Team Outlook
The Astros finished second in the AL West, trailing by three games, ending their four-year reign in the division. Known for their dominance, they have claimed the AL West title seven times in the last decade and secured two World Series championships in four opportunities. With Yordan Alvarez back to full health and the recent additions of Mike Burrows and Tatsuya Imai to their pitching roster, the team is aiming to reclaim their top position. The selection of Xavier Neyens and Ethan Frey has brought promising batting prospects to their farm system, further enhanced by the signing of Kevin Alvarez. After making a brief appearance last year, Brice Matthews is eager to make his mark in the majors again. While Houston’s farm system may not possess the high-profile potential of others in the league, it features intriguing talents and numerous potential contributors to strengthen their core lineup.
About Our Top 20 Lists
Prospects Live, under the leadership of evaluating team Director of Scouting Rhys White, is pleased to begin releasing its annual offseason organizational reports. Combining feedback from the industry, firsthand observations, film analysis, and available data, the team aims to provide readers with the most accurate assessment of the prospects within each organization.
Our list is based on the Overall Future Potential (OFP) scale. Though there is no flawless method for ranking prospects or valuing them, we believe this approach offers a comprehensive perspective. Each prospect is rated according to the standard 20-80 scouting scale, where 80 signifies the highest potential, typically for MVP-caliber players, while 20 indicates a non-prospect (NP). An OFP of 50 signifies a player expected to be a solid average major league contributor. Ratings below 50 include 45s and 40s, representing specialized players such as platoon hitters or utility players. Conversely, 55s and 60s denote above-average and potential All-Star players, respectively.
In addition to tool grades and OFP, we will also assess a ‘Risk’ factor for each prospect. This helps convey whether a prospect’s rating is more optimistic or cautious. Our evaluation team has meticulously integrated both grading and risk considerations to better illustrate each prospect’s standing within their system and the broader baseball landscape.
Evaluators: Brandon Tew, Daniel Barrand, Gabriel Estevez, Grant Carver, Jacob Maxwell, Matt Seese, Mitch Stachnik, Nate Jones, Neal Dave, Trevor Hooth
Find all the Top 20 Lists here:
2026 Team Prospect Lists – Prospects Live
Top 20 Prospects at a Glance
1. Xavier Neyens, SS – 50 OFP
2. Walker Janek, C – 50 OFP
3. Parker Smith, RHP – 50 OFP
4. Joseph Sullivan, OF – 45 OFP
5. Ethan Frey, OF – 45 OFP
6. AJ Blubaugh, RHP – 45 OFP
7. Ryan Forcucci, RHP – 45 OFP
8. Brice Matthews, 2B – 45 OFP
9. Bryce Mayer, RHP – 45 OFP
10. Ethan Pecko, RHP – 45 OFP
11. Miguel Ullola, RHP – 45 OFP
12. Jackson Nezuh, RHP – 45 OFP
13. Ramsey David, RHP – 45 OFP
14. Alimber Santa, RHP – 45 OFP
15. Alonzo Tredwell, RHP – 45 OFP
16. Kevin Alvarez, OF – 45 OFP
17. Jancel Villarroel, UTIL – 40 OFP
18. Zach Cole, OF – 40 OFP
19. Trey Dombroski, LHP – 40 OFP
20. Javier Perez, RHP – 40 OFP
Scouting Reports
Find Scouting Reports, Tool Grades, and Dynasty Outlooks in each toggle section.
