3 Players the Astros May Have Stolen in the 2026 MLB Draft

Every year, teams come away with a few picks that end up looking like steals. In recent years, the Astros have found those gems in Ethan Pecko (2023), Bryce Mayer (2024) and Nick Potter (2025). Houston made 22 selections over the weekend, and here are three picks that have a chance to be the steals of the Astros’ 2026 draft class.

Beau Peterson, INF, Mill Valley HS (KS)

Peterson has been on the radar for a few years now and really burst onto the scene when he won the 2025 High School Home Run Derby, beating eventual No. 2 overall pick Grady Emerson. He carried that momentum into a strong summer, but while he was still named the 2026 Gatorade Kansas Player of the Year, his senior season didn’t quite match expectations as the power numbers weren’t what many expected.

That said, Peterson consistently sprayed line drives all over the field and showed an above-average hit tool, which likely contributed to him slipping to the fourth round where the Astros were able to scoop him up. The raw power is still in there, and with his advanced bat-to-ball skills, there’s plenty of upside for him to develop into one of the better prospects in the system. Defensively, Peterson projects to third base, where his plus arm should play well after being clocked at 94 mph on the mound.

Peyton Fiene, RHP, Odessa JC (TX)

The Astros selected Fiene in the 11th round, and the right-hander brings some electric stuff to the organization. Standing 6-foot-2, Fiene features a fastball that sits 93-95 mph and touches 96, a wipeout slider at 82-84 mph and a changeup in the 86-88 mph range. He’s an athletic pitcher with easy arm action and plenty of upside.

Fiene put together a dominant 2026 season at Odessa Junior College, striking out a team-high 107 batters over 72.2 innings while earning Western Junior College Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year honors. Fiene is just 20 years old and won’t turn 21 until later this year. He had been committed to transfer to Dallas Baptist, but recently told Astros Future that he intends to sign with the Astros in the coming days.

Kam Durnin, SS, Missouri

Durnin was selected by the Astros in the fourth round of the 2026 MLB Draft and flew a little under the radar compared to some of the other names in the class. He spent two seasons at Wichita State before breaking out in the Appalachian League, where he hit .407 with 15 doubles, six home runs and more walks than strikeouts. He carried that momentum into his junior season, batting .329 with nine home runs, 11 stolen bases and an OPS north of 1.000.

Durnin’s calling card is his above-average bat-to-ball skills, and he has enough power to project for 12-15 home runs at the big league level. What separates him from many other college hitters, though, is his defense. Durnin projects as a true shortstop with a chance to be a plus defender at the position. He also posted strong swing-decision metrics while producing impressive exit velocities, giving him one of the more well-rounded profiles in the Astros’ 2026 draft class.