On Tuesday, the Astros announced their minor league award winners for the 2026 season. On top of having player of the year and pitcher of the year, they also added baserunner of the year, defender of the year and standard award.
Player of the Year – Jason Schiavone
The Astros selected Schiavone in the 11th round of the 2024 draft. After a down year with Fayetteville in 2025, he came out on an absolute tear with Asheville to start the 2026 season, hitting .289 with 17 home runs and a 1.218 OPS. That performance earned him a promotion to Double-A, where he experienced some ups and downs but continued to show off his power. Over 79 games with Corpus Christi, Schiavone connected on 14 home runs while posting a .784 OPS.
Schiavone eventually earned another promotion, this time to Triple-A, where he connected on his first home run with Sugar Land last night. Overall, Schiavone now has 32 home runs, 29 stolen bases and a .916 OPS this season. After entering the year looking to bounce back from a difficult 2025 season, Schiavone has completely transformed his prospect stock. His combination of power, speed and ability to stick behind the plate has made him one of the biggest breakout prospects in the Astros system this year.
Pitcher of the Year – Bryce Mayer
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. In 2025, he was named the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year after posting a 4.11 ERA with 112 strikeouts over 87.2 innings. He’s back on the list again after putting together an even better season in 2026. Mayer started the year with Corpus Christi and dominated Double-A hitters, posting a 2.61 ERA with 100 strikeouts over 69 innings. That performance earned him a promotion to Triple-A, where he has continued to miss bats, striking out 32 over 29 innings.
Overall, Mayer has posted a 3.21 ERA with 132 strikeouts over 98 innings in 2026. After breaking out last season, the left-hander took another step forward this year, reaching Triple-A and establishing himself as one of the top pitching prospects in the Astros system. Read more on Mayer here.
Baserunner of the Year – Anthony Huezo
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 in 2025. In 2026, Huezo took another big step forward, putting together a breakout season across three levels. The 20-year-old hit .242 with 32 doubles, four triples, 22 home runs and an .825 OPS. He was even more electric on the bases, stealing 47 bags while showing off an impressive combination of power and speed.
Overall, it was a huge season for the toolsy outfielder. After needing some time to develop in rookie ball, Huezo broke out in 2026 with a 20-homer, 40-steal season and established himself as one of the more intriguing young outfielders in the Astros system. Read more on him here.
Defender of the Year – Max Holy
Signed as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 draft, infielder Max Holy is looking like a steal for the Astros. After spending two years at the junior college level and two years at Miami (Ohio), Holy has quickly worked his way through the system, reaching Double-A in 2026. This season, Holy showed off an intriguing combination of speed, defense and on-base ability. Across two levels, he connected on eight home runs, stole 39 bases and drew 70 walks.
While the offensive production has been encouraging, Holy’s calling card is his defense. The shortstop is arguably the best infield defender in the Astros system, possessing a great glove, solid arm and quick instincts. Holy earned praise throughout the season for his defensive prowess, and after another strong year in the field, he takes home defender of the year.
Standard Award Recipient – Yamal Encarnacion
This award was established this year to recognize a player who represents the core values of the organization in a positive way both on and off the field. Encarnacion also put together a strong season on the field, batting .266 with 18 doubles, 48 stolen bases and a .720 OPS over 95 games.
While his performance on the field was impressive, his impact went beyond the numbers. Encarnacion’s character and the way he represented the organization throughout the season ultimately earned him this award.
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