Note: This is the last Baseball America Prospect Report of 2025. We look forward to kicking off the 2026 season in late February once spring training returns, and we thank you for your daily support throughout the year. If you’d like to stay up to date with BA throughout the offseason, please consider subscribing to the Baseball America Newsletter below.

Astros Top 10 Prospects For 2026

Today, we're unveiling the 10 best prospects in the Astros system entering 2026.

The top of the Astros system is headlined by Jacob Melton, a toolsy outfielder who should be ready to contribute everyday production in the big leagues in 2026.

Baseball America's Geoff Pontes is hosting a chat at 2 p.m. ET to discuss Melton and the overall state of Houston's farm system.

Projected 2029 Astros Lineup

Catcher: Walker Janek (26)
First Base: Ethan Frey (25)
Second Base: Brice Matthews (27)
Third Base: Xavier Neyens (22)
Shortstop: Jeremy Peña (31)
Left Field: Zach Cole (28)
Center Field: Jacob Melton (28)
Right Field: Cam Smith (26)
Designated Hitter: Jose Altuve (39)

No. 1 Starter: Hunter Brown (30)
No. 2 Starter: Spencer Arrighetti (29)
No. 3 Starter: Ronel Blanco (35)
No. 4 Starter: Anderson Brito (24)
No. 5 Starter: A.J. Blubaugh (28)
Closer: Miguel Ullola (27)

Listed below are the prospects with the best tools within the organization. To go directly to Houston's Top 10, click here.

Astros Best Tools

Best Hitter: Kevin Alvarez
Best Power Hitter: Xavier Neyens
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Jacob Melton
Fastest Baserunner: Joseph Sullivan
Best Athlete: Zach Cole
Best Fastball: Anderson Brito
Best Curveball: Anderson Brito
Best Slider: A.J. Blubaugh
Best Changeup: Jackson Nezuh
Best Control: James Hicks
Best Defensive Catcher: Walker Janek 
Best Defensive Infielder: Brice Matthews
Best Infield Arm: Xavier Neyens
Best Defensive Outfielder: Jacob Melton
Best Outfield Arm: Luis Baez

Editor’s Picks

Top Dynasty Outfielders: Baseball America presents 2026 dynasty rankings for the game’s top 130 outfielders and utility players. Read more…

Data Regulation: J.J. Cooper shares eight key takeaways from MLB’s plan to regulate data across the minors, as first reported by The Athletic. Read more…

Nats-Red Sox Swap: The Red Sox and Nationals exchanged Luis Perales and Jake Bennett, a deal of pitching prospects ranked squarely in their respective Top 10s. Read more…

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