A new thing I’ll be doing here is highlighting the Astros’ top prospect at each level every month, giving fans a clearer idea of who to watch. The monthly format also accounts for promotions as the season progresses. While I didn’t put one together for April, here’s the list for May. If a player is on the IL, I’ll leave them off the list for now. This list is based on my updated rankings.
Sugar Land (Triple-A)
1. Ethan Pecko, RHP – Pecko was selected by the Astros in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. Despite logging just 59.2 innings in college, the organization saw potential and so far, they’ve been proven right. Pecko had a breakout 2024 season where he posted a 3.47 ERA across three levels. He features a mid-90s fastball and complements it with a deep arsenal that includes a slider, cutter, curveball, and changeup. After starting the 2025 season on the injured list, Pecko returned to form, posting a 1.75 ERA in July. Pecko finished the 2025 season in Triple-A and is back there now after an early injury. He has 23 K in 20.3 innings in Triple-A this season. Read more on Pecko here.
2. Miguel Ullola, RHP – Ullola is another pitcher in the long line of international arms developed by the Astros. The 23-year-old features a plus fastball that sits mid-90s and generates a ton of swings and missed. While he has some command issues, he has overpowered the hitters with the fastball/slider combination. Ullola appears to have the stuff to be an elite bullpen arm, though the Astros have committed to keeping him a starter for now. The fastball and slider are his two best pitches, but he does throw a curveball as well. Ullola struggled with command this season and was eventually moved to the pen, though the limited sample there has been strong.
5. Alimber Santa, RHP – Santa was signed as an international free agent and is listed at just 5’10”, 163 lbs but really turned heads in spring training when Chandler Rome reported that the right hander sat 96-97 MPH with his fastball and has a changeup, slider and curveball. Santa ended up getting hurt and wasn’t able to show what he could do. After battling through some injuries, the Astros deployed him in a relief only role and the results were strong. They were even better in Triple-A in 2026 posting a 1.42 ERA over 19 innings earning him a call-up to Houston.
4. Collin Price, C – Price was drafted by the Astros in the 6th round of the 2022 draft. Price made his way to Triple-A in 2025 and had a solid season for Sugar Land. The 25-year-old hit .235 but connected on 18 doubles and 18 home runs while driving in 60 runs. Due to the hitter’s league, this worked out to only a 95 wRC+. He’s back in Triple-A this year and having a solid season posting a .839 OPS with 10 home runs. He’s thrown out 20% of base stealers.
5. Pascanel Ferreras, INF – Ferreras was the last pick of the 2023 draft and has already defied the odds making it up to Double-A in 2025. He played the full season in Corpus Christi and led the team in hits and doubles. In 113 games, Ferreras hit .242 with 23 doubles, 3 triples and 7 home runs. Ferreras started back in Double-A hitting .263 before earning a promotion to Triple-A. While he doesn’t have a standout tool, Ferreras does a lot of things well and plays all over the infield.
Corpus Christi (Double-A)
1. Bryce Mayer, RHP – 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. He began the season in Fayetteville, striking out 30 batters over 17.1 innings, which earned him a promotion to High-A. In Asheville, the right-hander continued to impress, posting a 2.85 ERA with 45 strikeouts across 41 innings. He was later bumped up to Double-A, where he’s held his own striking out 37 over in 29 innings. 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 was also named the Astros minor league pitcher of the year for 2025. Mayer has been really good in Double-A this year posting a 3.70 ERA with 37 K in 24.1 innings.
2. Joseph Sullivan, OF – 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. His first full season was a good one as he accumulated 17 home runs, 42 stolen bases and a .798 OPS over 106 games. He also led the Astros system in walks and stolen bases. His numbers are down a bit this year, but he still has 10 HR and 13 SB in 47 games for the Hooks. Read more here.
3. Walker Janek, C – Janek was seen as the best defensive catcher in the 2024 draft, showing up a plus arm and a quick release. But he also made huge strides with the bat during college too. The 23-year-old has above average bat speed and the ability to produce 20+ homers at the major league level if he can make enough contact. His raw power has improved and he has chance to be a gold glove type at catcher while hitting for average and power. In 2025 the he hit .263 with 21 doubles, 2 triples and 12 home runs over 92 games for High-A Asheville. He also added a surprising 30 stolen bases. Even more important though, he threw out 31% of base stealers, a really strong number for a catcher. He got off to a slow start this season but I’ve been told by a scout he is good enough defensively to start at the MLB level right now.
4. Lucas Spence, OF – 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. He also possesses excellent speed, which he puts to good use both on the bases and in the outfield defensively. Read more here.
5. Will Bush, C/1B – Bush took an interesting route to professional ball, spending one year at Tyler Junior College before being selected by the Astros in the 16th round of the 2023 draft. The left-handed hitting Bush has some above average raw power and solid plate discipline. He has split time between catcher and first base, and may end up at first base long term. The 22-year-old started the season in High-A and posted a .812 OPS with 12 homers before getting a promotion to Double-A. For the Hooks he added another 3 home runs and 14 walks in 24 games. Overall he posted a 121 wRC+, which was near the top in the Astros system. Bush got off to a great start this year but has cooled off a bit. He recently landed on the IL after being hit by a pitch.
Asheville (High-A)
1. Ethan Frey, OF – 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. After a slow start to the year, Frey has turned it on now having a .750 OPS.
2. Cole Hertzler, RHP – Hertzler was drafted by the Astros in the 5th round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Liberty University. Hertzler has pitched limited innings due to injury but has dominated hitters in Single-A with a four pitch mix. In 21 professional innings, he has a 1.29 ERA with 28 strikeouts. His fastball sits in the low to mid 90s and can tough 96 MPH. Hertzler’s best secondary pitch is his slider that has continued to progress. His also added a changeup and curveball. Now healthy, Hertzler has been dominant in High-A posting a 2.54 ERA with 57 strikeouts over 37.0 innings.
3. Caden Powell, OF – Powell was selected by the Astros in the 6th round of the 2024 draft and signed overslot for $422,500. The 21-year-old is listed at 6’3″ and 200 lbs with room to grow. He started his college career at Oklahoma but transferred to Seminole State College where he was named the D-1 junior college player of the year after hitting .502 with 32 HR, 104 RBI and a slugging percentage over 1.000. Powell started of the year great in Single-A posting an OPS over .800 while showing off power and speed. He also missed time with a broken hamate bone, an injury that often takes hitters a while to fully regain their power from. Even so, he’s performed well this season, hitting over .300 in Asheville, and the power appears to be coming back.
4. Nehomar Ochoa, 1B – Ochoa was drafted by the Astros in the 11th round of the Galena Park High School in Houston, and signed for $300,000 double the slot for the 11th round. He is huge kid, listed at 6’4″ and 230 lbs. Despite his size, he is a good athlete who can play all three outfield positions, though he will probably end up in the corners or at first base down the line. He had a nice first season at 18 years old but a freak accident derailed his 2025 season. This year Ochoa appears back to form as he hit well in Fayetteville and earned a promotion to Asheville.
5. Parker Smith, RHP – Smith, a native Houstonian and a 4th round pick by the Astros this season, was one of the big time starters for Rice over the last couple of years. Smith operates with a low to mid 90s fastball, touching 96 MPH. He also has a plus changeup and solid slider. His junior year at Rice, he struck out 78 over 89.1 innings but scouts believe there is way more in the tank. Smith has really good control, walking just 66 in over 220 innings in college. Smith has struggled this year in Asheville low posting a 7.94 ERA over 41.2 innings.
Fayetteville (Single-A)
1. Xavier Neyens, INF – Neyens was selected by the Astros in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft and signed for $4.12 million, the organization’s largest bonus since Alex Bregmanreceived $5.9 million in 2015. A left-handed hitter out of Mount Vernon High School in Washington, Neyens boasts some of the most impressive raw power in the 2025 draft class. While he has a strong arm suited for a corner infield or outfield spot, 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. Neyens if off to a hot nice start posting an OPS near .800 with a walk rate over 20%, and some impressive exit velocities.
2. Kevin Alvarez, OF – The Astros signed Alvarez this past winter for $2 million, one of the highest international bonuses the organization has ever awarded. 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. Alvarez put together a strong pro debut in the DSL posting a .874 OPS with an impressive 12.0% walk rate and insane 9.9% strikeout rate. This year in Single-A he’s hitting .275 with 5 home runs at just 18 years old.
3. Ryan Forcucci, RHP – Forcucci is a right-handed pitcher listed at 6’3″ and 205 lbs that the Astros selected in the third round of the 2024 draft. The 23-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. The only question is durability, but when he is on the field he has pitched well. He was seen as a potential first rounder early in the season but Tommy John surgery caused him to slide. He’s back healthy now but the results haven’t been as expected. While reports are that his fastball has the velocity back, he’s had trouble locating walking 19 in just 9.2 innings this season.
4. Anthony Huezo, OF – Huezo, the Astros’ 12th-round pick in 2023, spent a couple of seasons in rookie ball before finally earning an assignment to full-season baseball. The 20-year-old played most of the season in the FCL showing some huge growth and while he hit .231 he had a team leading .856 OPS with 6 home runs and 12 stolen bases. He was promoted to Single-A where he finished the season hitting .301 over 22 games. He also a Hit+ of 114 in 2025, a really good number. Huezo posted an impressive 107 MPH 90th percentile exit velocity and a 27% barrel rate. Huezo’s in zone contact rate was high at 86%. Huezo has been a little boom or bust this season connecting on 21 extra base hits in 43 games. Read more on him here.
5. Jagger Beck, RHP – The Astros took a somewhat unconventional route after the 2024 draft, signing right-hander Jagger Beck out of high school as an undrafted player. Beck, listed at 6’6″, has a ton of projection in his frame left and already has stuff that is playing well in full season ball. Beck runs his fastball up to 96 MPH but has been able to keep hitters off balance with a really good curveball. The 19-year-old opened this season with his full-season debut in Fayetteville and has shown plenty of promise early on. Through six appearances, Beck owns a 3.52 ERA with 41 strikeouts over 30.2 innings pitched.
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