Now that the season is more than half way over, I figured this would be a good time to look at prospects who have outperformed their pre-season rankings so far this year. I will be using my Top 30 list here. All of these prospects will see their ranking go up on the new list coming out after the trade deadline.
Anderson Brito, RHP (Pre-Season Ranking: #13)
I had Brito ranked No. 13 in the system entering the season, an aggressive placement given he had just 27.1 innings of full-season ball under his belt. The Astros were equally bold, assigning the 20-year-old right-hander to High-A to start the year, and he rose to the occasion. Brito posted a 3.28 ERA over 49.1 innings, striking out 65 while allowing only 36 hits. Though he’s currently sidelined on the injured list, his performance so far ensures he’ll climb higher than No. 13 in the next rankings update.
Kevin Alvarez, OF (Pre-Season Ranking: #17)
When it comes to international prospects, I typically hold off on ranking them aggressively until they make it stateside. However, Alvarez has done more than enough to warrant a move up the list even though he is still playing in the Dominican Republic. The 17-year-old signed for $2 million this past January and has impressed early, batting .308 with 7 doubles, 2 home runs, and 24 RBIs over 32 games. Perhaps most encouraging is his advanced approach at the plate, drawing 13 walks against just 11 strikeouts—an impressive ratio for a hitter his age.
Joseph Sullivan, OF (Pre-Season Ranking: #18)
Sullivan, the Astros’ 7th-round pick in 2024, entered the system with plenty of buzz. After a strong debut following the draft, he earned the No. 18 spot in my preseason rankings. He opened the year with Asheville, where he flashed his elite power-speed combo—slugging 15 home runs and swiping 34 bases. Since earning a promotion to Double-A, he’s taken his game to another level, posting an OPS over 1.000 in his first week with the Hooks.
Alonzo Tredwell, RHP (Pre-Season Ranking: #26)
Tredwell, the Astros’ second-round pick in 2023, signed for over $1.4 million. Although he didn’t rack up many innings in college and didn’t make his professional debut until 2024, where he posted a 5.37 ERA, he’s shown significant improvement this season. Starting the year in Single-A, he recorded a 3.94 ERA with 52 strikeouts over 48 innings. Since moving up to High-A, he’s been even more impressive, logging a 3.55 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 25.1 innings while cutting down on walks highlighting the potential that made him a high draft selection.
Bryce Mayer, RHP (Pre-Season Ranking: Unranked)
Mayer was drafted by the Astros in the 16th round of the 2024 draft. After a rough year in 2024 at Missouri, expectations weren’t super high for him but this year he has been dominant across multiple levels. He started in Fayetteville posting a 4.08 ERA but racked up 30 strikeouts in just 17.2 innings. He earned a promotion to hitter friendly Asheville where he had a 2.85 ERA with 45 K in 41 innings. He got promoted again making his way to Double-A where so far he has a 3.86 ERA with 22 K in 18.2 innings. The righty, who has an electric fastball up to 96 MPH with carry, has been one of the best pitchers in the system this season.
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