Houston Astros Preliminary Prospect List

by John Sickels on Jan 11, 2026 9:26 PM EST Comment 37 comments

Astros prospect list after the jump.

This is a thin system, and it wasn't hard to cut it down to 36 by being ruthless with some interesting but older players such as Brian Pelligrini (couldn't hit at Lancaster). As the book process continues I'm having to get stricter with qualifications, and will probably end up cutting 30 or so players I've already written up.

Fernando Abad LHP

Jose Altuve 2B

Jay Austin OF

Brian Bogusevic OF

Tanner Bushue RHP

Eric Castro 3B

Jason Castro C

Leandro Cespedes RHP

Koby Clemens C

Collin DeLome OF

Evan Englebrook RHP

Ed Ferreira RHP

Jon Gaston OF

Sammy Gervacio RHP

Enrique Hernandez SS

Grant Hogue OF

Chris Johnson 3B

Dallas Keuchel LHP

Arecinio Leon RHP

Chia-Jen Lo RHP

Jordan Lyles RHP

Tommy Manzella SS

J.D. Martinez OF

Jonathan Meyer 3B

Daniel Meszaros RHP

Jiovanni Mier SS

Telvin Nash OF

Matt Nevarez RHP

Juri Perez RHP

Michael Schurz RHP

Ross Seaton RHP

Jack Schuck OF

T.J. Steele OF

Polin Trinidad LHP

Jose Vallejo INF

Henry Villar RHP

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Read More: 2010 mlb hot stove, Houston Astros

Comments

Dydalewicz

They ranked him 9th over at fangraphs (though their ranking didn’t include first year players like Mier and Bushue). I thought he was a strong C guy for sure.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 11, 2026 9:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

his name would break my spellchecker

he could break the computer if I included him.

just kidding. I don’t like the components but i’ll research him.

by John Sickels on Jan 11, 2026 9:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hogue

Really don’t think he is a top 40 guy at all.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 11, 2026 9:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Next year will tell

He doesn’t fit the prospect mold as he was too old for the appy league. Is fast, plays center well and makes good contact. Will need to move up fast due to age.

by G-StrosFan on Jan 12, 2026 5:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Englebrook

Is pretty meh to me as well.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 11, 2026 9:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

etc.

I like Hogue’s speed….however, Dydalewiczxklniplasm has a higher ceiling, so I’m going to cut Hogue in favor of the young pitcher.

by John Sickels on Jan 11, 2026 9:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

englebrook

I’ve liked englebrook as a sleeper since he was in college. he stays.

by John Sickels on Jan 11, 2026 9:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

One guy that I missed completely

Is Schurz. He looks interesting, but man he had some serious control problems in college.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 11, 2026 9:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

not saying he should be cut, just saying

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 11, 2026 9:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

schurz

he has a good arm….had injury problems in college, but the arm is there. good pick late in the draft for them.

by John Sickels on Jan 11, 2026 9:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Names I'd like to see on this list:

Derek Dietrich
Brett Eibner
Chase Davidson

by byronlhsdrmr on Jan 12, 2026 12:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

burn

by aCone419 on Jan 12, 2026 10:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

auclairkeithbc,

I guess we once again won’t see any extra info on Jonathan Mejia.

by byronlhsdrmr on Jan 12, 2026 12:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

he put him on the list

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 13, 2026 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Alright here's my quick crack at the Astros list (B- or above):

1. Jason Castro C B+ Elite Defense, good on-base skills, little power in 250 AA ABs
2. Jordan Lyles RHP B+ Good performance in SAL, good command, is the stuff really good enough to dominate AA hitters? If so he’ll be a A- next year.
3. Jiovanni Mier SS B Good defense, good debut, but will have to see results at higher level before grade him any higher a B is a high grade for a HSer for John
4. Chia Jen-Lo RHP B I know John was impressed while watching him in the futures game.
5. Ross Seaton RHP B- Still has a lot of upside, but strikeout rate scared me a little, haven’t seen a great scouting report on his stuff this year.
6. Tanner Bushue RHP B- Reminds me of Lyles a year ago. Will John rank him as aggressively as me?
7. T.J. Steele OF B-/C+ (probably C+) Toolsier than Gaston. If he can stay healthy and improve plate discipline he’s a great AA breakout candidate.

by byronlhsdrmr on Jan 12, 2026 12:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Disagree with…
1.Mier = B+ easily. I think he is clearly at least a little better prospect than Grant Green or Dee Gordon (both got B+)
2. Lo = I think he is barely a B- no chance at a B unless John thinks he is likely to succeed as a starting pitcher

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 9:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

mier and lo

I definitely think Mier gets a B+ after seeing what some other SS have got.
Lo i think will be a B-, but John is high on him and wouldnt be shocked at a straight B

by LawBe on Jan 12, 2026 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

hardly on Mier

Great glove, still have to wait to see just how good his bat really is . . .a lot of people did not like his bat before the draft, and John was one of them.

Green and Gordon are definitely better prospects at this point. Much more confident in Green’s bat, Gordon has much better tools than Mier. I have no idea where you get the idea that Mier is “clearly” better than either of those two . . .is he on your fantasy baseball team?

by mrkupe on Jan 12, 2026 7:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

no, i've read it in several places

the sometimes controversial project prospect sees it that way for one. baseball america has him ranked ahead of jordan lyles (hard to interpret what that means, but most people see lyles as a B+ type). i’ve seen others listing mier as #1.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 7:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

his bat

he had one of the best age adjusted offensive lines of anyone in the appy last year, regardless of defensive position or defensive quality.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 7:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

think about it...

he projects to be a solidly above average defensive SS. he also projects to have a good bat, though not a spectacular one. he has a very high floor projection despite his young age. you can’t say at this point that green and gordon both project to be as good defensive players and you can’t really even say their offensive floor is as high. they have more questions about their bat than mier does. they probably both have a higher ceiling, especially gordon, but not so much higher that it should outweigh the floor advantage of mier.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 8:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Also...

Austin is going to have to be considered for a B-. His stat line was not thrilling, but quite good for any player his age at that level. On top of that, he has the tools and makeup to really build on what he did. The optimistic side of his projection needs to be followed now, whatever that means grade wise.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 9:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Austin is a solid C+

But, there’s no way he’s a B- and I say that being very high on Austin and finding his performance and growth very encouraging last season.

by byronlhsdrmr on Jan 12, 2026 8:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

well, i guess we'll see

he is better than bushue in my mind. but might end up with the same grade.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 8:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

basically

I see austin as the #5 guy, possibly even #4 ahead of Seaton. If John likes guys like Gervacio, Bushue, Lo, Steele, Gaston enough to give some of them B- grades or at least consider it, then I think he’ll give Austin the B-. If he thinks all those guys are pure C+ guys then Austin will have a harder time getting the B-.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 8:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

For the record

I’d have Austin 8th, ahead of Gaston, but behind Steele and Bushue.

by byronlhsdrmr on Jan 12, 2026 8:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

one maybe two of the above get B-, not all though

by byronlhsdrmr on Jan 12, 2026 8:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

right

i am just saying i don’t know which of that group will get a B-. if any of them do, i think austin will be one of them, but it is possible they all get C+ grades for now. i think the top 3 fully deserve B+ grades without question in my mind at least. after that, i think Seaton deserves a B-. the next 6 (and there is a pretty big dropoff after those 6 - i have chris johnson 7th) are all locks for C+ at least in my mind. I think and hope a couple will get B- grades, but Austin is the best bet of that group to do so.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 8:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ooops

by “having chris johnson 7th” i mean not including castro, mier, lyles and seaton, so i have him 11th overall.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 8:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Johnson

I have him about 11th too, maybe 10th—with Gervacio likely falling from your list. I like Johnson a lot. He improved a lot over the course of the season and his numbers weren’t bad overall .281/.323/.461 in 384 AAA ABs. He’s also played well in 67 at-bats in Puerto Rico this winter.

by byronlhsdrmr on Jan 12, 2026 10:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think he's a C+ too.

by byronlhsdrmr on Jan 12, 2026 10:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

but no real chance at a B- like the others have.

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 10:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No I don't see how he could be a B-

but, he’s certainly not a C either

by byronlhsdrmr on Jan 12, 2026 11:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and Gaston

I think he is right in the mix with Bushue and Steele in that C+/B- range. Don’t know which he’ll prefer of the 3, but he has a shot at a B- at least (as does Sam Gervacio).

by auclairkeithbc on Jan 12, 2026 9:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Bushue B-/C+
Steele C+/B-
Gaston C+
Gervacio…?

That’s my ordering. I like Steele tools and when he’s healthy he’s put up numbers pretty equal to Gaston’s. I don’t like Gervacio, apparently I’m crazy. I don’t really have a reason for it, but I don’t think he’ll work out. Control problems probably, but not the only reason.

I think Bushue is clearly the top of this tier (prospects 6-10). Good stuff and projection, good debut in limited action this summer. I think he could step right into Lyles’ footsteps in Lexington.

by byronlhsdrmr on Jan 12, 2026 8:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs