Astros 2026 Draft picks

ARLINGTON -- A year after taking high school shortstop Xavier Neyens in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft, the Astros went up the middle for a two more shortstops with two of their first six picks on Saturday, taking Georgia high school standout Keon Johnson in the third round (93rd overall) and University of Missouri shortstop Kam Durnin in the fourth round (121st overall).

Neyens has been getting more playing time at third base this year at Single-A Fayetteville and the Astros couldn’t pass up a chance to select Durnin when he fell into their lap in the fourth round. He’s an athletic shortstop and polished hitter who has a chance to move swiftly through the Astros' system.

“We were really, really surprised that he was available for us to select in the fourth round,” Astros amateur scoring director Cam Pendino said. “He came to Chicago [pre-Draft workout] and put on a show. He’s athletic. We view him as a real shortstop, like a real Major League shortstop. We put a high bar internally on how we grade out shortstops, and we give that kid a very good chance to be a really quality Major League shortstop.”

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The Astros took Texas Tech outfielder Logan Hughes with the No. 17 overall pick and Notre Dame right-hander Jack Radel with the No. 28 overall pick.

Johnson, from First Presbyterian High School in Macon, Ga., has great bat-to-ball skills and an advanced approach. A right-handed hitter, he batted .540 with 63 runs, 38 RBIs, 13 doubles, 11 home runs and three triples as a senior.

“When you have a guy who’s a special blend of bat-to-ball and approach and pitch recognition as an 18-year-old kid with really good actions in the middle of the diamond, it’s an awesome repertoire,” Pendino said.

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Pendino said the team expects to sign Johnson, who has committed to Vanderbilt, and fourth-round compensation pick Beau Peterson, a high school third baseman from Mill Valley, Kansas, who has committed to Texas.

Wes Mendes, LHP (No. 51 Draft prospect)

Round 2, Pick 57
Bats/throws: R/L
School: Florida State
Calling Card: Emerged as Florida State’s Friday night starter and led the team in innings pitched last season, going 9-3 with a 2.90 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP and a .207 opponents’ batting average. He struck out 125 batters and walked 25 in 93 innings. Mendes is an athletic 6-foot-1 southpaw, who has a five-pitch mix with a fastball that tops out at 96 mph with a changeup that is his best secondary pitch.
Quote: “Really exciting combination of strikes, fastball and changeup quality, execution to both sides and he really took a step forward this year. From the left side, we think he’s got a chance to be a rotation piece. We think he’s going to move relatively quickly.” -- Pendino

Keon Johnson, SS (No. 119)

Round 3, Pick 93
Bats/throws: R/R
School: First Presbyterian (Macon, Ga.)
Calling Card: Johnson won Gatorade's Georgia high school player of the year award last spring, but he regressed on the showcase circuit last summer after standing out there in 2024. He takes better at-bats and makes contact more easily than most high school players, and his biggest proponents hope he can make adjustments and turn into a solid hitter with average power. A Vanderbilt commit, he has below-average speed but has solid range with quick hands and good arm strength. Don’t be surprised to see him move to third base.
Quote: “Really exciting blend of bat-to-ball and pitch recognition. He struck out only three times in 100-odd plate appearances in Georgia in the spring, and he did not really swing and miss at all in the summer circuit. And we think our hitting instruction can really help unlock the quality contact here.” -- Pendino

Kam Durnin, SS

Round 4, Pick 121
Bats/throws: R/R
School: Missouri
Calling Card: An impact transfer from Wichita State who led the Tigers in nearly every offensive category during his debut season at Missouri, hitting .329 with a .570 slugging percentage and a .438 on-base percentage. The Astros graded him out as a future Major League shortstop.
Quote: “Transferring from Wichita State, he performed in the SEC. His SEC Tournament was excellent. He’s got a really good approach and swing decisions, and he’s got burgeoning power. He’s a real shortstop with some feel to hit. We were really taken aback he was there in the fourth round and we were really excited to take him.” -- Pedino

Beau Peterson, 3B (No. 97)

Round 4, Pick 133 (compensation pick for losing Framber Valdez in free agency)
Bats/throws: L/R
School: Mill Valley HS (Kan.)
Calling Card: The best Kansas prep position prospect since Bubba Starling went fifth overall to the Royals in 2011, Peterson won the High School Home Run Derby during All-Star Week and performed well at most showcase events last summer. He entered 2026 as one of the top power hitters in the high school class and won Gatorade's Kansas high school player of the year award, but he didn't drive the ball with authority as much this spring. He would draw some interest as a pitching prospect if he didn't have so much offensive potential.
Quote: “We view him as a left-handed premium bat who’s got power. He’s got a really good approach, makes contact and performed over the summer. He’s a power-hitting third baseman who’s got a nice feel to hit, and not to mention he’s an absolute ace. He works his tail off. We believe in the player, we believe in the person and we expect him to be a Houston Astro shortly [in terms of signing a contract].” -- Pedino