Format = Place Participant | Age on 4/1/2025 | Highest Degree Performed | Estimated Time of Arrival
1. 3B Cam Smith | 22 | AA | 2025
The 14th total choose by the Cubs on this summer season’s draft, Smith skipped blissfully by the A-levels in simply 27 video games, blasting six dwelling runs in 15 Low-A video games and slashing .333/.421/.500 in 12 Excessive-A video games earlier than rounding out the season with 5 video games with Double-A Tennessee. Houston noticed sufficient to focus on the 6’3” 224 lb righty within the Kyle Tucker commerce. Smith offers the membership a ready-soon third-base prospect within the wake of Alex Bregman’s departure, although with Isaac Paredes additionally on the town, Smith could must strive some outfield.
2. RHP Miguel Ullola | 22 | AAA | 2025
Ullola allowed simply 72 hits in 127.1 Double-A innings however recorded a 4.24 ERA as a result of he allowed 73 walks. The 1.14 WHIP he was left with is fairly variety on the eyes, however you’ll be able to see the trail to higher outcomes. He leans on a double-plus fastball, and guys like to put off lots of pitches as a result of he’s all over, however his mixture of slider, curve and alter might work alongside that fastball if he might simply command two of these persistently and present the others, by which I imply the stuff is nasty, he’s received good stability and athleticism all through his supply, so I’m betting the non-fastball choices will enhance throughout time as he’s uncovered to higher-level teaching.
3. OF Jacob Melton | 24 | AAA | 2025
A left-handed batter at 6’2” 208 lbs, Melton hit properly at Oregon State and hit properly with picket bats within the Western Canadian League as a 19-year-old and appears like a reasonably secure wager to maintain hitting. He’s additionally a plus runner in an period when 30 steals is only a frame of mind. He went 15/30 in 105 video games throughout two ranges in 2024 and can be a risk for 20/30 as an enormous leaguer if he can lock down a job.
4. SS Brice Matthews | 23 | AAA | 2025
A primary-round choose in 2023, Matthews flew by the system in 2024, taking part in at 4 ranges in simply 79 video games and slashing .265/.384/.481 with 15 dwelling runs and 32 stolen bases. He ran out of fuel in Triple-A and batted simply .143 in 12 video games there, however I can’t maintain that towards a man on the finish of a wonderful season. At 5’10” 190 lbs with straightforward pull energy from the correct aspect, he’s tailor made for the Minute Maid.
5. 1B Zach Dezenzo | 24 | MLB | 2024
A right-handed hitter at 6’5” 220 lbs, Dezenzo was a four-year starter at Ohio State who slugged .701 as a senior after slugging .732 with picket bats within the MLB Draft League. It is a theme for Houston, who likes to see a little bit success sans aluminum and has reaped some middle-round rewards within the course of. Dezenzo was a twelfth spherical choose in 2022 and has already sipped 19 video games value of big-league espresso after slashing .323/.425/.573 with 5 dwelling runs and the steals in 25 Triple-A video games. Houston blocked Dezenzo by signing Christian Walker for 3 years, however it will make sense for them to provide this man an opportunity in 2025.
6. OF Pedro Leon | 26 | MLB | 2024
Leon will flip 27 on Could 28, so it’s type of an understatement to say 2025 appears like now or by no means for a man who has performed THREE FULL SEASONS in Triple-A. That’s not the craziest final result on the earth, however it will’ve been fairly unthinkable when the group signed Leon out of Cuba for $4 million. In 118 video games there this season, Leon slashed .299/.372/.514 with 24 dwelling runs and 29 stolen bases whereas the Astros struggled to search out outfield manufacturing on the large league membership. Proof means that the previous is prologue, and that Leon received’t get a lot of a glance this 12 months both, however he’d be attention-grabbing for our sport if he ever received on the sector.
7. OF Luis Baez | 21 | AA | 2026
A right-handed hitter with an enormous swing at 6’1” 225 lbs, Baez has proven an aggressive strategy that produces good energy however a weak on-base share. He slashed .258/.301/.462 with 21 dwelling runs and 11 stolen bases in 106 video games throughout two ranges the place he was among the many youthful gamers. That’s fairly good, and Baez seemed to be experimenting with persistence at season’s finish, strolling at a 13.1 % clip in his 14 video games at Double-A. He’ll flip 21 this week on January eleventh. Comfortable birthday, Luis!
8. 3B Shay Whitcomb | 26 | MLB | 2024
A fifth spherical pick of UC San Diego in 2020 who signed for $56,000, Whitcomb has by no means been the very best chance prospect, however he’s posted good outcomes all through his professional profession, and 2024 was his greatest season but. In 108 Triple-A video games, he slashed .293/.378/.530 with 25 dwelling runs, 26 stolen bases and a 19.8 % strikeout fee: an 11.3 % enchancment from 2023. This earned him a 20-game stint with Houston, however he solely received 46 sporadic plate appearances there and didn’t thrive, slashing .220/.304/.293 regardless of placing out simply 17.4 % of the time.
9. OF Zach Cole | 24 | AA | 2026
A plus defensive heart fielder with lefty energy and plus velocity, Cole received’t must max out within the batter’s field to turn out to be a practical main leaguer. 2024 was a down 12 months powerful. He slashed .214/.302/.408 with ten dwelling runs and 14 stolen bases in 70 Double-A video games, however that’s in all probability sufficient to wave him alongside to Triple-A given the defensive worth. He’s in all probability a free-agent stage dynasty participant till he places collectively a loud stretch.
10. C Walker Janek | 22 | A+ | 2027
The twenty eighth total choose within the 2024 draft, Janek is a defense-first catcher who hit simply .175 in 25 Excessive-A video games as an expert. Secure to say he ought to’ve began his profession in Low-A popping out of Sam Houston, however that’s water underneath the bridge now. At his greatest, Janek brings plus energy with the type of protection that opens doorways for him.
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