Another busy week down on the farm as the season continues to roll on. Here’s a look at some of the biggest developments across the system with this week’s Pipeline Report.
System Spotlight
Hertzler Flying Up the Rankings
Back in the 2024 draft, the Astros selected right-hander Cole Hertzler in the fifth round out of Liberty University. Hertzler flashed intriguing stuff early on, but injuries limited him to just 21 innings across his first two professional seasons. Now healthy in 2026, he’s beginning to show why the Astros were so high on him.
Following his outing last night, where he went six innings with nine strikeouts, Hertzler now leads Astros minor leaguers with 49 strikeouts over 33.1 innings pitched, good for an impressive 13.2 K/9 rate. He’s also posted a 2.70 ERA while allowing just 20 hits all season. The right-hander attacks hitters with a mid-90s fastball and complements it with a strong changeup, slider, and curveball, giving him one of the more intriguing arsenals in the system.
Keep An Eye On
Yamal Encarnacion – UTIL – Corpus Christi
Encarnacion has been with the organization since signing during the Astros’ 2021 international class, and while he hasn’t generated a ton of hype, he has consistently produced at every level. Listed at just 5-foot-7, Encarnacion brings impressive versatility, seeing time at second base as well as all three outfield spots.
The 22-year-old is also putting together a solid season offensively in Double-A. Through 38 games, he’s hitting .258 with nine doubles, three home runs, 23 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases. While he may not project as a future star, Encarnacion continues to look like the type of player who could eventually carve out value as a versatile utility option at the next level.
Under-the-Radar Performer
Caden Powell – OF- Asheville
Powell was selected by the Astros in the sixth round of the 2024 draft and signed for an overslot bonus after a dominant JuCo season in which he hit over .500 with 32 home runs. The tools have always pointed to significant upside, and he flashed that potential last year with Fayetteville, finishing with 15 doubles, 10 home runs, and 32 stolen bases across 78 games.
There’s still some swing-and-miss in Powell’s game, but he has shown improvement in that area this season, lowering his strikeout rate from nearly 30% in 2025 to 27% so far this year. He’s also doing a better job consistently finding hits, posting a .303 batting average through 30 games. The surprising part has been the lack of power production, as he has recorded just four extra-base hits to this point. Still, it’s encouraging to see him handling the jump in competition while continuing to make more contact, and the power could come as the season progresses.
One Transaction This Week
Jason Schiavone – C – Corpus Christi
Back in the 2024 draft, the Astros took a catcher in the 11th round out of James Madison University, Jason Schiavone. Schiavone has been on an absolute tear this season batting .277 with a minor league leading 18 home runs. He also earned a promotion to Double-A to start the season and homered in his first game.
Schiavone is an intersting hitter as he provides elite power, good plate discipline, but also some swing and miss. On top of the 18 home runs, he had drawn 42 walks in 38 games, though he has 54 strikeouts. The power is legit though and he has posted some elite exit velocities. He’s also thrown out 28% of base stealers.
Promotion Watch
Who Could Be Next?
Last week in the Pipeline Report, I mentioned Alimber Santa as a potential call-up candidate, and the Astros promoted him to Houston on Wednesday. The next name to watch could be Cavan Biggio.
The son of the Hall of Famer has put together an outstanding month of May, hitting .356 with five home runs while drawing 12 walks against just eight strikeouts over 14 games. Biggio has already received opportunities at the major league level throughout his career, but with the way he’s swinging the bat right now, the Astros could look to capitalize on the hot streak and see if he can provide a spark for the lineup.
Quick Hits
- The Woodpeckers (Single-A) continue to lead the Astros system in stolen bases with 128.
- FCL Astros are off to a hot start at 9-2.
- Walker Janek started a rehab this week in the FCL.
- Max Holy is hitting .333 since his promotion to Double-A.
Also be sure to follow on X, @AstrosFuture, follow me on Instagram, @AstrosFuture and like my Facebook page, facebook.com/AstrosFuture.
