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.
Jack Beck, SS, Columbia Central HS (TN)
The Astros went back to the high school ranks in the 13th round, selecting shortstop Jack Beck out of Columbia Central High School in Tennessee. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Beck is a well-built 18-year-old who was committed to Georgia Southern but really raised his draft stock at the MLB Draft Combine. During batting practice at the combine, Beck recorded 21 batted balls of at least 100 mph, topped out at 113 mph and hit the longest home run of the event at 466 feet. That’s especially impressive considering he was doing it with a wood bat as an 18-year-old.
Beck also played in the Appalachian League this summer, where he hit .282 with a double, two home runs and 12 walks over 11 games against mostly college competition. He possesses plus raw power and a compact swing, giving him intriguing offensive upside. Defensively, he’ll likely begin his professional career at shortstop, but if he eventually slides over to third base, his arm is more than strong enough to handle the position.
CONCLUSION:
Narrowing down the list to three was tough. I think there is huge upside in some of the late picks like Michael Addari and Bryan Carney. For these three, the biggest challenge now for the Astros will be getting all three signed within the team’s allotted bonus pool.
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