During their rebuilding years, the Astros’ farm system was consistently ranked among the best in baseball. That success came not just from high draft picks, but also from strong international scouting and smart trades by the front office.
As the Astros returned to competitiveness, they began utilizing their prospects in various ways. The most obvious approach was promoting them to the big league roster, with players like George Springer, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, and others making significant impacts. Additionally, they leveraged their prospects to acquire top-tier major league talent, including Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, Zack Greinke, Ryan Pressly and even landed some other contributors at the deadline.
All of this has contributed to the Astros’ farm system slipping in the rankings among prospect writers, and that’s understandable. However, what these rankings often overlook is the exceptional development the Astros are known for. Guys like Cristian Javier, Framber Valdez, Jeremy Pena and Ronel Blanco weren’t considered “top” prospects. But the Astros were able find and develop these players into top contributors.
While the system may not have that buzz that it once had, there is a clear group of Tier 1 players, high potential arms, underrated arms and some really young talent. Below will be a break down of some of the prospects in the system.
Tier 1
Xavier Neyens – Neyens was selected by the Astros in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft and signed for $4.12 million. The left-handed hitting Neyens boasts some of the most impressive raw power in his draft class. While he has a strong arm and can play some defense, it’s his powerful bat and advanced hitting ability that made him a top pick. Standing 6’4″ and weighing 210 pounds, Neyens projects as a formidable middle-of-the-order presence.
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. He offers above-average power and has the tools to play center field. After the draft, 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+ in his debut.
Brice Matthews – Matthews was seen as one of the best athletes in the Big 10 going into the 2023 draft. He has a quick swing with strong exit velocities, even for his size, and brings a real threat on the base paths. Matthews made a quick rise in the system and a .830 OPS with 17 home runs and 41 stolen bases in Triple-A in 2025. He should be in Houston again in 2026.
Walker Janek – Janek was seen as the best defensive catcher in the draft, showing up a plus arm and a quick release. He has above average bat speed and should have the ability to produce 20+ homers at the major league level if the bat continues to progress. In 2025 he had a solid year hitting 12 homers, stealing 30 bases and throwing out 31% of base stealers.
Kevin Alvarez – The Astros signed Alvarez for $2 million, one of the highest international bonuses the organization has ever awarded. 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. 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.
High-Potential Arms:
Ethan Pecko – Pecko was selected by the Astros in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. Pecko had a breakout 2024 season where he posted a 3.47 ERA across three levels. In total, Pecko tallied 125 strikeouts over 96 innings, earning the title of Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2024. He features a mid-90s fastball and complements it with a deep arsenal that includes a slider, cutter, curveball, and changeup. He finished the 2025 season in Triple-A where he had with a 3.09 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 35 innings. He should be in Houston in 2026.
Ryan Forcucci – Forcucci is a right-handed pitcher listed at 6’3″ and 205 lbs that the Astros selected in the third round of the draft in 2024. The 21-year-old only made five starts in 2024, but was dominant posting a 2.16 ERA with 37 K in 25 innings. He has a mid 90s fastball that tops at 97 and a wipeout slider in the 80s. He was seen as a potential first rounder early in the season but Tommy John surgery caused him to slide.
Bryce Mayer – Mayer was selected by the Astros in the 16th round of the 2024 draft and has quickly emerged as one of the biggest steals of the class. Mayer features a mid-90s fastball that plays up thanks to above-average vertical movement, paired with a strong curveball and a quality slider. He finished the season with 112 strikeouts over 87.2 innings and was named Astros minor league pitcher of the year.
Miguel Ullola – Ullola is a young right hander who features a strong fastball that sits mid-90s. While he has some command issues, he has overpowered the hitters in lower levels with the fastball/slider combination. The fastball and slider are his two best pitches, but he does throw a curveball as well. In 2025, he struck out 131 batters in 113.2 innings in Triple-A.
High-Upside/Solid Outfield Prospects:
Joseph Sullivan – Sullivan was the Astros 7th round pick in 2024 after a solid college career at South Alabama. The outfielder is a great athlete with plus speed and the chance to stick in center field. He started the 2025 season in High-A and had a .872 OPS with 15 HR, 34 SB earning him a promotion to Double-A where he finished with 17 home runs, 42 stolen bases and a .798 OPS over 106 games in his first full season.
Zach Cole – The left-handed hitting outfielder has plus speed and some big time raw power, though that comes with some swing and miss. Overall in 2025 Cole had a 22 doubles, 7 triples, 19 home runs and a system leading 151 wRC+ over 97 games at the minor league level. He got some time in Houston where he had a 139 OPS+ in 47 at-bats. Cole has some risk with the swing and miss, but he has huge upside.
Lucas Spence – The Astros signed him as an undrafted free agent, and he made the most of his first professional season. He finished the 2025 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 helps him on the bases and defensively.
Underrated Arms:
The Astros system is loaded with underrated arms. A.J. Blubaugh had a solid 2025 and showed his stuff at the big league level with a 1.69 ERA in 32 ininngs. Former second round pick Alonzo Tredwell had a breakout 2025 season striking out 122 over three levels while posting a 3.69 ERA.
Jackson Nezuh struck out 71 batters in 72.1 innings in Double-A in 2025. James Hicks had some early struggles but dominated the AFL with a 0.00 ERA over 14 innings. Cole Hertzler has been dominant (28 K in 21 innings) when healthy. Parker Smith had a strong 2025 season with a 3.16 ERA over 68.1 innings.
Very Young Prospects:
The Astros also have some very young prospects in the system. Caden Powell, drafted in 2023, showed some legit pop in Fayetteville last year. Anthony Huezo had a breakout season with a .828 OPS in 2025. Jase Mitchell, drafted in the 7th round in 2025, signed for nearly $800k and should debut this year. The Astros went with more high schoolers in 2025 selecting Elijah Farley and Landon Arroyos.
Internationally, the Astros signed some big ticket prospects like Albert Fermin and Randy Arias. They also are getting some good returns from last year’s class in Sami Manzueta and Anderson Areinamo to go along with Alvarez.
I could go on, but it’s clear the Astros have real talent in their system. Beyond the top-tier prospects, there’s a deep pool of pitchers and young players with room to grow. Given Houston’s track record in player development, there’s plenty of reason to be optimistic. All things considered, the Astros’ farm system is definitely underrated. Now I’m just ready for the 2026 season to get started!
Be sure to subscribe to receive weekly updates on the Astros minor league system. Also be sure to follow on X, @AstrosFuture, and like my Facebook page, facebook.com/AstrosFuture.
