With the season is over we will review each position in the minor league system during the 2025 season. This week we will look at the second base position.
Previous Position Reviews:
TOP PERFORMERS
Brice Matthews
After a strong 2024 season, Matthews followed that up with another nice season in Triple-A this year. In 112 games, Matthews connected on 18 doubles, 7 triples, 17 home runs and 41 stolen bases for Sugar Land. This included a 14.1% walk rate which was a nice bump from last year. His wRC+ also increased from 28 in 2024 to 118 in 2025. Matthews earned a call-up and made his major league debut this year as well.
2025 Stats: 112 G, .260 BA/.371 OBP/.458 SLG, 18 2B, 7 3B, 17 HR, 61 RBI, 41 SB, 118 wRC+
Alejandro Nunez
Nunez had a solid season in High-A and is a prospect who does a little bit of everything at a solid level. The infielder hit .269 with 19 doubles, 8 home runs and 22 stolen bases over 94 games. He also led the Asheville Tourists in hits and batting average during the 2025 season while playing mostly at second base. He should be in Double-A in 2026.
2025 Stats: 94 G, .269 BA/.321 OBP/.400 SLG, 19 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 38 RBI, 22 SB, 98 wRC+
THE REST OF THE PACK
Hector Salas
Salas was an intriguing signing as a switch hitting infielder. After a solid debut in 2024, he played across three levels in 2025. He started the year in the FCL and had a .859 OPS in 22 games. He was promoted to Fayetteville where he had a .637 OPS and then followed that with a .602 OPS in High-A. He posted good walk rates though.
2025 Stats: 76 G, .252 BA/.377 OBP/.321 SLG, 12 2B, 3B, HR, 24 RBI, 15 SB, 111 wRC+
Pascanel Ferreras
Ferreras was the last pick of the 2023 draft and has already defied the odds making it up to Double-A. He played the full season in Corpus Christi and led the team in hits and doubles. In 113 games, Ferreras hit .242 with 23 doubles, 3 triples and 7 home runs. He finished strong hitting .275 over his final 43 games while playing all over the infield for the Hooks.
2025 Stats: 113 G, .242 BA/.322 OBP/.365 SLG, 23 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 42 RBI, 11 SB, 99 wRC+
Alberto Hernandez
Hernandez is a favorite of Dana Brown and while the numbers weren’t great, they were better than 2024. Hernandez played in 84 games for the Woodpeckers in 2025 and posted a .614 OPS after posting just a .539 OPS in 2024. The walk and strikeout numbers were good and he also stole 24 bases.
2025 Stats: 87 G, .222 BA/.308 OBP/.301 SLG, 14 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 46 RBI, 24 SB, 84 wRC+
2026 OUTLOOK/CONCLUSION
At the major league level there are some question marks for 2026 at second base. While the Astros still have Jose Altuve, it appears he is nearly done playing the position. They traded for Nick Allen who is a great defender and could get some time at second. In terms of prospects, Matthews is an option with big time upside if they wanted to run him out there. The Astros have some good infielders so it will be interesting how they deploy them in 2026.
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