21. Parker Smith, RHP
Level: Rookie DOB: 03/05/03
Smith, a native Houstonian and a 4th round pick by the Astros this season, was one of the big time starters for Rice over the last couple of years. Smith operates with a low to mid 90s fastball, touching 96 MPH. He also has a plus changeup and solid slider. His junior year at Rice, he struck out 78 over 89.1 innings but scouts believe there is way more in the tank. Smith has really good control, walking just 66 in over 220 innings in college. Smith didn’t pitch following the draft, but will be one to watch in 2025.
22. James Hicks, RHP
Level: Double-A DOB: 05/09/01
Hicks was a 13th round pick by the Astros in 2023 and has flown through the system with his ability to miss bats. The right-hander started the season in Single-A posting 0.50 ERA in 18 innings. After a stop in High-A, he was promoted to Double-A where finished with 52 K in 48.1 innings. Overall, he had a 3.82 ERA with 115 K in 106 innings in his first full-season. Hicks uses a 93-96 MPH fastball to go along with a chanegup, slider and curveball. Read more on Hicks here.
23. Zach Cole, OF
Level: Double-A DOB: 08/04/00
Cole was drafted in the 10th round in the 2022 draft. The left-handed hitting outfielder has plus speed and a lot of pop in his bat. After struggling in his first taste of pro ball, Cole has put together an impressive 2023 season. In 111 games between Single-A and High-A, Cole is hitting .258 with 20 2B, 8 3B, 19 HR, 37 SB. Cole dealt with some injuries early this year but once healthy, he was able to show what he could do with a .826 OPS in Double-A until he fell off at the end of the season. At just 24-years-old, Cole is one of the more higher potential outfielders in the system. Read more on Cole here.
24. Trey Dombroski, LHP
Level: Double-A DOB: 03/13/01
Dombroski was drafted by the Astros in the 4th round of the 2022 draft after a standout career at Monmouth University, including 14 BB/130 K in 95 innings as a junior. The lefty stands at 6’5″ and 235 lbs. While he doesn’t blow you away with his stuff, he really knows how to pitch and has very good command. Dombroski started this year in High-A and despite a higher ERA, the peripherals looked good and he got a promotion to Double-A. The ERA was high, but he struck out 112 over 97.2 innings. Read more on Dombroski here.
25. Nehomar Ochoa, OF
Level: Single-A DOB: 07/31/05
Ochoa was drafted by the Astros in the 11th round of the Galena Park High School in Houston, and signed for $300,000 double the slot for the 11th round. He is huge kid, listed at 6’4″ and 230 lbs. Despite his size, he is a good athlete who can play all three outfield positions, though he will probably end up in the corners moving forward. In 2024, Ochoa played the full season in Single-A and led the team in homers with 10 and also had 17 stolen bases. Read more on him here.
26. Alonzo Tredwell, RHP
Level: Single-A DOB: 05/08/02
Tredwell is a monster on the mound, standing at 6’8″ and 230 lbs. The 2023 2nd round pick had a nice college career at UCLA posting a 2.83 ERA with 13 K in 92.1 innings. The right-hander has a mid-90s fastball that can tough 96. He also has a solid slider as his main secondary offering. Tredwell’s fastball also generates a lot of swings and misses thanks to his carry up in the zone. He struck out 67 in 57 innings in 2024 before missing time with an injury. Read more on Tredwell here.
27. Caden Powell, SS
Level: Single-A DOB: 10/24/03
Powell was selected by the Astros in the 6th round of the 2024 draft and signed overslot for $422,500. The 20-year-old is listed at 6’3″ and 200 lbs with room to grow. He started his college career at Oklahoma but transferred to Seminole State College where he was named the D-1 junior college player of the year after hitting .502 with 32 HR, 104 RBI and a slugging percentage over 1.000. Powell has some swing and miss in his game, but with an adjustment off-season he could be a breakout prospects in 2025.
28. Jancel Villarroel, C
Level: Single-A DOB: 01/17/05
Villarroel was signed by the Astros in August of 2022 out of Venezuela. While he is smaller in stature, listed at 5’8″ and 176 lbs, he makes up for it with his ability. The catcher has elite bat to ball skills and a good understanding of the strike zone. Before coming stateside this year, he had 37 BB/37 SO in 57 games in the DSL. He started the year in the FCL and got a quick promotion to Single-A and finished with a .721 OPS in 76 games.
29. Alex Santos, RHP
Level: Double-A DOB: 10/04/00
Santos was drafted by the Astros in the 2nd round of the 2020 MLB draft but due to COVID, he was unable to make his professional debut that season. Santos has a low to mid 90s fastball with a high spin rate and pairs that with two solid secondary offerings, a curveball and a growing changeup. He has a good build at 6’4″, 195 lbs. He struggled with injuries over his career, but had a good showing in the Arizona Fall League this winter.
30. Michael Knorr, RHP
Level: Double-A DOB: 05/12/00
The Astros drafted Knorr in the 3rd round of the 2022 draft. Knorr spent his first three seasons at Cal State Fullerton before moving to Coastal Carolina for his senior year where he struck out 86 in 69 innings. Knorr has a fastball that reaches 98 MPH and a good changeup. He also has some deception in his delivery and if he can command his fastball a bit better, he can move up the system pretty quickly with his fastball/changeup combination. In 2023 he struck out 78 on 58.1 innings between Single-A and High-A, though he missed some time with an injury. He struggled in 2024 due to injuries again but still has the potential.