Houston Astros Top 30 Prospects For 2024 (Mid-Season Update)
Now that the dust has settled from the draft and trade deadline... check out the top prospects in the Astros system!!
1. Jacob Melton, OF
Melton was drafted by the Astros in the 2nd round of the 2022 draft out of Oregon State. Melton had a standout junior year in college slashing .360/.424/.671 with 22 2B, 17 HR, 21 SB as he earned Pac-12 player of the year honors. Melton is a left handed swinging outfielder who stands at 6’3″ and 210 lbs. Melton has an advanced approach at the plate and has above average power with the potential to be plus as he also makes a lot of contact. The lefty is a plus runner on the bases and in the outfield and should stick in center field defensively. This year he has made it up to Triple-A and 11 homers and 22 stolen bases between Double-A and Triple-A. Read more on Melton here.
2. Brice Matthews, SS
Matthews was seen as one of the best athletes in the Big 1o going into the 2023 draft. The 21-year-old had a breakout junior season slashing .359/.481/.723 with 20 HR, 20 SB for Nebraska. He has a quick swing with strong exit velocities, even for his size. Scouts note he has 20-25 HR potential with good pull power. He covers a lot of ground at shortstop and has a strong arm but also the potential to be a plus center fielder if he has to move positions. He has some swing and miss in his game but the other positives make up for it. Matthews has shown off the tools so far this year earning a quick promotion to Double-A. In 55 games this season he has 12 homers and 23 stolen bases.
3. Walker Janek, C
Janek was seen as the best defensive catcher in the draft, showing up a plus arm and a quick release. But he also made huge strides with the bat during college too. The 21-year-old has above average bat speed and the ability to produce 20+ homers at the major league level. He hit .364 with 17 homers, 58 runs batted in and 13 stolen bases in 58 games in 2024 for the Bearkats. His raw power has improved and he has chance to be a gold glove type at catcher while hitting for average and power. He quickly becomes the top catching prospect in the system.n Dezenzo here.
4. Zach Dezenzo, INF
Dezenzo was drafted in the 12th round of the 2022 draft and is looking like an absolute steal. He was a senior who put up a strong year at Ohio State slugging .701 with 19 HR in 51 games before dominating the MLB Draft League. The right-hander has plus power and really strong exit velocities numbers. He is a bat-first prospect who bas played both third base and first base, but has the bat profile to fit at either. This year Dezenzo has made it up to Triple-A and is hitting .310 with 13 doubles, 6 homers in 37 games. Read more on Dezenzo here.
5. Luis Baez, OF
The Astros signed Luis Baez for $1.3 million during the 2022 international signing period. The 19-year-old is well built at 6’1″ and 205 lbs and possesses plus power from the right side. He is a solid athlete but won’t provide a ton on the bases, though he should be an adequate defender in the corner outfield spots. Baez has shown off the bat at times this year, but he hasn’t walked much and strikeouts are a little high, though he is still very young for his league. Read more on Baez here.
See the rest of the top prospects here: https://astrosfuture.com/2024/08/houston-astros-top-30-prospects-for-2024-mid-season-update/