Let’s take a look at the best performances in the Astros system in August.
*Just a note, these are my picks for the month*
Previous POTM:
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys
HITTER: Joey Loperfido, OF
- August Stats: 20 G, .303 BA/.426 OBP/.408 SLG, 8 2B, 11 RBI, 3 SB
Loperfido has been up and down this year but with some established time in Triple-A in August, he got settled in. Over 20 games for the Space Cowboys, Loperfido batted .303 with 8 doubles and 11 runs batted in. On the season in Triple-A, he’s hitting .280 with a .782 OPS over 49 games.
PITCHER: Miguel Ullola, RHP
- August Stats: 11 G, 1.59 ERA, 11.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 16 SO, .158 BAA
Ullola made the transition to relief this year and has been really good. In August he appeared in 11 games, including one in Houston, and posted a 1.59 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 11.1 innings. As a reliever in 2026, Ullola has a 2.14 ERA with 49 strikeouts over 33.2 innings between Houston and Sugar Land.
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks
HITTER: Jason Schiavone, C
- August Stats: 23 G, .230 BA/.316 OBP/.529 SLG, 5 2B, 7 HR, 18 RBI, 5 SB
Schiavone broke onto the scene with a monster start in Asheville. He was promoted to Double-A and after some ups and downs, he found his power stroke again connecting on 7 home runs in 23 games. Overall this season, Schiavone has 31 home runs and 27 stolen bases in 110 games.
PITCHER: Alex Santos II, RHP
- August Stats: 10 G, 0.68 ERA, 13.1 IP, 10 H, 1 ER, 7 BB, 24 SO, 16.2 K/9
Santos is another pitcher who has made the move to full-time relief this season and he’s been great. He had his best month of the season in August posting a 0.68 ERA with 24 strikeouts over 13.1 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. Overall this season Santos has a 3.15 ERA.
A+: Asheville Tourists
HITTER: DJ Newman, OF
- August Stats: 17 G, .375 BA/.471 OBP/.625 SLG, 2 2B, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 5 SB
Newman was a 15th round pick last year and after an early injury, he really found his form in August. Over 17 games, Newman hit .403 with 5 doubles, 3 home runs and 15 runs batted in. This season Newman is hitting .345 with 15 doubles, 6 home runs and 15 stolen bases across three levels.
PITCHER: Javier Perez, RHP
- August Stats: 5 G, 7.58 ERA, 19.0 IP, 26 H, 16 ER, 6 BB, 26 K
After a dominant start in Fayetteville and eventual promotion to High-A, Perez had some struggles initially. While Asheville is an extremely hitter friendly environment, Perez was still able to post 6 walks to 26 strikeouts over 19 innings. Perez has racked up 132 strikeouts over 110 innings this season.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers
HITTER: Logan Hughes, OF
- August Stats: 18 G, .343 BA/.459 OBP/.614 SLG, 8 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 25 RBI, 8 SB
Hughes was drafted by the Astros in the first round of the 2026 draft and has quickly shown why he was a top pick. In August, the 21-year-old hit .343 with 8 doubles, 3 home runs and 25 runs batted in over 18 games. Overall this season, Hughes is hitting .333 with 4 home runs and an OPS over 1.000.
PITCHER: Ryan Verdugo, RHP
- August Stats: 5 G, 2.38 ERA, 22.2 IP, 17 H, 6 ER, 11 BB, 20 K
Verdugo has had some up and down numbers this season, though the underlying numbers have been solid. In August he put it all together posting a 2.95 ERA with 24 strikeouts over 18.1 innings. Overall this season, Verdugo has 97 strikeouts over 88.2 innings while allowing just 62 hits.
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