1. Cam Smith, INF
Level: Double-A DOB: 02/22/03
Originally a first round pick of the Cubs (#14 overall) in 2024, Smith was acquired in the deal that sent Kyle Tucker to Chicago. Smith was a standout at Florida State showing off an advanced approach that led to him hitting .387 with 16 homers his junior year after a monster Cape Cod league where he hit .347 with a .981 OPS in 44 games. Following the draft, Smith played in 32 games and hit .313 with 7 home runs and 24 runs batted in, making his way up to Double-A. Smith is a good athlete that generates high exit velocities and shows off good bat speed. He has well above-average power and could profile for 30+ homers at the highest level. Smith has a strong arm and if he outgrows third base, he could move to a corner outfield spot.
2. Brice Matthews, SS
Level: Triple-A DOB: 03/16/02
Matthews was seen as one of the best athletes in the Big 1o going into the 2023 draft. The 21-year-old had a breakout junior season slashing .359/.481/.723 with 20 HR, 20 SB for Nebraska. He has a quick swing with strong exit velocities, even for his size. Scouts note he has 20-25 HR potential with good pull power. He covers a lot of ground at shortstop and has a strong arm but also the potential to be a plus center fielder if he has to move positions. He has some swing and miss in his game but the other positives make up for it. Matthews showed off the tools in 2024, making his way up to Triple-A and finishing with 15 homers and 32 stolen bases in 79 games. Read more on Matthews here.
3. Jacob Melton, OF
Level: Triple-A DOB: 09/07/00
Melton was drafted by the Astros in the 2nd round of the 2022 draft out of Oregon State. Melton had a standout junior year in college slashing .360/.424/.671 with 22 2B, 17 HR, 21 SB as he earned Pac-12 player of the year honors. Melton is a left handed swinging outfielder who stands at 6’3″ and 210 lbs. Melton has an advanced approach at the plate and has above average power with the potential to be plus as he also makes a lot of contact. The lefty is a plus runner on the bases and in the outfield and should stick in center field defensively. Melton also made it up to Triple-A in 2024 and finished with 15 homers, 30 stolen bases between Double-A and Triple-A, including hitting .260 in Triple-A. Read more on Melton here.
4. Walker Janek, C
Level: High-A DOB: 09/24/02
Janek was seen as the best defensive catcher in the draft, showing up a plus arm and a quick release. But he also made huge strides with the bat during college too. The 21-year-old has above average bat speed and the ability to produce 20+ homers at the major league level. He hit .364 with 17 homers, 58 runs batted in and 13 stolen bases in 58 games in 2024 for the Bearkats. His raw power has improved and he has chance to be a gold glove type at catcher while hitting for average and power. He struggled with the bat a bit after the draft, but it was quite the bump up to High-A for him.
5. Zach Dezenzo, INF
Level: MLB DOB: 05/11/00
Dezenzo was drafted in the 12th round of the 2022 draft and is looking like an absolute steal. He was a senior who put up a strong year at Ohio State slugging .701 with 19 HR in 51 games before dominating the MLB Draft League. The right-hander has plus power and really strong exit velocities numbers. He is a bat-first prospect who bas played both third base and first base, but has the bat profile to fit at either. Dezezno’s bat is legit and he showed in 2024 hitting .300 as he made his way up to Triple-A, and hit .242 in his limited chances upon his call-up to the MLB. Read more on Dezenzo here.
6. Miguel Ullola, RHP
Level: Triple-A DOB: 06/19/02
Ullola is a young flame throwing right hander. The 21-year-old features a plus fastball that sits mid-90s and touches 99 MPH, even when in multi-inning spots. While he has some command issues, he has overpowered the hitters in lower levels with the fastball/slider combination. He might end up in the bullpen, but that may not be a bad thing given what kind of stuff he could have in one innings spurts. The fastball and slider are his two best pitches, but he does throw a curveball as well. Ullola put up some dominant numbers in 2024 striking out 171 over 130.1 innings allowing just 74 hits, including one start in Triple-A.
7. A.J. Blubaugh, RHP
Level: Triple-A DOB: 07/04/00
Blubaugh was a 7th round pick back in the 2022 draft out of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Astros have been aggressive with him, pushing him up to Double-A in 2023. Despite a higher ERA in High-A, Blubaugh struck out 112 in 100 innings including 19 K in 14.1 innings with a 1.26 ERA in Double-A to end the season. He was sent to the Arizona Fall League where he had a 2.25 ERA with 17 K in 12 innings. He has a low to mid 90s fastball with a nice pair of breaking balls. Blubaugh had a strong 2024 season where he posted a 3.71 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A- (only one outing in Double-A) and striking out 133 over 128.2 innings. Read more on him here.
8. Luis Baez, OF
Level: Double-A DOB: 01/11/04
The Astros signed Luis Baez for $1.3 million during the 2022 international signing period. The 19-year-old is well built at 6’1″ and 205 lbs and possesses plus power from the right side. He is a solid athlete but won’t provide a ton on the bases, though he should be an adequate defender in the corner outfield spots. Baez has shown off the bat at times this year, but he hasn’t walked much and strikeouts are a little high, though he is still very young for his league. In 2024, Baez connected on 21 homers and drove in 76 runs in 106 games as he made it up to Double-A. Read more on Baez here.
9. Ryan Forcucci, RHP
Level: Rookie DOB: 12/02/02
Forcucci is a right-handed pitcher listed at 6’3″ and 205 lbs that the Astros selected in the third round of the draft this year. The 21-year-old only made five starts in 2024, but was dominant posting a 2.16 ERA with 37 K in 25 innings. He has a mid 90s fastball that tops at 97 and a wipeout slider in the 80s. The only question is durability, but when he is on the field he has pitched well. He was seen as a potential first rounder early in the season but Tommy John surgery caused him to slide.
10. Shay Whitcomb, SS
Level: MLB DOB: 09/28/98
Whitcomb was the Astros 5th round pick in the 2020 draft signing for just $56,000. He had a breakout 2021 season posting a .893 OPS with 23 HR, 30 SB. In 2022, Whitcomb struggled in Double-A but made some adjustments and came back in a big way this year. In 133 games between Double-A and Triple-A, Whitcomb had 35 HR (which led all of minor league baseball) and 102 RBI. Whitcomb has some swing and miss to his game, but he has made adjustments and cut down on the strikeouts while still showing power with 25 homers and 26 stolen bases in Triple-A and hit .220 in 41 at-bats at the MLB level. Read more on him here.