With the 2026 MLB Draft taking place this week, let’s look back at the Astros’ 2025 draft class and see how each player has fared one year later.
Rd 1, #21) Xavier Neyens, SS, Mt. Vernon HS (WA)
Neyens has been just about as advertised in the early going. He’s flashed elite power including a 116 MPH home run, while also showing an extremely patient approach at the plate, as well as a big arm on the left side of the infield. On the season he has 13 home runs, 15 stolen bases, 74 walks and a .913 OPS through 64 games in Single-A. He’s already on top 100 lists. More on him here.
Rd 3, #95) Ethan Frey, OF, LSU
Frey looked great following the draft posting a .904 OPS with Fayetteville in 2025. After a slow start in Asheville, Frey turned things around in May, hitting .293 with eight doubles, four home runs and 17 RBIs.. He ended up injuring his hamstring in June but is back playing rehab games now. Great upside here still.
Rd 4, #126) Nick Monistere, OF, Southern Mississippi
Monistere was off to a nice start for Fayetteville this year with a .805 OPS and 15 stolen bases through 25 games but an early injury landed him on the 60-day injured list. After a rough start to pro ball in 2025 he looked to be turning the corner this year.
Rd 5, #156) Nick Potter, RHP, Wichita State
Potter looks like one of the biggest steals of the draft. After converting from a college closer to a starter, he’s dominated in Fayetteville posting a 2.22 ERA with 48 K in 44.2 innings. His fastball has been up to 98 mph and he’s been hard to hit holding opponents to a .181 batting average against. More on him here.
Rd 6, #186) Gabel Pentecost, RHP, Taylor University
Pentecost got off to a nice start and looked early on like he could be a breakout candidate. Through four outings he had a 4.24 ERA while racking up 19 strikeouts in 17 innings. He ended up on the injured list and hasn’t pitched since April 24th.
Rd 7, #216) Jase Mitchell, C, Cape Henlopen HS (DE)
The Astros went well above slot to sign Mitchell, and he’s spent this season in the FCL. Through 36 games he’s only hitting .157 but has 50 walks to 42 strikeouts. The power hasn’t shown up yet, but at least nice to see him maintain a patient approach at the plate.
Rd 8, #246) Kyle Walker, 2B, Arizona State University
Walker put up nice numbers in college and he’s continued that in pro ball. This year playing in Asheville, Walker is hitting .263 with 18 doubles, 3 home runs and 27 stolen bases through 66 games. He might see Double-A once the Astros make room for the incoming draft class.
Rd 9, #276) Kellan Oakes, RHP, Oregon State
Oakes is another converted reliever that is looking like a steal. He started the year in Fayetteville posting a 3.57 ERA with 41 K in 35.1 innings earning a promotion to High-A. The numbers haven’t been as good there, but his last outing he allowed 1 run over 6 innings.
Rd 10, #306) Zach Daudet, SS, Cal Poly
This was a senior sign but Daudet has held his own. After a .780 OPS in Single-A last year, he moved to High-A this year and has a .704 OPS. He’s only hitting .214 but he has 12 doubles and 54 walks to 46 strikeouts in 66 games.
Rd 11, #336) Justin Thomas, OF, Arkansas
Thomas is another pick that looks like another strong pick. The Astros paid him a little over slot to secure him this season through 67 games for Asheville, Thomas is hitting .280 with 16 doubles, 12 home runs, 23 stolen bases and a .930 OPS. He will probably be in Double-A pretty soon.
Rd 12, #366) Elijah Farley, OF, Navarro HS (TX)
Farley is a 6’4″ and 188 lbs. outfielder from Navarro HS in Texas. He is a toolsy outfielder that has only played in one game so far in his pro career.
Rd 13, #396) Aubrey Smith, RHP, UNC Wilmington
Smith is pitching in Fayetteville right now but has struggled, posting a 6.22 ERA with just 32 strikeouts over 59.1 innings.
Rd 14, #426) Josh Wakefield, OF, Grand Canyon University
Wakefield got off to a nice start this year. An injury cost him some time, but he’s back healthy and performing well. Overall the outfielder is hitting .261 with 4 home runs and 32 stolen bases over 52 games.
Rd 15, #456) DJ Newman, TWP, Bowling Green
Newman got an assignment to Fayetteville this year and hit .173 through 17 games before landing on the injured list. He’s rehabbed some in the FCL but hasn’t made it back to Single-A yet.
Rd 16, #486) Chase Call, OF, UC Irvine
Call started off the year in High-A and has been kind of boom or bust. Through 61 games for Asheville he’s hitting .237 with 107 strikeouts, though he has added 19 doubles, 12 home runs and 18 stolen bases.
Rd 17, #516) Grayson Saunier, RHP, Texas
Saunier has had limited time on the mound this season logging just 6 innings with Fayetteville and posting a 12.00 ERA.
Rd 18, #546) Landon Arroyos, SS, Grayson HS (GA)
Arroyos has been playing in the FCL this season and while he’s only hitting .191, he’s been able to manage the strikeouts and show off the speed with 23 stolen bases in 40 games.
Rd 19, #576) Joey McLaughlin, OF, Harrah HS (OK)
Unsigned.
Signing Status: Unsigned
Rd 20, #606) Curtis Hebert, RHP, University of Portland
Hebert has battled some injuries this year pitching just 6.2 innings with a 12.15 ERA so far.
Undrafted Free Agents:
Brandon Cassedy, RHP, George Mason
Cassedy has pitched out of the pen for the Woodpeckers and been really good logging a 1.29 ERA over 14 appearances and striking out 17 over 14 innings.
Mason Lytle, OF, UTSA
Lytle bounced around a little this year and hit .321 with 7 doubles and 2 home runs in 20 games but ended up injured and is currently on the injured list.
Cole MacRae, RHP, Central Arkansas
MacRae pitched in five games totaling 17.1 innings this season for Fayetteville before landing on the 60-day injured list.
Jackson Wells, RHP, Little Rock
Wells got off to a nice start with Fayetteville striking out 16 over 15 innings earning a promotion to High-A. There the ERA has been higher but he does have 27 K over 23.1 innings.
Charlie Weber, RHP, Saint Louis
Weber has pitched both as a starter and reliever and been solid for the Woodpeckers so far posting a 3.71 ERA while racking up 50 strikeouts over 43.2 innings.
Brandon Forrester, INF, New Mexico State
Forrester was off to a little bit of a slow start hitting .243 with a .667 OPS through 24 games but is currently on the injured list.
August Cuneo, C, Petaluma HS (CA)
Cuneo has had some limited time with the FCL Astros but has been solid batting .276 with 3 doubles and 14 walks to 10 strikeouts in 13 games.
Ryan Petrovich, RHP, Dakota HS (MI)
Hasn’t debuted yet.
CONCLUSION:
Looking back a year later, the Astros have plenty to be encouraged about from this class. Xavier Neyens has already emerged as one of the top prospects in baseball, while pitchers Nick Potter and Kellan Oakes look like potential draft steals. Add in the production from Ethan Frey, Justin Thomas and several undrafted free agents, and Houston appears to have put together another strong draft class with plenty of talent still working its way through the system.
Also be sure to follow on X, @AstrosFuture, follow me on Instagram, @AstrosFuture and like my Facebook page, facebook.com/AstrosFuture.
