Welcome to the Astros Future Mailbag! Yesterday, I reached out on social media and asked for your questions, and you delivered. Below are some of the best ones along with my answers.
Q: How do you feel about James Hicks coming off a perfect AFL stint?
A: Hicks was a 13th round pick by the Astros in 2023 and has flown through the system in his first season as he had a 3.82 ERA with 115 K in 106 innings in 2024. Hicks had some injuries early in 2025 but finished the year on a high note and went on to dominate in the Arizona Fall League posting a 0.00 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 14 innings. Hicks kept hitters off balance pounding the zone with a 93 MPH fastball a sinker that took huge step forward when using the MLB ball (which he noted here). Big time performance for him and sets him up well for 2026.
Q: How much do you weigh performance vs stuff in your top prospect list?
A: The easy answer is: it depends. But I’ve always leaned toward performance over pure tools. That’s not to say tools don’t matter, they absolutely do, but at some point a prospect has to translate those tools into results on the field. Tools can carry you only so far; performance proves they play. Ideally, you want a blend of both. The top prospects usually pair loud tools with strong production. If a player is putting up big numbers but the tools aren’t quite as loud, that doesn’t automatically knock him down the rankings, but it may give evaluators pause before moving him up solely on statistical output.
Q: Would like to hear about anyone coming stateside from the DSL this year?
A: The obvious answer here is Kevin Alvarez, but the question originally included him so I will look at a couple others. On the position player side, I would look at Anderson Areinamo. The 18-year-old had a big 2025 season in the DSL hitting .300 with 10 doubles, 6 home runs and 18 stolen bases in 51 games. He is only listed at 5’9″ but packs some punch in his bat and has the ability to play all over the infield. For pitchers, I would look at Adrian Ardines. The 19-year-old right-hander was dominant in 2025 posting a 1.91 ERA with 7 walks to 56 strikeouts in 42.1 innings. He has a fastball, slider, changeup and curveball. Hopefully we see all of them in the FCL.
Q: Is Walker Janek going to make an appearance in 2026 or 2027?
A: Janek was selected by the Astros in the first round of the 2024 draft. In his first professional season in 2025, the 23-year-old hit .263 with 12 home runs and 30 stolen bases across 92 games in High-A, flashing an intriguing blend of power and athleticism. Defensively, he threw out 31% of base stealers, reinforcing his value behind the plate. He’s expected to open the 2026 season in Double-A, and what happens next will largely depend on how the bat progresses. With Díaz struggling last year, there’s a path for Janek to force the conversation if he continues to produce offensively while maintaining strong defense. A 2026 debut isn’t out of the question, though 2027 still feels like the more realistic timeline.
Q: Do you have any opinions/updates on Ethan Frey?
A: Yes, definitely have some opinions and all positive. Frey was selected by the Astros in the third round of the 2025 MLB Draft, with the team going over slot to secure his signing after a breakout season at LSU. Frey combines impressive size with surprising athleticism and speed. He offers above-average power and has the tools to play center field. Following the draft he hit .330 with 5 doubles, 3 home runs, 17 runs batted in and an impressive 20 walks to 25 strikeouts. His debut was really good as he posted a ridiculous 6.2% swinging strike rate and a 83.4% contact rate in his pro debut, numbers that rivaled the #1 prospect in baseball. 2026 could be a huge year for him.
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