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. Below you will find the list for July. If a player is on the IL, I’ll leave them off the list for now.
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. Pecko was just named the PCL pitcher of month for June aftr posting a 2.48 ERA over 29 innings. Read more on Pecko here.
2. 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. Spence got off to a slow start in 2026 but had a big June where he hit .354 with 5 home runs and 26 runs batted in. Read more here.
3. 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. He was recently moved to the pen and that boded well for him as he earned a call to Houston and struck out 7 over 4 scoreless innings.
4. 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. Santa has looked good in his time in Houston.
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. Ferreras has been great in Triple-A hitting .367 over 25 games in Sugar Land. 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 3.56 ERA with 67 K in 48.0 innings. Read more here.
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 11 HR and 17 SB in 71games 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. 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 2.72 ERA with 64 strikeouts over 43.0 innings. He was promoted to Double-A where he’s been really good too posting a 1.56 ERA over 17.1 innings.
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 and after an IL stint, he has really heated up recently.
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 hit .293 in May but missed most of June with an injury. He’s rehabbing now.
2. 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. Powell has been really good hitting .301 with 10 home runs, 21 stolen bases this season.
3. 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’s hitting .278 with 11 home runs, 28 stolen bases in 63 games this season.
4. Justin Thomas, OF – Thomas, who was selected by the Astros in the 11th round of the 2025 MLB Draft, is looking like a steal for Houston. He’s gotten off to an impressive start with Asheville this season. The 22-year-old is hitting .276 with a .919 OPS through 68 games. He’s shown a solid mix of power and speed early on, collecting 16 doubles, 23 home runs, and 23 stolen bases. Thomas has also displayed a strong approach at the plate, posting an 16.9% walk rate to begin the year. Overall, he’s been one of the more productive bats in Asheville’s lineup so far this season.
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 5.81 ERA over 66.2 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 Bregman received $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 already connecting on 13 home runs and posted a .921 OPS through 65 games. Read more here.
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 .261 with 7 home runs at just 18 years old.
3. 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 electric at the plate with 2o doubles, 4 triples, 14 home runs and 29 stolen bases.
4. Nick Potter, RHP – Potter was drafted by the Astros in the 5th round of the 2025 draft after two years at JuCo and one year at Wichita State. Despite being a reliever in college, the Astros have converted him to a starter. The right-hander has a big time fastball that sits 95-96 MPH and can touch 100. He also has a solid curve but the hurdle coming into pro ball was command. He’s looking like a steal right now as he’s posted a 2.22 ERA with 48 strikeouts over 44.2 innings. Read more 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 13 appearances, Beck owns a 2.63 ERA with 61 strikeouts over 48 innings pitched. Read more here.
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