With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Astros' Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:
- Kevin Alvarez, OF -- Fayetteville (Single-A)
- Xavier Neyens, SS -- Fayetteville (Single-A)
- Ethan Frey, OF -- Asheville (High-A)
- Brice Matthews, 2B -- Houston (MLB)
- Walker Janek, C -- Corpus Christi (Double-A)
- Bryce Mayer, RHP -- Corpus Christi (Double-A)
- Ethan Pecko, RHP -- Injured (thoracic outlet syndrome)
- AJ Blubaugh, RHP -- Houston (MLB)
- Ryan Forcucci, RHP -- Injured (lower back)
- Albert Fermín, SS -- Extended spring training (Dominican Republic)
- Zach Cole, OF -- Sugar Land (Triple-A)
- Lucas Spence, OF -- Corpus Christi (Double-A)
- Miguel Ullola, RHP -- Sugar Land (Triple-A)
- Joseph Sullivan, OF -- Corpus Christi (Double-A)
- James Hicks, RHP -- Corpus Christi (Double-A)
- Jackson Nezuh, RHP -- Corpus Christi (Double-A)
- Alonzo Tredwell, RHP -- Injured (shoulder strain)
- Alimber Santa, RHP -- Sugar Land (Triple-A)
- Anthony Huezo, OF -- Fayetteville (Single-A)
- Will Bush, C/1B -- Corpus Christi (Double-A)
- Anthony Millan, OF -- Extended spring training (Dominican Republic)
- Jase Mitchell, C -- Extended spring training
- Cole Hertzler, RHP -- Asheville (High-A)
- Jose Fleury, RHP -- Sugar Land (Triple-A)
- Parker Smith, RHP -- Asheville (High-A)
- Hudson Leach, RHP -- Sugar Land (Triple-A)
- Caden Powell, OF -- Asheville (High-A)
- Ramsey David, RHP -- Corpus Christi (Double-A)
- Nick Potter, RHP -- Fayetteville (Single-A)
- Gabel Pentecost, RHP -- Fayetteville (Single-A)
COMPLETE ASTROS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Team to watch
The Astros' top two prospects, outfielder Kevin Alvarez and shortstop Xavier Neyens, will team up at Single-A Fayetteville. Outfielder Anthony Huezo has some of the best tools in the system, and he's coming off a huge winter in which he led the Australian Baseball League with a 1.031 OPS. A pair of interesting 2025 Draft picks, right-handers Nick Potter (fifth round) and Gabel Pentecost (sixth), headline the Woodpeckers' pitching staff.
Players we could see in MLB in 2026
Outfielder Zach Cole compiled an .880 OPS with four homers in 15 games with the Astros last September, though an errant pitch broke a toe on his right foot during a Triple-A game on Sunday, sidelining him indefinitely. Right-handers Miguel Ullola and Alimber Santa each has a nasty fastball and a solid secondary offering, so both could help Houston's bullpen this season. So could righty Hudson Leach, who owns one of the best curveballs in the Minors.
New faces
Neyens, Potter and Pentecost are all making their pro debuts at Fayetteville, while fellow 2025 draftee Jase Mitchell (seventh round) will do so in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League in May. Right-hander Ryan Forcucci, who hasn't pitched in an official game since blowing out his pitching elbow at UC San Diego in March 2024, should finally do so later this month after he clears up some lower-back issues. Signed for $2,147,500 in January, Dominican shortstop Albert Fermín is slated for the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in June.
On the shelf
Right-hander Ethan Pecko is coming back from thoracic outlet syndrome and, like Forcucci, should be ready to pitch in games in April. Righty Alonzo Tredwell is out with a strained shoulder, and the timetable for his return is uncertain.
How to watch
Fans can watch Minor League Baseball games for free on the Bally Sports Live app or at BallySports.com. Fans may also purchase an MLB+ subscription, which includes access to MiLB games live and on demand, in addition to live MLB audio for all 30 teams, MLB Network and MLB Big Inning. Plus -- with or without a subscription -- Minor League games featuring MLB's top prospects are available in the MiLB Free Game of the Day.