Astros work top prospect Matthews into 2026 plans: 'The complete package'

HOUSTON -- As the first player selected by Dana Brown as a general manager, Brice Matthews has had a lot of eyes on him throughout his time in the Astros’ system. Those eyes grew wider when Matthews bashed two home runs and drove in five runs in July in his fifth big league game, helping put him on the map for 2026.

Matthews, a first-round pick out of the University of Nebraska in 2023 as a shortstop and the Astros top prospect in the MLB Pipeline rankings, will head to Spring Training in two months trying to find a spot in Houston’s crowded infield. The trading of Mauricio Dubón to the Braves could create some playing time for Matthews, who last season at Triple-A Sugar Land started 87 games at second base, six at shortstop and eight in center field.

“He’s going to get some run in the outfield, but second base is still going to be his main position,” Brown said. “We project he’ll turn the corner with the bat and get maybe some run in the outfield a little bit, as well.”

Matthews had a slash line of .283/.400/.476 with 10 homers, 39 RBIs and 25 steals at Triple-A when he was called up to the Major Leagues one day before he was set to play in the All-Star Futures Game. In the Majors, he homered three times in a two-game span in Arizona in July and posted a .675 OPS with four homers in 47 plate appearances.

For the season at Triple-A, he slashed .260/.371/.458 with 17 homers, 64 RBIs and 41 stolen bases. He hit for the cycle in May but struck out 139 times in 419 at-bats. He struck out 20 times in his 47 big league plate appearances, so swing and miss remains an issue.

“I mean, if we can get more of that Arizona weekend, we'd be really excited, you know?” Brown said. “So I think that's what he's capable of doing. He's got power, and he's pretty athletic. We're looking for him to steal some bases -- the complete package.”

Matthews, who swatted his first two career home runs and drove in five of Houston’s six runs in its July 21 victory over the D-backs, rescued the Astros again on July 22 with his eighth-inning homer off D-backs reliever Jake Woodford, which put Houston ahead, 2-1. Arizona loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Matthews began a terrific 4-6-3 double play that ended the game.

“This is his sixth game [of his career] and he comes and makes that big play and has big swings,” veteran Jose Altuve said after that game. “That tells us a lot about the player he is and what he’s looking for in those situations. He seems like he wants to be in that situation. We’re looking forward to watching him hit more homers and make more plays.”

So where does Matthews fit in for 2026?

The Astros moved Altuve to left field to start last season, but he wound up playing more second base as the season progressed and figures to be the primary option at second in ’26. If Altuve is in left field or at designated hitter, Matthews could get some playing time at second base.

“At second base, he played above-average defense,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “And the bat we're excited about. He's dynamic. He can run, hit for power. But I see him as being someone that can take over at some point and be one of those pieces that can help us win games for many years.”

All-Star shortstop Jeremy Peña will play almost every inning at shortstop if he’s healthy, but there could be opportunities for Matthews in center field, especially if Jake Meyers is traded. Espada spent some time with Matthews in early December in a camp in Austin and remains bullish.

“We talked about next season and my expectations, and I highlighted how impressed I was with what he did this year at the Major League level,” Espada said.