After months of anticipation, the MLB Draft is finally here and complete. On the first day of the draft, the Astros mad six selections, and I shared my thoughts here. Below are some quick thoughts on Houston’s picks for Day Two.
THOUGHTS:
On Day Two of the MLB Draft, the Astros made 16 selections to round out their 2026 draft class. They opened the day by selecting pitchers in three straight rounds, taking Gavin Eddy in the fifth, Michael Addari in the sixth and Bryan Carney in the seventh.
Eddy posted a 2.87 ERA for Cal this season while working with a fastball in the mid-90s and a quality breaking ball. Addari turned in a 2.27 ERA with 73 strikeouts over 67.1 innings at Illinois State, while Carney dominated at the University of Olivet, recording a 1.35 ERA with 122 strikeouts in 73.1 innings. One thing all three have in common is size. Each stands at least 6-foot-5 and creates above-average extension, another indication that the Astros continue to prioritize that trait in their pitching evaluations.
Houston shifted to position players with its next two picks, selecting Aaron Piasecki in the eighth round and Ryan Pruitt in the ninth. Piasecki hit .337 with 10 home runs at Troy while posting elite contact rates. Pruitt, out of South Florida, brings another combination of speed and contact ability to the organization. The Astros wrapped up the first 10 rounds by selecting Kansas State right-hander Taz Butler.
The Astros took an intriguing upside play in the 11th round with Odessa Junior College right-hander Peyton Fiene. The 20-year-old can reach 96 mph and pairs his fastball with three promising off-speed pitches, giving him one of the higher ceilings among the club’s Day Two selections. In the 12th round, Houston selected outfielder Owen Nowak, who starred at Middle Tennessee State by hitting .316 while drawing 36 walks against just 11 strikeouts in 57 games.
Houston took another big swing in the 13th round by selecting Tennessee high school shortstop Jack Beck. Beck dramatically boosted his draft stock during the MLB Draft Combine, recording 21 batted balls over 100 mph, including a max exit velocity of 113 mph, while launching the longest home run of the event at 466 feet. His raw power gives him significant upside. In the 14th round, the Astros selected Brady Thomas, a 6-foot-5 two-way player from Jacksonville State.
The Astros added another talented prep player in the 15th round with James Tronstein, who possesses an exciting toolset but has a strong commitment to Vanderbilt and could be a difficult sign/backup plan if the other high school selections don’t sign. Houston selected its first catcher in the 16th round, taking Rashawn Galloway out of Texas State. Galloway, who also spent time in right field, hit .318 with 27 doubles and 12 home runs while showcasing impressive raw power. In the 17th round, the Astros selected Dallas Baptist infielder Ben Tyron, another hitter known for controlling the strike zone while providing some underrated power.
Houston continued its run on position players in the 18th round by selecting Utah Tech infielder Petey Soto, a slick defender who hit .347 with six home runs and 13 stolen bases in 59 games. The Astros added another catcher in the 19th round with Michigan’s Noah Miller, whose college playing time was limited but who entered college as a highly regarded high school prospect. They wrapped up the 2026 MLB Draft by selecting Western Kentucky right-hander Mick Uebelhor, a reliever who struck out 59 batters in 44.2 innings while posting a 3.43 ERA.
CONCLUSION/GRADE:
Just like I said after Day One, trying to grade an MLB Draft immediately after it ends is a risky proposition. There are simply too many unknowns, especially when it comes to player development. That said, I’d give the Astros an A.
Call me a homer if you want, but I think they addressed several important needs throughout the organization. Offensively, they prioritized hitters with strong approaches who control the strike zone and make consistent contact, a noticeable shift after leaning more toward power in recent years. On the pitching side, they added an impressive group of big-bodied arms with legitimate starter traits who can be impact pitchers right away.
Assuming they use some bonus pool savings to land their over-slot targets, the Astros also came away with four high-upside prep prospects. Even if only three of those players ultimately sign, it’s still an outstanding haul and one that should significantly strengthen the farm system. My best guess right off the bat is probably five or six of these draftees will land my updated Astros top 30 prospects list.
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