The Minor League baseball season is under way and now is the time to start monitoring prospects, as many could have an impact this season in the American League West. Of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects, 17 are with organizations in the division, but even those not ranked among the

Astros No. 3 prospect Yordan Alvarez, the No. 43 prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline, had a huge game at the plate for Triple-A Round Rock in the Express' 7-5 win over New Orleans in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday. • Gameday | Astros prospect stats

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Astros are loaded with pitching prospects. Forrest Whitley ranks as the best in baseball, and Josh James, Corbin Martin and J.B. Bukauskas join him as MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospects who will be ready to contribute in Houston at some point in 2019. Right-hander

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Astros are succeeding at the Major League and Minor League levels more than any organization. They not only won the 2017 World Series and rank third with 374 victories in the last four seasons, but they also have one of the game's stronger farm

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The Astros made a third round of roster cuts on Tuesday that included most of the club's top pitching prospects, including right-handers Forrest Whitley, Corbin Martin and J.B. Bukauskas, and top outfield prospect Kyle Tucker. Seven players were sent to Minor League camp. The two

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Justin Verlander has been through more than a dozen Spring Trainings, but this time of year is not exactly a mundane one for the ace right-hander. Verlander sets goals for himself each time he starts, even during Grapefruit League games that serve only one purpose

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- When asked about what he wants to see from the plethora of young prospects this spring, Astros manager AJ Hinch recently said that in addition to helping them learn something while in big league camp, he wants to "make them uncomfortable." Hinch isn't hoping the

HOUSTON -- The Astros' ascent to being considered Major League Baseball royalty, culminating with the 2017 World Series championship and including a club-record 103 wins last year, hasn't stopped them from having one of the game's top farm systems.As the Astros prepare to head to Spring Training next month with

HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros announced their 2019 non-roster invites to Major League Spring Training today, which includes 11 pitchers, three catchers, six infielders and two outfielders for a total of 22 players. The announcement was made by Astros President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Jeff Luhnow.The group of

HOUSTON -- The moment has played out in the mind of Astros top pitching prospect Forrest Whitley repeatedly for quite some time. He smiles at the thought of it, knowing it's closer in 2019 than ever before. The big leagues are looming, and Whitley has done everything in his power

HOUSTON -- The Astros acquired a trio of Minor League players on Sunday in a five-player trade that included sending infielder J.D. Davis to the Mets. In exchange for Davis and Minor League infielder Cody Bohanek, Houston acquired outfielder Ross Adolph, catcher Scott Manea and infielder Luis Santana.Davis, taken in

The purpose of a farm system is to produce talent for its parent club, whether it be directly with young players or indirectly with trades. Since becoming general manager of the Mariners in September 2015, Jerry Dipoto has pulled off 65 deals, many of which exchanged prospects or young big

LAS VEGAS -- The Astros' pursuit of offense won't come at the hindrance of No. 1 prospect Kyle Tucker, club president of baseball operations and general manager Jeff Luhnow said Tuesday from baseball's Winter Meetings at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.Tucker, No. 5 on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 Prospects, struggled

The Astros added right-hander Rogelio Armenteros, catcher Garrett Stubbs and left-hander Bryan Abreu to their 40-man roster ahead of Tuesday's deadline to protect players from the Rule 5 Draft.Armenteros, 24, is Houston's No. 12 prospect per MLB Pipeline. He spent the 2018 season with Triple-A Fresno, posting a 3.74 ERA

The coming weeks will determine whose uniform Bryce Harper wears next, but the superstar outfielder very nearly switched uniforms at last season's Trade Deadline.In a story published Saturday for the The Athletic, MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal revealed that the Astros had a deal in place for Harper leading up to

Forrest Whitley wanted to pitch in October this year. The 17th overall pick in the 2016 Draft had a stunningly successful 2017 season, averaging 13.9 strikeouts per nine innings while joining Zack Greinke, Chad Billingsley, Clayton Kershaw and Dylan Bundy as the only prep first-round arms this century to advance

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Forrest Whitley, baseball's best pitching prospect, has been the talk of the Arizona Fall League in the early season. But he's not the only Astros first-rounder who looks ready to make an impact at the big league level in the near future.Fellow right-hander J.B. Bukauskas, the 15th

HOUSTON -- With infielder Marwin Gonzalez nursing a sore oblique and reliever Hector Rondon day to day after a line drive hit him on his throwing hand Monday, the Astros called up infielder J.D. Davis and right-hander Dean Deetz from Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday."Both Deetz and Davis were on the

SEATTLE -- The Astros are swapping out left-handed pitchers and have called up Framber Valdez, their 11th-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline, from Triple-A Fresno to take the roster spot of Cionel Perez, who was optioned to Fresno following Monday's loss to the Mariners.Valdez will be making his first appearance on

HOUSTON -- The Astros placed Jake Marisnick on the 10-day disabled list on Saturday, after the center fielder pulled up abruptly with a left groin injury in the seventh inning of Friday's 5-2 loss to the Mariners at Minute Maid Park.As George Springer's reliable defensive backup, Marisnick slashed a double

SEATTLE -- Before finalizing the deal to acquire All-Star closer Roberto Osuna from the Blue Jays, Astros president of baseball operations and general manager Jeff Luhnow said the club performed "unprecedented" due diligence, including asking for permission to speak directly to Osuna, as well as reaching out to several members

At this time of year, when buyers are competing to bolster their rosters for the stretch run and sellers are looking to next season and beyond, arguably nothing is more important than the prospects contenders have -- and are willing -- to trade.While much attention is paid to the top

HOUSTON -- Kyle Tucker, the next in line from among the Astros' stream of can't-miss prospects, shook off three strikeouts to begin his Major League career by coming through with a single and a bases-loaded walk in the Astros' 12-6 win over the White Sox on Saturday afternoon."It was awesome,"

ST. PETERSBURG -- Needing an extra arm in the bullpen, the Astros called up left-handed pitching prospect Cionel Perez from Double-A Corpus Christi prior to Friday's game against the Rays to take the roster spot of shortstop Carlos Correa, who was placed on the disabled list with a sore back.Perez,

HOUSTON -- Shortstop Jeremy Pena, the Astros' third-round pick who they slated as the top defensive shortstop in the 2018 Draft earlier this week, signed with the club on Wednesday and will report to Class A Short Season Tri-City on Thursday, he told MLB.com.The Astros announced the first six signings