Here are the Astros' 2025 Top 30 prospects

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 farm systems biannually in 2020, it continues to produce talent to support the big league club. Ronel Blanco, who signed out of the Dominican Republic for $5,000 at age 22 and never was regarded as much of a prospect, threw a no-hitter and led the Astros with a 2.80 ERA in his first full big league season. Spencer Arrighetti, a 2021 sixth-round pick, nailed down a rotation spot last year and finished second among all rookies with 171 strikeouts.

Corner infielder Zach Dezenzo, a 12th-rounder in 2022, homered twice in 15 late-season starts to claim a spot on the Wild Card Series roster. Jake Bloss (third round, 2023), Joey Loperfido (seventh round, '21) and Will Wagner (18th round, '21) all made their big league debuts and were packaged in a midseason trade with the Blue Jays for Yusei Kikuchi.

While the system continues to sit near the bottom of media rankings, its top position player group of third baseman Cam Smith, shortstop Brice Matthews, outfielder Jacob Melton, catcher Walker Janek and Dezenzo is Houston¡¯s best in years. The organization also has a number of pitchers coming off successful seasons at the top two levels of the Minors, most notably power right-hander Miguel Ullola, who led the Minors with a .163 average-against.

Here's a look at the Astros¡¯ top prospects:

1. Cam Smith, 3B (MLB No. 58)
2. Brice Matthews, SS/3B
3. Jacob Melton, OF
4. Walker Janek, C
5. Zach Dezenzo, 3B/1B
Complete Top 30 list ?

Biggest jump/fall

Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2024 preseason list to the 2025 preseason list:

Jump: Anderson Brito, RHP (2024: unranked | 2025: 7)
Signed for just $10,000 in November '23, he earned two promotions in his pro debut and his combined 39 percent strikeout rate ranked fifth among all Minor Leagues with at least 50 innings.

Fall: Kenedy Corona, OF (2024: 12 | 2025: unranked)
One of the best defenders in the system, Corona's OPS dropped from .789 in 2023 to .603 last season while his home run total plummeted from 22 to three.

Best tools

Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.

Hit: 55 -- Cam Smith (Kevin Alvarez)
Power: 60 -- Luis Baez
Run: 60 -- Zach Cole (Chase Jaworsky, Pedro Le¨®n, Brice Matthews, Jacob Melton, Joseph Sullivan)
Arm: 70 -- Zach Cole
Defense: 60 -- Jacob Melton (Zach Cole, Kenni Gomez)
Fastball: 70 -- Miguel Ullola
Curveball: 55 ¨C Juan Bello (Bryce Mayer)
Slider: 60 -- Anderson Brito
Changeup: 65 -- Jackson Nezuh
Control: 55 -- James Hicks (Ryan Forcucci, Colton Gordon)

How they were built
Draft: 20 | International: 8 | Trade: 2

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Breakdown by ETA
2025: 9 | 2026: 9 | 2027: 11 | 2030: 1

Breakdown by position
C: 2 | 3B: 3 | SS: 2 | OF: 8 | RHP: 14 | LHP: 1