As we move forward in the off-season, I figured we could look back at some draft classes and see how the Astros performed. This week we are checking out the 2017 draft. Here are the top 10 picks and other notables.
Previous Draft Reviews:
Round 1, Pick 15 – J.B. Bukauskas, RHP
Bukauskas was an interesting prospect coming out of college with dominant numbers but lacking size. The Astros used him as a starter and he had a good showing in 2018 posting a 2.14 ERA with 71 K in 59 innings. He struggled in 2019 though with a 5.25 ERA in 85.2 innings in AA but the Astros were able to flip him to Arizona in part of the Zack Greinke deal. He bounced between the majors and minors for the remainder of his career and last pitched in 2024. Career WAR: -0.6
Round 2, Pick 53 – Joe Perez, 3B
Perez was a wildcard pick, mainly because most teams saw him as a pitcher coming out of high school. The Astros announced him as a third baseman but knew he needed Tommy John surgery. He dealt with some injuries early in his career before finally breaking out in 2021 with a .849 OPS over three levels. He continued to hit solid in the minors but never got called up before being released in 2023. He played in the Pirates system in 2024 but that was the last year he played. He had one major league at-bat for the Pirates. Career WAR: 0.0
Round 2, Pick 56 – Corbin Martin, RHP
This pick was the first pick of compensation following the hacking scandal. The Astros selected Martin out of A&M and he balled out immediately posting a 2.51 ERA with 122 K in 122 innings in 2018. In 2019 he started in AA and had a 3.13 ERA before being promoted to Houston. Martin was also part of the Greinke deal. He would spent parts of four seasons in the majors including time with Baltimore in 2025. Career WAR: -1.5
Round 2, Pick 75 – J.J. Matijevic, OF
Matijevic was the second pick awarded to the Astros in the hacking scandal. Matijevic had a solid 2018 season posting a .887 OPS with 22 HR in 101 games. Matijevic would continue to hit well making his way up to Triple-A and getting called up in 2022. He appeared in 32 games and hit 2 home runs. He was released that same season and has been in Independent Ball since. Career WAR: -0.1
Round 3, Pick 91 – Tyler Ivey, RHP
Ivey came out of the draft and immediately pitched well. In 2018 he pitched between A and A+ and posted a 2.97 ERA with 29 BB/135 K in 112.0 innings. He struggled with some minor injuries in 2019 which limited him to just 52.0 innings but he did strike out 68 and had a 1.38 ERA. He eventually got called up in 2021 making one start before getting injured. He was DFA’d the next year and retired before making a comeback in 2025. This season for Sugar Land he had a 5.83 ERA. Career WAR: -0.1
Round 4, Pick 121 – Peter Solomon, RHP
Solomon was an intriguing prospect coming out of Notre Dame but has some control issues. The Astros worked with him and he turned in a great 2018 where he had a 2.32 ERA with 114 K in 100.2 innings. He ended up getting Tommy John surgery but came back strong in 2021 earning a big league call-up where he had a 1.29 ERA in 14 innings. In late 2022, he was DFA’d and bounced around a bit getting a call-up to Arizona. In 2025, Solomon pitched in the Cubs system. Career WAR: -0.1
Round 5, Pick 151 – Nathan Perry, C
Perry was a high potential catcher drafted out of high school who showed some really strong signs in the minors but just never got it going. After a .705 OPS in Single-A in 2021, he was released and signed by the Rays. He last played in 2022. Career WAR: Did not reach MLB.
Round 6, Pick 181 – Jake Adams, 1B
Adams was a slugger in college (29 HR in junior year) and he continued to do the same in the minor leagues. In 2019, Adams played in 118 games across A+ and AA and finished with 22 HR, 87 RBI and a .757 OPS. After the COVID season he came back for one more year in 2021 but was eventually released. Career WAR: Did not reach MLB
Round 7, Pick 211 – Parker Mushinski, LHP
Mushinski has success as a reliever in college but the Astros moved him to starter in the minors. He was really good in 2018 when he struck out 114 in 89 innings with a 2.33 ERA. He started some more but eventually made his big league debut in relief in 2022. He pitched in 31 games for Houston before electing free agency in 2024. He pitched in the Guardians system in 2025. Career WAR: -0.3
Round 8, Pick 241 – Corey Julks, OF
Julks is a local product from Clear Brook HS and attended the University of Houston. He has been consistent in his minor league career hitting .270 with 30 2B, 10 HR, 30 SB in 2018. In 2019, Julks played in A+ and AA and finished with 25 2B, 4 HR, 10 SB and a .725 OPS in 107 games. He had a breakout 2022 season where he hit 31 home runs in 130 games. He made his big league debut in 2023 but was eventually traded to the White Sox. He was between Triple-A and the MLB in 2025. He’s played in 165 major league games. Career WAR: -0.7
Round 9, Pick 271 – Michael Papierski, C
Papierski put up some decent numbers early working his way through the system but he was eventually traded to San Francisco in 2022 for Mauricio Dubon. He’s continued to bounce around a few organizations and played in 39 major league games. He last played in 2024 for Seattle. Career WAR: -0.6
Round 10, Pick 301 – Kyle Serrano, RHP
Serrano battled a lot of injuries in the minors and seemed like he really couldn’t get it going. He only logged 34 innings over four seasons before being released. Career WAR: Did not reach MLB
NOTABLES:
Round 11, Pick 331– Brandon Bielak, RHP
Bielak was a diamond in the rough for the Astros. After some struggles in college, he pitched well in the minors including a 2.23 ERA over 117 innings in 2018. He made his big league debut in 2020. He would bounce between Triple-A and MLB logging 191.2 innings in Houston. He bounced around a few more organizations pitching for Arizona in 2025. Career WAR: -0.4
Round 13, Pick 391 – Jake Meyers, OF
Meyers was always seen as a solid defender in the minors but after some okay seasons, he broke out in 2021 hitting .343 in Triple-A and earning a big league call-up. He has now played in 465 games in Houston posting a .678 OPS, but being one of the best defenders in Center Field. He should be the starter in 2026 as well. Career WAR: 7.4
Round 21, Pick 631 – Chas McCormick, OF
McCormick was another great find for Houston. He had some solid minor league seasons with his best season coming in 2019 as he hit .269 between Double-A and Triple-A. He was called up in 2021 and hit 14 home runs before his breakout season in 2023 where he hit .270 with 22 home runs over 115 games. He was a key contributor to the 2022 World Series team. Career WAR: 5.8
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