There isn’t one blueprint for getting drafted. Some players come from powerhouse Division I programs, while others take a different route. Outfielder Josh Wakefield took the junior college path, spending two seasons at Iowa Western before transferring to Grand Canyon, where he eventually caught the Astros’ attention as a 14th-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft.
“I had some other schools in mind, but Grand Canyon is my hometown. I also had five or six high school teammates who were there, which made my decision a little easier,” Wakefield said.
Wakefield put up some eye-popping numbers at Iowa Western, hitting .458 as a freshman and .393 as a sophomore. His move to Grand Canyon presented another challenge, but he handled it well, batting .349 with 18 stolen bases over 50 games. That performance really got him on the Astros radar.
“I went to a workout in California at a junior college and did really well there,” Wakefield said about his contact with the Astros. “I didn’t hear much after that until the draft. Then my agent called and said the Astros were interested, so I said, ‘Let’s do it.’”
Wakefield got off to a great start in 2026, hitting .323 with an .870 OPS and 14 stolen bases in April. It was an encouraging start for the outfielder, who quickly showed the speed, contact ability and aggressiveness that made him an intriguing draft pick.
“Just taking it day by day, knowing it’s a long season, and having a routine for myself, which I’m still trying to learn,” Wakefield said about what has helped him this year. “I think having some older guys around, like Zach Cole when he was rehabbing in Fayetteville, helped. I was trying to pick his brain and ask him how he stays in shape all season because it’s a grind.”
Speed has always been one of Wakefield’s biggest strengths. He stole 29 bases as a sophomore at Iowa Western and added another 18 during his lone season at Grand Canyon. Now in professional baseball, he’s taken that part of his game to another level, swiping 33 bases in just 60 games.
“I’d say just showing that I can do it, showing I have speed,” Wakefield said about his increase in stolen bases. “I set a goal for myself to try to get around 50 stolen bases this year.”
The Astros have embraced a more aggressive baserunning philosophy throughout their minor league system, and it has played directly into Wakefield’s strengths.
“In college, I had a green light, but I still had to wait for the sign. Now they’re just like, ‘Let’s run,’ because they know we have the speed and they want to put pressure on guys. I love that.”
Wakefield has also made noticeable strides at the plate this season. After hitting just four home runs in 130 college games, he has already matched that total in only 60 professional games and he’s done it with a wood bat.
“On the hitting side, for sure,” Wakefield said about what he has improved the most over the last year. “I struggled with inside pitching last year, and one thing we worked on in Fayetteville was hitting that inside pitch. My numbers have shown I’ve done a lot better against it.”
The 22-year-old has had a successful season to this point, even battling an injury in June. He’s been on a heater in July batting .367 over 13 games. He is also keeping his goals simple the rest of the way.
“Take it day by day, have fun, and just get better every day,” Wakefield said about his goals.
Wakefield has gone from a 14th-round selection to a legitimate prospect in a short amount of time, establishing himself as one of the more exciting speed threats in the Astros’ farm system.
Also be sure to follow on X, @AstrosFuture, follow me on Instagram, @AstrosFuture and like my Facebook page, facebook.com/AstrosFuture.
