Houston Astros Prospect Profile: Ethan Pecko
Ethan Pecko
HT/WT: 6’2″/195 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School/Country: Towson University | DOB: 08/25/02
Overview:
Pecko was selected by the Astros in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. Despite logging just 59.2 innings in college, the organization saw potential and so far, they’ve been proven right. He began the 2024 season in Single-A, striking out 63 batters over 46.2 innings before earning a promotion to High-A, where he added 34 more strikeouts in 22.2 innings. His strong performance continued in Double-A, posting a 2.36 ERA with 28 strikeouts across 26.2 innings. In total, Pecko tallied 125 strikeouts over 96 innings, earning the title of Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2024.
Pecko features a mid-90s fastball and complements it with a deep arsenal that includes a slider, cutter, curveball, and changeup. After starting the 2025 season on the injured list, Pecko returned to form, posting a 1.75 ERA in July. This earned him a promotion to Triple-A where despite a higher ERA, he has already racked up 10 strikeouts over 6 innings.
Baseball America had the following to say about Pecko: “Pecko has average height, a strong, stocky build and a smooth, athletic operation. He gets below-average extension to the plate but has a lower three-quarters arm slot that lowers his release height. Pecko mixes five pitches: a four-seam fastball, cutter, slider, curveball and changeup. His four-seamer sits 92-93 mph, touches 96 and plays up due to a flat vertical approach angle that helps it miss bats high in the zone”
Articles:
Astros Swing for Upside With Ethan Pecko
Stats (via BRef):
| Year | Age | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | W | L | W-L% | ERA | G | GS | GF | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | WHIP | H9 | HR9 | BB9 | SO9 | SO/W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 19 | Towson | CAA | NCAA | 0 | 3 | .000 | 6.62 | 10 | 7 | 17.2 | 18 | 19 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 16 | 1.698 | 9.2 | 0.5 | 6.1 | 8.2 | 1.33 | ||
| 2023 | 20 | Towson | CAA | NCAA | 2 | 2 | .500 | 3.21 | 11 | 11 | 42.0 | 42 | 23 | 15 | 4 | 21 | 48 | 1.500 | 9.0 | 0.9 | 4.5 | 10.3 | 2.29 | ||
| 2023 | 20 | Wausau | NWDS | Smr | 2 | 1 | .667 | 1.04 | 5 | 5 | 26.0 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 36 | 0.769 | 4.2 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 12.5 | 4.50 | ||
| 2023 | 20 | Fayetteville | CARL | A | HOU | 0 | 1 | .000 | 7.50 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 12.0 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 14 | 1.750 | 9.0 | 0.0 | 6.8 | 10.5 | 1.56 |
| 2023 | 20 | Astros | FCL | Rk | HOU | 0 | 1 | .000 | 3.00 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1.333 | 12.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9.0 | |
| 2024 | 21 | Corpus Christi | TL | AA | HOU | 2 | 2 | .500 | 2.36 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 26.2 | 17 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 28 | 0.975 | 5.7 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 9.5 | 3.11 |
| 2024 | 21 | Asheville | SALL | A+ | HOU | 0 | 2 | .000 | 7.15 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 22.2 | 31 | 24 | 18 | 5 | 8 | 34 | 1.721 | 12.3 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 13.5 | 4.25 |
| 2024 | 21 | Fayetteville | CARL | A | HOU | 2 | 2 | .500 | 2.31 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 46.2 | 31 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 20 | 63 | 1.093 | 6.0 | 0.4 | 3.9 | 12.2 | 3.15 |
| 2025 | 22 | Sugar Land | PCL | AAA | HOU | 0 | 1 | .000 | 10.50 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6.0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 2.333 | 15.0 | 1.5 | 6.0 | 15.0 | 2.50 |
| 2025 | 22 | Corpus Christi | TL | AA | HOU | 2 | 6 | .250 | 4.40 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 43.0 | 37 | 21 | 21 | 4 | 15 | 45 | 1.209 | 7.7 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 9.4 | 3.00 |
| 2025 | 22 | Astros | FCL | Rk | HOU | 0 | 0 | 4.50 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.000 | 9.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9.0 |
Notes/Transactions:
07/15/23 – Signed with Astros
08/15/23 – Assigned to Fayetteville (Single-A)
06/14/24 – Assigned to Asheville (High-A)
07/29/24 – Assigned to Corpus Christi (Double-A)
08/05/25 – Assigned to Sugar Land (Triple-A)
Highlights:
In 5 starts this July with @cchooks, Ethan Pecko has a 1.82 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 24.2 innings pitched.
Last night, he tossed 5.0 scoreless innings and recorded 6 strikeouts. pic.twitter.com/xsyeQgNKFx
— Astros Player Development (@AstrosPlayerDev) July 25, 2025
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