Last week, the Astros announced their minor league rosters for 2026. While the system has gone through changes, the strength of the system right now is at the lower levels. Last week I pointed out some prospects to watch at each level, but I wanted to get a little more in depth at the intriguing players in Asheville and Fayetteville.
ASHEVILLE HITTERS:
Asheville will open the season with one of the Astros’ top prospects, and No. 2 on my Top 30, Ethan Frey. Frey was selected in the third round of the 2025 draft and impressed in limited action last year, hitting .330 with five doubles, three home runs, 17 RBI, and an excellent 20-to-25 walk-to-strikeout ratio. That production translated to a 166 wRC+. He also posted a 6.2% swinging strike rate and an 83.4% contact rate in his pro debut.
He’s joined by another high-upside prospect in Caden Powell. Drafted out of junior college in 2024, Powell was having a solid 2025 season before an injury cut it short. Prior to that, he hit .264 with a .773 OPS in Fayetteville. Now healthy, he’ll open the year in hitter-friendly Asheville.
The Astros also assigned 2025 draftees Kyle Walker, Zach Daudet, Justin Thomas, and Chase Call to Asheville. Daudet impressed in his debut, posting a 139 OPS+ over 22 games in Fayetteville, while Call held his own with a 128 OPS+. Infielder Alejandro Nunez returns after leading the team in hits in 2025. The roster also features a pair of notable international signees in Alberto Hernandez and Cesar Hernandez, both of whom received seven-figure bonuses.
ASHEVILLE PITCHERS:
Asheville features several intriguing arms, led by right-hander Cole Hertzler. A fifth-round pick in 2024, Hertzler has been limited to just 21 professional innings due to injuries but has been highly effective when on the mound. Now healthy, he also turned heads this spring with three scoreless innings in the Spring Breakout game.
He’s joined by other notable arms, including Andrew Taylor, who posted a 3.39 ERA in Asheville last year, and Parker Smith, who recorded a 3.32 ERA in Fayetteville in 2025.
Nolan DeVos returns to Asheville after flashing breakout potential in 2023, when he struck out 117 over 98.2 innings, before injuries derailed the past two seasons. Colby Langford is also back after an up-and-down year at the level. The staff includes several young international arms like Francisco Frias (21), Joan Ogando (21), Alain Pena (22), Luis Rodriguez (22), and Yeriel Santos (22). Another name to watch is Dylan Howard, a 2024 draftee who posted a 3.03 ERA between Fayetteville and Asheville last season.
FAYETTEVILLE HITTERS:
This is where things get especially interesting. The Astros are assigning 2025 first-round pick Xavier Neyens to Fayetteville. Signed for over $4 million, Neyens brings significant upside with the bat and represents the type of elite young talent the system hasn’t seen in some time.
He’ll be joined by another exciting prospect in outfielder Kevin Alvarez. Signed in January 2025, Alvarez hit .301 with more walks than strikeouts over 48 games in the DSL last year. The Astros’ fourth-round pick, Nick Monistere, will also begin his season in Single-A, along with outfielder Josh Wakefield, a 14th-round selection from 2025.
Two high school draftees from 2023 will also be in Fayetteville. Anthony Huezo is coming off a breakout 2025 season in which he posted an .828 OPS between rookie ball and Single-A. He’s joined by Nehomar Ochoa, an 11th-round pick who showed promise in 2024 but struggled in 2025 after a freak injury disrupted his season.
Fayetteville will also feature several intriguing international prospects. Juan Sierra, who signed for just $67,500 in 2023, is set to make his debut at the level after hitting .289 in the Florida Complex League last year. Camilo Diaz, Hector Salas, and German Ramirez round out the group.
FAYETTEVILLE PITCHERS:
On the pitching side, one of the most intriguing arms is right-hander Jagger Beck. Signed as an undrafted free agent out of high school following the 2024 draft, Beck impressed this winter in Australia, posting a 3.16 ERA over 37 innings. At just 19 years old, he already runs his fastball into the mid-90s.
Other recent draftees include Ryan Verdugo and Aubrey Smith. Nick Potter, who features an electric fastball, and Kellan Oakes should help anchor the bullpen. Leomar Rosario is another reliever to watch after hitting 100.2 mph in the Spring Breakout game.
Fayetteville also boasts a strong group of international arms, led by one of my breakout picks, right-hander Javier Perez. Perez posted a 2.88 ERA with 70 strikeouts and just 11 walks over 68.2 innings between rookie ball and Single-A last year. He’s joined by Jesus Carrera, who recorded a 2.90 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 40.1 innings, and Luis Aguilar, who posted a 2.98 ERA across the same levels.
THOUGHTS:
Overall, the lower levels of the Astros system are loaded with intriguing talent, blending high-upside draft picks with emerging international prospects. While many of these players are still a few years away, this group represents the foundation of the organization’s next wave. As the season unfolds, expect several of these names to gain momentum and start pushing their way onto the national prospect radar and there should be more prospects to follow.
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