The Asheville Tourists had a tough 2026 season, but still had some strong performers. Let’s take a look.
Asheville Tourists 2026 Record: 43-87
The Tourists got off to a brutal start going 6-18 over their first 24 games in April. In May, they struggled more going just 5-21 over 26 games. They performed better in June going 12-13 in 25 games. In July, Asheville would go 10-14 over 24 games. They played another 24 games in August going 8-16. They finished the season in September going 1-5. It was a rough season for Asheville.
Here are the team leaders (min 300 PA or 40 IP):
TEAM LEADERS
Hits – Caden Powell (115)
2B – Kyle Walker (26)
3B – Kyle Walker (2)
HR – Caden Powell (18)
RBI – Caden Powell (69)
BA – Jack Moss (.339)
SB – Kyle Walker (37)
OPS – Justin Thomas (.868)
wRC+ – Justin Thomas (118)
IP – Parker Smith/Dylan Howard (98.0)
W – Parker Smith (5)
SV – Colby Langford (4)
SO – Dylan Howard (91)
ERA – Cole Hertzler (2.72)
NOTABLES
Justin Thomas, OF
Thomas was an 11th round pick by the Astros in the 2025 draft and put together a big year. He started the season in Asheville and had a .868 OPS with 20 doubles, 17 home runs and 34 stolen bases over 94 games. He was promoted to Double-A where he .750 OPS with 2 home runs over the final 20 games. He finished the year with 19 home runs and 41 stolen bases over 114 games between High-A and Double-A.
Cole Hertzler, RHP
Hertzler dealt with a few injuries early in his career but finally had a healthy season and was able to show what he could do on the mound. The right-hander started in Asheville dominating with a 2.72 ERA over 10 starts. He was promoted to Double-A where he posted a 4.20 ERA over the final 40.2 innings of his season. He was nearly unhittable this season holding opponents to just a .183 BAA.
Caden Powell, INF
Powell had a solid 2025 season until he got injured and missed time. He returned with a vengeance in 2026 putting together some nice numbers. The 22-year-old played the full season in High-A and compiled 18 doubles, 18 home runs, 69 runs batted in and 30 stolen bases. He was even better over the final 86 games batting .291 with a .890 OPS. He lead Asheville in hits, home runs and runs batted in.
Jack Moss, 1B
Moss was released by the Reds early in the season and the Astros signed him as a free agent. After a few games in Fayetteville, he moved up to High-A and was great batting .339 with 16 doubles, 4 home runs and 48 runs batted in over 69 games. He finished the season in Double-A hitting .286 over six games. While he doesn’t have a ton of power, he makes a lot of contact and showed a great hit tool in 2026.
Kyle Walker, INF
Walker was drafted in the 2025 draft and had a solid first full season in 2026. The infielder played the full season in Asheville and was a mainstay at the top of their lineup hitting .251 with 26 doubles, 5 home runs and a team leading 37 stolen bases. Walker posted solid walk and strikeout rates while also transitioning back to playing shortstop.
Ethan Frey, OF
Frey was selected by the Astros in the third round of the 2025 MLB Draft, with the team going over slot to secure his signing. He came into the season with high expectations but had a rough start. After a slow April, he turned things on before getting injured and missing some time. Despite that, Frey still managed to post a reasonable stat line hitting .288 with 16 doubles, 10 home runs, 19 stolen bases and a .845 OPS over 70 games.
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