MOCK DRAFT! If you’re not familiar, overslotbaseball.com has a great mock draft simulator. This past weekend, I ran a full 10-round mock draft using the Astros. I used their draft board for the later rounds, and while some of the bonus projections felt a bit light, it was still a fun exercise. My results are listed below. Let me know what you think!
*Bonus amounts determined by Over Slot Baseball
1.17 – Tyler Bell, SS – $3,700,000 (Slot: $4,868,000)
With the first pick of the draft, I went with a high floor college shortstop. Bell has been a two year starter for Kentucky and is having a big junior year hitting .374 through 30 games. Bell has good tools across the board and is a strong defender at shortstop. The Astros save some money with this signing going below slot.
1.28 – Tyler Spangler, SS – $4,000,000 (Slot: $3,363,300)
With the Astros second pick, a pick thanks to Hunter Brown finishing top 3 in the AL Cy Young voting, I have the Astros swinging for the fences and going overslot to secure one of the top high school prospects on the board. Spangler is a big powerful left-handed hitting shortstop like Neyens last year with a little less pop but a better hit tool.
2.57 – Ethan Bass, SS – $2,000,000 (Slot: $1,677,400)
Capitalizing on more of the savings from the first pick, with their second round pick I have the Astros going back to the high school route selecting another infielder, Ethan Bass. Bass has a quick right-handed stroke with more hit and than power at this point. He is also highly rated as a defender and should stick at shortstop.
3.93 – Nathaniel Davis, OF – $1,600,000 (Slot: $846,900)
The run on high school position players continues in the third round. With this pick I have the Astros going the outfield route taking Nathanial Davis. Davis has a smooth left-handed swing with a strong hit tool, and potential for more power. His best tool though is his speed which he uses well defensively and on the bases.
4.121 – Isaac Morton, RHP – $383,000 (Slot: $638,800)
For the first pitcher of the draft, I have the Astros taking right-hander Isaac Morton out of Minnesota. He has a strong fastball sitting mid 90s with a plus slider. He is more potential than polish at this point, but the type of arm the Astros like to add to their farm system.
4.133 – Trevor Hansen, RHP – $338,000 (Slot: $569,600)
With the comp pick from losing Framer Valdez, the Astros select another pitcher in right-hander Trevor Hansen. Hansen has been a durable starter for UC Irvine, totaling 45 starts in three years. His fastball is solid and pairs it with a good curveball and changeup.
5.153 – Grant Govel, RHP – $245,000 (Slot: $467,700)
After pitching in relief in 2025, Govel made the move to start in 2026 and has turned in a good season for the Trojans. The right-hander has a 2.55 ERA with 8 walks to 73 K in 74 innings. He has five pitches that are all at least average and good command of all of them.
6.182 – Brayden Martin, 3B/OF – $192,000 (Slot: $361,900)
Back to the position players here, the Astros select Brayden Martin from Maryland. Martin doesn’t have much power, but he has elite contact skills and is a strong runner. This season he has just 2 home runs, but has 47 walks to 18 strikeouts over 50 games with 19 stolen bases.
7.211 – Eric Zdunek, OF – $750,000 (Slot: $285,400)
One more swing at a high-upside high school player here, the Astros go overslot for Eric Zdunek. Zdunek is an outfield prospect committed to Notre Dame. He possesses some solid power and also has a big arm, with some sites listing him as a pitcher.
8.241 – Eric Segura, RHP – $150,000 (Slot: $231,000)
In the 8th round, the Astros are back on pitchers taking right-hander Eric Segura. He’s pitched three seasons at Oregon State with him really taking off this year, posting a 1.86 ERA with 61 K over 58 innings.
9.271 – Jake Duer, OF – $80,000 (Slot: $206,800)
The Astros get another position player here but one they can save money. Duer, from Texas A&M, is putting together a strong season despite being 23 years old at the draft. In 47 games for the Aggies he is hitting .316 with 33 walks to 33 strikeouts.
10.301 – Jaxon Jelkin, RHP – $50,000 (Slot: $195,000)
Jelkin is another senior sign, already in his age 23 season, but putting together a good year for Kentucky. In 12 starts for the Wildcats, he’s posting a 3.77 ERA with 16 walks to 80 strikeouts over 71.2 innings.
THOUGHTS:
Getting deep into the draft is ridiculously difficult. I relied on Over Slot projections for those rounds. Ultimately the goal here was to add some solid position player college level prospects while also adding multiple top prospects from high school. As stated many times, this is a great opportunity for the Astros to add a strong group of prospects to the system.
