HOUSTON -- It was no secret why the Astros traded All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker to the Cubs last December. It was days after free-agent right fielder Juan Soto had signed a massive deal with the Mets. It was clear the price to retain Tucker when he hit free agency

SEATTLE -- Cam Smith had his chance to break out in the top of the fourth inning Tuesday in Seattle, coming up with the bases loaded and two outs. He flied out to right field, stretching his hitless streak to 10 at-bats. Houston’s top prospect wouldn’t come up empty on

With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Astros' Top 30 Prospects are projected to start:

1. Cam Smith (MLB No. 57), 3B -- Houston (MLB)
2. Brice Matthews, SS/3B -- Sugar Land (Triple-A)
3. Jacob Melton, OF -- Sugar Land (Triple-A)
4. Walker Janek, C --

This story was excerpted from Brian McTaggart’s Astros Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

On March 27, 2023, Cam Smith was a Florida State freshman batting .264 with 28 strikeouts through his first 21 college games. Exactly two years later, he will spend Opening Day as a member of the Astros. Smith has just 32 games of pro experience, making his rise to an

HOUSTON -- As Joe Espada aspired to be a big league manager, he dreamed of one day making a future player’s call-up to the Major Leagues a special moment.

HOUSTON -- Standing at the base of the Astros’ dugout steps, Cam Smith, with his bat tucked under his left arm, took a few steps up, pulled on a bright orange batting glove and cracked a wide smile as he headed out for his first batting practice at Daikin Park

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – When players reported to Spring Training more than a month ago, Astros manager Joe Espada was very direct with his messaging to outfield prospect Zach Dezenzo: You have a chance to make this club. Final decisions are looming, and it’s not quite time to make

The MLB Spring Breakout showcase returns with 16 games across the Cactus League and Grapefruit League from March 13-16. Among MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects, 72 are on team rosters for Spring Breakout games, including 20 of the top 30. The Astros’ Spring Breakout roster includes 19 of the organization’s

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Cam Smith, the Astros top prospect who’s impressed the club this spring with how well he’s swung the bat, will get some games at right field in Grapefruit League action sooner rather than later, manager Joe Espada said Tuesday morning. “It’s going to happen fast,”

This story was excerpted from Brian McTaggart's Astros Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Despite being on the same team with players like Jacob Melton, Cam Smith and Chase Jaworsky, 19-year-old Astros prospect

The Astros keep on winning and their unheralded farm system keeps contributing. They made their eighth straight playoff appearance in 2024, though their streak of seven straight American League Championship Series appearances came to an end. Though Houston hasn’t placed higher than 27th since MLB Pipeline started ranking all 30

This weekend at Daikin Park, a Texas baseball tradition that marked its 25th year continues: the Astros Foundation College Classic, in which six college baseball teams descend on the Lone Star state competed in an annual tournament featuring many future MLB stars. “There have been a lot of future Major

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- It didn’t take long for Cam Smith, the Astros’ top-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline (No. 59 overall in '25), to show his stuff in Grapefruit League play on Tuesday. Smith walloped a pair of opposite-field home runs in his only two at-bats in the Astros’

This is an exciting time of year at MLB Pipeline. The new Top 100 prospects list is out, Spring Breakout is right around the corner, and prospects across baseball are making their presence felt in big league camps. The smell of the new season hangs in the air. And that

This story was excerpted from Brian McTaggart’s Astros Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.