a plus changeup and solid slider. His junior year at Rice, he struck out 78 over 89.1 innings but scouts believe there is way more in the tank. Smith has really good control, walking just 66 in over 220 innings in college. Smith didn’t pitch following the draft, but will be one to watch in 2025.
22. James Hicks, RHP
Level: Double-A DOB: 05/09/01
Hicks was a 13th round pick by the Astros in 2023 and has flown through the system with his ability to miss bats. The right-hander started the season in Single-A posting 0.50 ERA in 18 innings. After a stop in High-A, he was promoted to Double-A where finished with 52 K in 48.1 innings. Overall, he had a 3.82 ERA with 115 K in 106 innings in his first full-season. Hicks uses a 93-96 MPH fastball to go along with a chanegup, slider and curveball. Read more on Hicks here.
23. Zach Cole, OF
Level: Double-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. Cole dealt with some injuries early this year but once healthy, he was able to show what he could do with a .826 OPS in Double-A until he fell off at the end of the season. At just 24-years-old, Cole is one of the more higher potential outfielders in the system. Read more on Cole here.
24. Trey Dombroski, LHP
Level: Double-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 started this year in High-A and despite a higher ERA, the peripherals looked good and he got a promotion to Double-A. The ERA was high, but he struck out 112 over 97.2 innings. Read more on Dombroski here.
25. Nehomar Ochoa, OF
Level: Single-A DOB: 07/31/05
Ochoa was drafted by the Astros in the 11th round of the Galena Park High School in Houston, and signed for $300,000 double the slot for the 11th round. He is huge kid, listed at 6’4″ and 230 lbs. Despite his size, he is a good athlete who can play all three outfield positions, though he will probably end up in the corners moving forward. In 2024, Ochoa played the full season in Single-A and led the team in homers with 10 and also had 17 stolen bases. Read more on him here.
26. Alonzo Tredwell, RHP
Level: Single-A 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. He struck out 67 in 57 innings in 2024 before missing time with an injury. Read more on Tredwell here.
27. Caden Powell, SS
Level: Single-A DOB: 10/24/03
Powell was selected by the Astros in the 6th round of the 2024 draft and signed overslot for $422,500. The 20-year-old is listed at 6’3″ and 200 lbs with room to grow. He started his college career at Oklahoma but transferred to Seminole State College where he was named the D-1 junior college player of the year after hitting .502 with 32 HR, 104 RBI and a slugging percentage over 1.000. Powell has some swing and miss in his game, but with an adjustment off-season he could be a breakout prospects in 2025.
28. Jancel Villarroel, C
Level: Single-A DOB: 01/17/05
Villarroel was signed by the Astros in August of 2022 out of Venezuela. While he is smaller in stature, listed at 5’8″ and 176 lbs, he makes up for it with his ability. The catcher has elite bat to ball skills and a good understanding of the strike zone. Before coming stateside this year, he had 37 BB/37 SO in 57 games in the DSL. He started the year in the FCL and got a quick promotion to Single-A and finished with a .721 OPS in 76 games.
29. Alex Santos, RHP
Level: Double-A DOB: 10/04/00
Santos was drafted by the Astros in the 2nd round of the 2020 MLB draft but due to COVID, he was unable to make his professional debut that season. Santos has a low to mid 90s fastball with a high spin rate and pairs that with two solid secondary offerings, a curveball and a growing changeup. He has a good build at 6’4″, 195 lbs. He struggled with injuries over his career, but had a good showing in the Arizona Fall League this winter.
30. 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. He struggled in 2024 due to injuries again but still has the potential.
30 prospects just doesn’t seem to be enough… here are five more!
31. Joey Mancini, RHP
Level: Double-A DOB: 10/04/00
Mancini was the Astros 15th round pick in 2022 out of Boston College. His first full season in the system he was solid striking out 102 batters over 97 innings. This year, he has taken it to a new level. Working with a mid 90s fastball, the right-hander struck out 107 over 106.1 innings with a 2.12 ERA allowing just 73 hits in 2024. This included a 1.88 ERA over 76.2 innings in Double-A. He is 24-years-old and could be a sneaky prospects for 2025.
32. Juan Bello, RHP
Level: Single-A DOB: 04/06/04
Bello, acquired by the Astros in the Pressly trade, was originally signed by the Cubs in 2022 and made a quick rise to full season ball in 2024. In 2024, the right-hander posted a 3.21 ERA with 91 K in 89.2 innings. He did this at 20-years-old making 22 starts. Bello is a young athletic right-hander who has a really good curveball that he mixes with a low-90s fastball. Bello wasn’t just a throw-in in the trade and could be a breakout prospect for 2025.
33. Andrew Taylor, RHP
Level: High-A DOB: 09/23/01
The Astros nabbed a tall right hander in 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. He racked up some strikeouts in 2023 but wasn’t healthy in 2024. Read more on Taylor here.
34. Pedro Leon, OF
Level: MLB 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 got some limited run in Houston but will start back in Triple-A this year.
35. John Garcia, C
Level: High-A DOB: 09/25/00
Garcia, the Astros 19th round pick in 2022, had a breakout 2024 season establishing himself as a legit prospect. The 23-year-old had a hit .293 with 21 doubles, 10 home runs, 9 stolen bases and a .852 OPS in 77 games in High-A. This level of offense at the catcher position is big. He also threw out 20% of base stealers in High-A. He should be in Double-A in 2025, which will be a good challenge for Garcia and an opportunity to hit some higher level pitching.
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