This year saw some good performances from Astros prospects on the mound. Check out the best performances below and vote on who you think is the Astros minor league pitcher of the year!
Bryce Mayer
Mayer, the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year in both 2025 and 2026, put together an even better season in 2026. The right-hander started a bit slow but quickly turned things around, posting a 2.61 ERA with 100 strikeouts over 69 innings in Double-A. Mayer earned a promotion to Triple-A, where he posted a 5.45 ERA but still showed his ability to miss bats, striking out 40 over 33 innings. He finished the season with a system-leading 140 strikeouts, further establishing himself as one of the top pitching prospects in the Astros system. Read more here.
2026 Stats: 24 G, 3.53 ERA, 102.0 IP, 73 H, 40 ER, 51 BB, 140 K, 12.4 K/9
Jagger Beck
Beck was signed as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 draft. The 19-year-old had a breakout season for the Woodpeckers. In pitched in 22 games and posted a 2.80 ERA with 102 strikeouts over 86.2 innings. He also pitched once in the post-season allowing 1 run over 4.2 innings. Beck went from a potential afterthought to a top 20 prospect in the system with a dominant performance in 2026. Read more here.
2026 Stats: 22 G, 2.80 ERA, 86.2 IP, 68 H, 27 ER, 39 BB, 102 K, 10.6 K/9
Jackson Nezuh
After a breakout 2024 season, Nezuh struggled some in 2025 but he re found his form in 2026. The rtight-hander started the season in Double-A and had a 3.97 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 65.2 innings. He was promoted to Triple-A where he was even better posting. 3.58 ERA with 44 K over 37.2 innings. He totaled 124 strikeouts over 103.1 innings and put himself in contention for a big league spot next season. More on him here.
2026 Stats: 26 G, 3.83 ERA, 103.1 IP, 84 H, 44 ER, 50 BB, 124 K, 10.8 K/9
Cole Hertzler
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.
2026 Stats: 22 G, 3.44 ERA, 83.2 IP, 53 H, 32 ER, 46 BB, 103 K, 11.1 K/9
Javier Perez
Perez had a mini breakout in 2025 but had a really strong season in 2026. The right-hander started in Fayetteville and had a 4.23 ERA with 103 strikeouts over 89.1 innings. He was promoted to Asheville where he posted a strong 4.35 ERA, in a hitter’s paradise, with 29 K over 20.2 innings. He finished the year third in innings pitched and second in strikeouts in the Astros system.
2026 Stats: 23 G, 4.25 ERA, 110.0 IP, 93 H, 52 ER, 26 BB, 132 K, 10.8 K/9
Nick Potter
Potter was a fifth-round pick by the Astros in 2025, and while he worked as a closer in college, Houston transitioned him into a starting role as a professional. The right-hander opened the season with Single-A Fayetteville and pitched extremely well, posting a 2.11 ERA with 70 strikeouts over 59.2 innings. He earned a promotion to High-A Asheville, where the results were a little more uneven with a 6.75 ERA, though he still struck out 16 batters over 9.1 innings. Read more here.
2026 Stats: 22 G, 2.74 ERA, 69.0 IP, 48 H, 21 ER, 36 BB, 86 K, 11.2 K/9
Alex Santos II
Santos was drafted by the Astros in the second round of the 2020 draft and has taken a long road through the system, spending multiple seasons in rookie ball before eventually reaching Double-A. After moving to the bullpen this season, Santos has posted a 2.91 ERA with 100 strikeouts over 65.0 innings. He finished the season on a tear posting a 1.09 ERA with 65 strikeouts over 41.1 innings including a 0.77 ERA over 11.2 innings in Triple-A. He probably did enough to earn a good look next Spring Training. Read more here.
2026 Stats: 49 G, 2.91 ERA, 65.0 IP, 48 H, 21 ER, 39 BB, 100 K, 13.8 K/9
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