Houston Astros Top 50 Prospects (2025)

HOUgraphic — Top 50 graphic design by Michael Packard, @CollectingPack on Twitter.

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Houston Astros

AL West
2024 record: 88-73 (1st)

MiLB affiliates
Triple-A: Sugar Land Space Cowboys
Double-A: Corpus Christi Hooks
High-A: Asheville Tourists
Single-A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers

Notable prospects graduated in 2024
RHP Spencer Arighetti

Prospects1500 writers who contributed to this column and rankings: Tony Bps (@tonybps1), Greg Bracken (@gregbracken07), Clint Fasse (@ProspectLarceny), Adam Greene (@aj_greene1015), Scott Greene (@Scotty_Ballgame), Shaun Kernahan (@ShaunKernahan), and Jeremy Mahy (@JMahyfam). The writer’s Twitter handle follows each player write-up or paragraph.

Prospects1500 Tiers:
Tier 1: Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years
Tier 2: Players with an above-average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 3: Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 4: Players who have the potential to make the majors; possible sleeper candidates for sustained MLB success
Tier 5: Players of interest, worth keeping an eye on, who may make (or have made) the majors but provide minimal impact

Levels listed for each player are the highest levels player reached in 2024

Tier 1

None

Tier 2

1. Cam Smith, 3B, 21, Double-A
An old high school senior with a strong commitment to Florida State, Smith went undrafted despite having a profile that could easily have heard his name called late day one or early day two. Once on campus, he really struggled his first year before breaking out a season ago as a draft eligible sophomore. Selected by the Cubs 14th overall, he appeared at three levels, ending in Double-A, and showed well all the way through. The arm is plus at third, a position he should be able to stick at for his career. Now with the Astros as part of the Kyle Tucker trade, he will continue to show off his plus bat-to-ball skills through his quick, compact swing that has enough bat speed to give him solid power projections too. (@ShaunKernahan)

2. Jacob Melton, OF, 24, Triple-A
Before acquiring Cam Smith, Melton was the Astros consensus No. 1 prospect. He has good speed, swiping 30 bases last year and 46 in 2023. His speed provides him with solid range in centerfield where he spent the majority of his time playing, but he also got time in right and left too. Even though the bat wasn’t as prolific last season as it was in 2023, he was making harder contact and pulling the ball more after promotion to Triple-A Sugar Land, so that could be an indication of things to come in 2025. (@aj_greene1015)

Tier 3

3. Brice Matthews, SS/3B, 22, Triple-A
The Astros drafted the former Cornhusker in the first round of the 2023 draft with the potential for a power/speed middle infielder. He showed that promise last year hitting 15 home runs and stealing 26 bases in just 232 at-bats across High/Double-A, but it did come with a strikeout rate north of 30%. He also walked at 13% rate so that is encouraging. His fantasy impact could be substantial if he can control the strikeouts. (@JMahyfam)

4. Luis Baez, OF, 21, Double-A
The 2024 High-A numbers for Baez were solid on the surface. In 407 at-bats, he slashed .263/.300/.479 with 20 home runs and 67 RBI. However, Asheville the High-A affiliate, is a notoriously hitter friendly environment and his road splits were much less favorable (.211 average & .371 SLG). He had a brief stint in Double-A to finish the season and will likely start 2025 there. The power potential is there but he is uber aggressive at the plate which will be something to monitor as he faces more advanced pitching. (@JMahyfam)

5. Walker Janek, C, 22, High-A
Of course the catcher from Sam Houston was selected by Houston. Janek was the best pure catcher in the class with a plus arm. He has a profile that will allow him to stick behind the dish thanks to his quality lateral agility and quality receiving ability to go with that arm. At the plate he is strong and has good bat speed allowing him to really drive the ball, although it is more line drive doubles power than big home run power. He gets to the zone well, but his swing decisions aren’t the greatest, expanding the zone too often. If he can work on his pitch recognition and put just a bit more loft in the swing, he could develop into above-average hit and power tools, but as he currently projects both tools are more average, which is plenty good enough given the defensive value. (@ShaunKernahan)

6. Zach Dezenzo, 1B/3B, 24, MLB
Splitting time across Double/Triple-A, the 24-year-old put up a solid .300/.385/.492/.877 slash, earning him a late season cup of coffee in Houston. He’s projected to man third base at Sugar Land to begin the 2025 campaign, but has played this winter in Liga Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente (the Puerto Rico Winter League) to get additional reps, and he’s putting up great numbers – .361/.438/.410/.848 in 17 games. Who’s blocking him at the MLB level? That would be the likes of Victor Caratini, Shay Whitcomb and Jon Singleton, the backups to Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker. (@Scotty_Ballgame)

7. Miguel Ullola, RHP, 22, Triple-A
Ullola, the 22-year-old Dominican Republic native, looks to open 2025 in the Sugar Land rotation at Triple-A, where he started one game at the end of last season. As he’s not on the Astros’ 40-man roster, another roster move would have to be made to get him to the Majors. If he can continue to post impressive numbers (1.16 WHIP and 11.8 K/9 last year), then it’s not out of the realm of possibility to see his MLB call-up later this summer. (@Scotty_Ballgame)

8. A.J. Blubaugh, RHP, 24, Triple-A
When Blubaugh regularly began utilizing a five pitch arsenal in the later half of 2023, he really began coming into his own and continued that stretch into 2024. After just one game in Double-A in April, he was promoted and had somewhat of a “breakout” season, posting a 3.71 ERA (4.47 FIP) in 27 games in Triple-A. Blubaugh comes from a lineage of frontline starters that pitched for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and he’s tracking to make the Major Leagues in 2025. (@aj_greene1015)

Tier 4

9. Zach Cole, OF, 24, Double-A
10. Shay Whitcomb, SS/3B, 26, Triple-A
11. Anderson Brito, RHP, 20, Single-A
12. Pedro León, OF, 26, MLB
13. Alonzo Tredwell, RHP, 22, Single-A
14. Colton Gordon, LHP, 26, Triple-A
15. Kenedy Corona, OF, 24, Triple-A
16. Ryan Forcucci, RHP, 22, College

Whitcomb has great power and solid speed but needs to improve his hit-tool to make an impact in the majors. Brito had a great first year in the organization and has mid-rotation potential as he develops. León has good tools but needs to improve his approach at the plate to be a regular starting outfielder. Gordon could be a back-end starter maybe later this season for Houston. Corona doesn’t possess the greatest hit-tool but looks to be a Major League bench player at best. Forcucci will spend most of the year recovering from surgery but has the tools to contribute to the rotation in the future. (@tonybps1)

Tier 5

17. Jose Fleury, RHP, 22, Double-A
18. Waner Luciano, 3B, 20, Single-A
19. Michael Knorr, RHP, 24, Double-A
20. Alimber Santa, RHP, 21, Double-A
21. Chase Jaworsky, SS/2B, 20, Single-A
22. Ethan Pecko, RHP, 22, Double-A
23. Rhett Kouba, RHP, 25, Triple-A
24. Trey Dombroski, LHP, 23, Double-A
25. Yamal Encarnacion, OF, 21, Double-A
26. Cam Fisher, OF/1B, 23, High-A
27. German Ramirez, SS, 18, Single-A
28. Kenni Gomez, OF, 19, High-A
29. Joseph Sullivan, OF, 22, Single-A
30. James Hicks, RHP, 23, Double-A
31. Alberto Hernandez, SS, 20, Single-A
32. John Garcia, C, 24, High-A
33. Parker Smith, RHP, 21, College
34. Jackson Nezuh, RHP, 22, High-A
35. Jancel Villarroel, C, 19, Single-A
36. Nehomar Ochoa Jr., OF, 19, Single-A
37. Andrew Taylor, RHP, 23, High-A
38. Colin Barber, OF, 24, Double-A
39. Camilo Diaz, SS/3B, 19, Single-A
40. Alex Gonzalez, RHP, 19, International signee
41. Abel Mercedes, RHP, 22, Single-A
42. Cesar Hernandez, OF, 21, Single-A
43. Pascanel Ferreras, 2B/SS/3B, 23, Double-A
44. Jean Pinto, RHP, 24, Double-A
45. Alex Santos II, RHP, 22, Double-A
46. Miguel Palma, C, 23, Triple-A
47. Jeron Williams, SS/3B, 24, Double-A
48. Cole Hertzler, RHP, 21, Single-A
49. Esmil Valencia, OF, 19, Rookie (FCL)
50. Ryan Gusto, RHP, 25, Triple-A

Fleury has looked good enough to develop into a serviceable major league starter. Luciano has great power but may not hit enough to get to it. Santa hasn’t had the results the organization is looking for, but he could turn it around this season. Pecko is more of a finesse-over-power pitcher. Dombroski has struggled but can still carve out a niche as a spot starter. Hicks has the stuff that could play better in the bullpen, maybe even later this season. (@tonybps1)

Adam Greene

Adam Greene is a student UMass Amherst's Isenberg School of Management. He currently writes for the Cape Cod Baseball League and UMass Athletics. From Longmeadow, MA, Adam is a huge Red Sox fan and has been following the team his whole life and he's spent the last few years covering their farm system. Follow him on Twitter at @aj_greene1015 and Instagram at the same handle.

Shaun Kernahan

Shaun Kernahan is the MLB Draft correspondent for Prospects1500. When not at a game, chances are the TV and/or tablet has a game on and he has a notepad out taking notes. When not scouting draft prospects, he is the Director of Baseball Operations for the Mile High Collegiate Baseball League, a collegiate wood bat league in Colorado. Shaun can be found on Twitter at @ShaunKernahan.

Scott Greene

President of Prospects1500. Founder of Diamond Duos dynasty fantasy baseball leagues and the MLB Fantasy Playoffs Parlay. Participant and champion in several dynasty/fantasy baseball and football leagues. Sales Manager for Reminder Publishing by day. Huge Bruce Springsteen and pro wrestling fan. Along with his wife and two boys, lives in Longmeadow, MA. Follow on Twitter at @Scotty_Ballgame.

Tony Bps

Tony Bps Spina is a lifelong baseball fan hailing from the City of Brotherly Love - Philadelphia! Tony has loved baseball since 1980 and has followed the Phillies through good and bad times. Tony is married with 3 kids and works for a financial institution but has enough free time to play in 20 fantasy baseball leagues with 75% of them being Dynasty Leagues. He lives a few blocks away from Citizens Bank Park and attends many Phillies games per year in addition to their minor league teams in Lehigh Valley and Reading. He can be reached on Twitter at @TonyBps1.

Jeremy Mahy

Jeremy covers the St Louis organization and contributes on Prospects of the Week for Prospects1500. Born and raised in the Midwest, he is a lifelong fan of the Birds on the Bat. You can follow him on Twitter @_JMahy_ for more baseball content.

"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good, too." -Yogi Berra

Greg Bracken

Greg covers the Toronto Blue Jays organization for Prospects1500. Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, a long-suffering fan of both the Blue Jays and the Toronto Maple Leafs. For more than 15 years now a participant/commish in many dynasty baseball leagues, all with extremely deep minor league rosters. Follow on X @gregbracken07.