With the draft just around the corner, let’s take a look at five players who have been frequently linked to the Astros in mock drafts — names fans should keep an eye on.
Ethan Conrad, OF, Wake Forest
Conrad began his college career at Marist University, where he hit .389 as a sophomore before transferring to Wake Forest. Over 76 summer league games, he posted a .382 average with 8 home runs, including a standout .385 mark in 30 games in the prestigious Cape Cod League. At Wake Forest, he was hitting .372 before a shoulder injury sidelined him after a diving play. At 6’3″, Conrad brings excellent bat-to-ball skills from the left side and has the potential to grow into more power.
Xavier Neyens, 3B, Mount Vernon HS (WA)
Neyens, a left-handed hitter from Mount Vernon High School in Washington, brings some of the most impressive raw power in this year’s draft class. He features a strong arm at a corner position, but it’s his power bat that stands out. At 6’4″ and 210 pounds, he profiles as an imposing presence in the heart of a lineup. If selected, he would be the first high school position player the Astros have taken in the first round since 2015, which was outfielder Kyle Tucker.
Gage Wood, RHP, Arkansas
Wood was already climbing draft boards this season before cementing his rise with a dominant performance in the College World Series, throwing a complete game no-hitter with 19 strikeouts against Murray State. He overwhelms hitters with a high-90s fastball, a sharp power curveball, and a developing changeup. Like Neyens, drafting Wood would break from recent Astros draft patterns — they haven’t selected a college pitcher in the first round since J.B. Bukauskas in 2017.
Jace LaViolette, OF, Texas A&M
LaViolette burst onto the scene with a standout freshman campaign and followed it up with an even stronger sophomore year. While his numbers dipped slightly as a junior, he still launched 18 home runs and posted an OPS over 1.000 for the third consecutive season. There’s some risk with his bat, but the upside remains high — he entered the year as a projected top pick. If he rediscovers the form he showed in his first two seasons, this could end up being a steal.
Gavin Kilen, 2B, Tennessee
Kilen, a left-handed hitting middle infielder, had a breakout 2025 season after transferring to Tennessee. In 53 games, he hit .357 with 15 home runs and an impressive walk-to-strikeout ratio. His top-rated tool is his bat, and he’s a steady defender at second base. While he may not have the flash or raw power of a player like LaViolette, Kilen offers a safer profile thanks to his advanced hit tool and reliable defense up the middle. The main concern is the lack of slugging he showed with wood bats during his time in the Cape Cod League.
Who would you like to see the Astros take in the first round?
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