This will be your weekly hot list of prospects who are performing well at the plate and on the mound. Below is the hotlist for Week One.
Who’s Hot At The Plate?
Collin Price – Price has slowly made his ascent through the system and this year for the start in Triple-A. He’s been the best hitter in the system so far. In 12 games, he’s hitting .333 with 2 doubles, a triple, 3 home runs and 10 runs batted in. He also has a .429 OBP with a 1.072 OPS.
Jancel Villarroel – The 20-year-old made quite the rise in 2024 and he is off to a great start this season. In 9 games so far this season, Villarroel is hitting .323 with 2 doubles, a triple and 5 runs batted in. He also has 5 walks to just 6 strikeouts and 2 stolen bases. He’s played catcher and second base.
Will Bush – Bush was the Astros 16th round pick in 2023, and he was hot over this last week. The 21-year-old made his High-A debut this season and is hitting .313 with a double, 2 home runs and 4 runs batted in over his first five games of the season. He’s put up a 1.200 OPS playing behind the plate.
Alejandro Nunez – The Astros signed Nunez out of Cuba in 2022, but he was just 17 at the time. After making his full-season debut last year, he started off this season in High-A. Through 6 games, the left-handed hitting shortstop is hitting .318 with a double, a home and 5 runs batted in. He also has a .423 OBP.
Who’s Hot On The Mound?
A.J. Blubaugh – Blubaugh has quickly seen his stock rise since being a 7th round pick in 2022. Blubaugh pitched in three games so far this season and has been dominant striking out 21 over 13 innings and posting a 1.38 ERA. Blubaugh figures to be one of the first prospects called up if the Astros need another starter.
Jose Fleury – Fleury had some injuries in 2024 but is off to an incredible start this year. He’s started two games for the Hooks has yet to allow an earned run while racking up 13 strikeouts in 11 innings, allowing just 4 hits. He could be a fast mover up to Triple-A if he keeps this up.
Cole Hertzler – Hertzler was the Astros 5th round pick last year and is off to a really good start in 2025. He’s pitched in two games and has tossed 9.1 innings allowing just 1 unearned run while racking up 13 strikeouts. He’s been one of the better pitchers in the system thus far.
Anderson Brito – Brito broke onto the scene last year making it all the way to full-season baseball at 19. This year he got assigned to High-A and through two outings, the right-hander has tossed 7.2 scoreless innings while racking up 12 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting just .185 against the 20-year-old.
Be sure to follow on Twitter, @AstrosFuture, follow me on Instagram, @AstrosFuture and like my Facebook page, facebook.com/AstrosFuture.
