This week, Baseball America released its minor league Hit+ leaderboard rankings by age group. Hit+ is a metric developed by Baseball America that combines traditional statistics with advanced data such as contact quality, swing decisions, and exit velocity.
The formula incorporates several key components: contact rate, in-zone contact rate, 90th percentile exit velocity, chase rate, barrel rate, and expected weighted on-base average on contact (xwOBAcon). A score of 100 represents league average, with higher scores indicating above-average performance.
Below are the Astros prospects who made the list.
AGE 16
Sami Manzueta – Manzueta ranked as the number one 16-year-old coming in with a 109 Hit+. This was boosted by his excellent 14% barrel rate, which was the highest of 16-year-olds listed on BA. He also had an impressive 87% contact rate in the zone and a 90th percentile exit velocity with 102 MPH. The raw stats came out to 9 doubles, 5 home runs and more walks than strikeouts in 46 games in the DSL.
AGE 19
Anthony Huezo – Huezo had a breakout season in 2025. The 2023 12th rounder had a Hit+ of 114. Huezo posted an impressive 107 MPH 90th percentile exit velocity and a 27% barrel rate, which was the highest of all 19-year-olds listed on the age 19 list. Huezo’s in zone contact rate was high at 86%. On the season he had 10 doubles, 4 triples, 8 home runs and a .828 OPS in 67 games in 2025.
AGE 21
Will Bush – Bush has been a great find for the Astros since being selected in the 16th round of the 2023 draft. This year was his best season and Hit+ really liked him as he posted a 117 Hit+, third highest of age 21 prospects. He had a 90th percentile exit velocity of 106 MPH and the same contact % and in zone contact % of former Astros prospect and top 100 prospect, Ryan Clifford (who is also 21). Bush finished the season with 15 home runs and a .777 OPS between High-A and Double-A.
AGE 22
Jason Schiavone – Schiavone was a surprise on this list and not due to talent level, but the 22-year-old flew under the radar as he hit just .180 in 78 games though he had a 117 Hit+. The underlying stats liked him as he had 108 MPH 90th percentile exit velocity, the highest of all 22-year-olds. He also posted a 29% barrel rate. He will have to get his contact rate up some but the positive is his chase percentage was just 13%, indicating he was making good swing decisions.
AGE 23
Joseph Sullivan – Sullivan was a favorite to breakout this season, and the 23-year-old did just that. Sullivan posted a 116 Hit+ in 2025, thanks to a ridiculous 13% chase rate and 108 MPH 90th percentile exit velocity. He had a solid in zone contact rate at 80%. Sullivan finished with 17 home runs and 42 stolen bases in 2025. If he can get his contact rate and in zone contact rate up a bit, he will fly up the rankings in 2026.
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