Another busy week down on the farm as the season continues to roll on. Here’s a look at some of the biggest developments across the system with this week’s Pipeline Report.
System Spotlight
Xavier Neyens – INF – Fayetteville
Last year, the Astros used their first-round pick on Xavier Neyens, making him their first high school position player selected in the first round since 2015. Neyens was viewed as one of the top prep hitters in the 2025 draft, and he has quickly shown why. The 19-year-old opened the season in Fayetteville and wasted no time making an impact, crushing a 116 MPH home run during his first week.
What has really stood out, outside of his incredible power, has been his approach at the plate. Neyens is an extremely patient hitter who rarely chases pitches out of the zone. He has drawn 70 walks in 61 games this season, and over his last seven games, the 19-year-old has hit four home runs while drawing a ridiculous 16 walks compared to just five strikeouts. His 25.8% walk rate ranks second in all of Minor League Baseball.
He has also posted a 159 wRC+ this season, which ranks 10th in Minor League Baseball, and he is the only teenager in the top 10. Neyens entered professional baseball with plenty of hype, and through his first full season he has shown exactly why. Through 61 games with the Woodpeckers, he owns a .923 OPS with 13 home runs.
Continuing to Impress
Albert Fermin – INF – DSL Astros
Another exciting addition to the Astros system this year is infielder Albert Fermin, who signed with Houston for $2.1 million out of the Dominican Republic in January. Fermin is currently playing in the Dominican Summer League and has already started to show why he commanded such a significant signing bonus.
Through 22 games, the 17-year-old is hitting .400 with five doubles, three home runs, 19 RBI, 21 walks to just 15 strikeouts, and is a perfect 11-for-11 in stolen base attempts. That production has translated to a 184 wRC+, which ranks third in the DSL.
After watching Kevin Alvarez make the jump from the DSL to one of the top prospects in the Astros system last year, it’s easy to see why Astros fans should be excited about what Fermin is doing. If he continues on this trajectory, he has all the tools to quickly establish himself as one of the organization’s top prospects.
Under-the-Radar Performer
Juan Fraide – RHP – Fayetteville
Fraide was signed by the Astros as part of the same international class that brought Kevin Alvarez into the organization. While he didn’t receive the same signing bonus as some of the other players in that class, he was viewed as an intriguing pitching prospect because of his raw talent.
This season, the right-hander has started to live up to that hype. He opened the year in the FCL, posting a 3.24 ERA with 22 strikeouts over 16.2 innings before earning a promotion to Fayetteville. Since arriving there, he has been even better, recording a 2.45 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 22 innings.
At just 20 years old, Fraide has quickly established himself as one of the more intriguing young arms in the Astros system and is definitely a pitcher to keep an eye on moving forward.
One Transaction This Week
Miguel Ullola – RHP – Astros
Ullola has long been one of the top prospects in the Astros system, but some struggles in Triple-A led to a move to the bullpen, and it has worked out well for him. After dominating out of the bullpen in Triple-A, Ullola earned the call-up to Houston and immediately showcased his electric stuff, tossing two scoreless innings with four strikeouts in his major league debut. He followed that up with two perfect innings and three more strikeouts in his next outing.
Ullola has looked really good since moving to the bullpen and is quickly proving he can be a reliable arm for the Astros.
Promotion Watch
Who Could Be Next?
While Lucas Spence just reached Triple-A, the Astros’ need for outfield help could eventually lead them to one of their fastest-rising prospects. Signed as an undrafted free agent, Spence put together a breakout first professional season that saw him quickly climb the organizational rankings.
After a slow start to the 2026 season, Spence caught fire in June, batting .354 with eight doubles, five home runs and 26 RBI. He has carried that momentum into Triple-A, where he is hitting .323 through his first eight games.
Quick Hits
- The Woodpeckers (Single-A) continue to lead the Astros system in stolen bases with 204. More on that here.
- FCL Astros are ridiculous right now at 31-10. The two DSL teams have combined for 29-18.
- Justin Thomas leads the system in hits (70) and has a .942 OPS this season.
- Javier Perez leads the system in strikeouts (77) while only walking 10 batters.
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