As we inch closer to the 2026 season, I am going to give top three prospects at each position. This will be based on where they currently play and also where they may end up. This will culminate with my newly updated top 30 prospects before the season starts. This week, we are looking at the outfield position.
Previous Top Three:
1. Ethan Frey
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. The former LSU standout enjoyed a breakout junior year, batting .331 with 15 doubles, 13 home runs, and 50 RBIs across 62 games. Standing 6’6″, Frey combines impressive size with surprising athleticism and speed. He offers above-average power and has the tools to play center field, though he could eventually settle into a corner outfield role or first base as some scouts project him there. The 21-year-old hit .330 with 5 doubles, 3 home runs, 17 runs batted in and an impressive 20 walks to 25 strikeouts. This worked out to an impressive 166 wRC+. He also posted a ridiculous 6.2% swinging strike rate and a 83.4% contact rate in his pro debut.
2. Kevin Alvarez
The Astros signed Alvarez this past winter for $2 million, one of the highest international bonuses the organization has ever awarded. Just 17 years old, Alvarez was widely regarded as one of the top pure hitters in the 2025 international signing class. A left-handed bat with an advanced approach, he projects for above-average power and stands out as a well-rounded athlete with a strong arm and solid defensive instincts. According to Francys Romero, evaluators have compared his physicality and skill set at this age to a young Kyle Tucker or Paul O’Neill. In 47 games in 2025, the 17-year-old hit .300 with 12 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, 33 runs batted in and 11 stolen bases. This also included an impressive 12.0% walk rate and insane 9.9% strikeout rate. He was also named as a DSL All-Star.
3. Joseph Sullivan
Sullivan was the Astros 7th round pick in 2024 after a solid college career at South Alabama. The outfielder was a mid round selection but came with a ton of upside. He is a great athlete with plus speed and the chance to stick in center field. Sullivan grades well on swing decisions and has good raw power that he has been able to prove in games this season. He has a great makeup and has an edge to him in the weight room and on the field. He started the year in High-A and had a .872 OPS with 15 HR, 34 SB earning him a promotion to Double-A. The promotion to Double-A was a little tougher for him, but he still finished with 17 home runs, 42 stolen bases and a .798 OPS over 106 games in his first full season. He also led the Astros system in walks and stolen bases.
Because the outfield is deeper with three positions.. I wanted to give a few more!
4. Zach Cole
Cole was drafted in the 10th round in the 2022 draft. The left-handed hitting outfielder has plus speed and some big time raw power, though that comes with some swing and miss. Cole has put up some impressive numbers in the minors and after a slow start in 2025, he turned it around hitting 19 doubles, 14 home runs and a .868 OPS in 82 games in Double-A. He was promoted to Triple-A where he hit .353 with 5 home runs over 15 games before earning a call-up to Houston. Overall he had a 22 doubles, 7 triples, 19 home runs and a system leading 151 wRC+ over 97 games. Cole has some risk with the swing and miss, but he has huge upside. Read more on Cole here.
5. Lucas Spence
Spence had a strong junior season at Southern Illinois Edwardsville, batting .385 with an OPS over 1.000, but ultimately went undrafted. The Astros signed him as an undrafted free agent, and he made the most of his first professional season. He started the 2025 season in Fayetteville and after hitting .286 in Single-A, he was promoted to High-A where he connected on 6 home runs with a .774 OPS. He was promoted to Double-A where he added 4 more home runs with 17 runs batted in. He finished the season with 31 doubles, 27 stolen bases and a .771 OPS in 116 games, and an impressive 14.3% walk rate. A left-handed hitting outfielder, Spence is known for his disciplined approach at the plate, showing strong swing decisions. He also possesses excellent speed, which he puts to good use both on the bases and in the outfield defensively. Read more here.
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