Santos' season highlighted by Triple-A promotion after bullpen move

This story was excerpted from Brian McTaggart’s Astros Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And *subscribe* to get it regularly in your inbox.

HOUSTON -- There may be no better example of determination and grit in the Astros’ Minor League system than 24-year-old right-hander Alex Santos II, a former highly regarded prospect whose career has been slowed by injuries and underperformance.

Santos, who was taken by the Astros in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft (72nd overall) as a compensation pick for losing Gerrit Cole in free agency, isn’t listed among Houston’s Top 30 prospects, but a move to the bullpen this season may have helped rejuvenate his career. The Astros promoted Santos to Triple-A Sugar Land on Aug. 22.

“I fell in love with it,” Santos said of his move to the bullpen. “I love being in the bullpen and being able to just get called on right away, that adrenaline rush, to go out there and try to compete and just go out there and dominate.”

Santos was named the Astros’ Minor League Pitcher of the Month for August after posting a 0.68 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings between Double-A Corpus Christi and Sugar Land. For the season, Santos has recorded a 3.15 ERA with 93 strikeouts in 60 innings, a 1.38 WHIP and a .216 opponent’s batting average in 44 appearances.

“He’s done a phenomenal job out of the bullpen,” Astros director of player development Sam Niedorf said. “I think Alex kind of epitomizes the notion to never give up on players. They always have the ability to get better. I think he has showcased that this year.”

Santos spent all of 2024 and ’25 in Corpus Christi and began this year back in Double-A. After posting a 3.38 ERA in 39 relief appearances for the Hooks, he was promoted to Triple-A. He enjoys the idea of being ready to pitch on most nights.

“I like to go out there, and just compete, and try to just do the best I can, and recover the situation or whatever it is, go out there and just throw my best stuff for an inning or two,” he said. “It's been fun. I like it a lot.”

Santos, who has battled inflammation in his ulnar collateral ligament a few times in his career, appreciates his journey, as uneven as it’s been.

“I wouldn’t change it for the world,” he said. “It’s been an awesome experience to just be in the position that I'm in. I had a couple of injuries the past two years but throughout the ups and downs, I’ve understood my body better, how to make myself feel better and just continue to keep myself on the field.”

Niedorf said Santos’ ability to overcome obstacles and continue to rise to the challenge is an example for the rest of the players in the system.

“You’re going to face failure, whether that’s on the field or off the field, and how he’s responded to it and how he was punched and fought right back has been quite frankly a testament to him,” he said. “Ultimately, he has proved the results and has shown the performance to back it up.”

Santos grew up in the Bronx as Yankees fan, looking up to players like Andy Pettitte and Mark Teixeira while attending games at Yankee Stadium and dreaming of the big leagues. After pitching 313 Minor League innings before reaching Triple-A, Santos believes his dream is close.

“You’re one step away, but I try not to think about it too much and just kind of live in the moment,” he said. “Just do what I have to do in this time and in the position that I’m in right now and just let everything pan out and play out.”

Hughes rakes

While Santos was named the team’s Minor League Pitcher of the Month for August, 2026 first-round pick Logan Hughes was named Player of the Month. Hughes batted .343 with 17 runs, eight doubles, one triple, three home runs, 25 RBIs, 12 walks, eight stolen bases and a 1.073 OPS in August with Single-A Fayetteville. Hughes was activated Aug. 7 and hit safely in his first 18 professional games.

“He’s a special talent,” Niedorf said. “We identified him early in the Draft [for] his ability to hit fastballs especially, and hit velo, it was enticing. His ability to hit left-handed pitching and be a platoon neutral option from the side was really exciting. He’s embodied both of those qualities since getting up to Fayetteville.”