Astros prospect running out of time to make Opening Day roster

The Houston Astros entered spring training with several unanswered questions in their outfield, and for a brief moment, it appeared Zach Cole could be part of the solution. With Opening Day approaching, it appears that the promising young outfielder is running out of time to secure a spot on the roster.

Cole, 25, has quietly emerged as one of the Astros' most intriguing prospects since being selected in the tenth round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of Ball State. After hitting.361 during his junior season in college, he signed with Houston for $97,500, but his talent was evident from the start. The left-handed hitter has plus power and speed, allowing him to make an impact at the plate and on the bases.

His breakout came in the 2025 season. Cole caught fire in Double-A, hitting 19 doubles and 14 home runs.868 OPS in 82 games before being promoted to Triple-A Sugar Land. He continued to produce, hitting .353 with five home runs in just 15 games. That surge landed him a late-season call-up to Houston.

Cole took advantage of this opportunity. Filling in for Yordan Alvarez after he suffered an ankle injury, he hit .255/.327/.553 with four home runs and three stolen bases in 15 games, establishing real momentum heading into the postseason.

Despite his strong finish last year, Cole's pursuit of an Opening Day roster spot has stalled this spring.

Cole has a .136/.310/.273 batting line in his first ten Grapefruit League games, spanning 29 plate appearances. While he has drawn a high number of walks and stolen four bases, the Astros have yet to see the consistent production they expected.

Meanwhile, fellow outfield candidates Joey Loperfido and Cam Smith have begun to separate themselves. This spring, Loperfido hit .259/.355/.407, while Smith hit .320/.414/.600.

Strikeouts remain Cole's main concern, as he has fanned in 34.5% of his plate appearances this spring, a trend that has continued throughout his minor league career.

With Houston focused on winning this season, the Astros may eventually decide Cole would benefit from regular at-bats in Triple-A rather than a limited bench role in the majors.

More MLB news:

• ESPN analyst believes Mets' Juan Soto has real chance to post 40 HR, 40 SB season
• Phillies receive trade rumors update regarding Bryce Harper after his performance, actions during WBC
• Pirates' Paul Skenes has realistic chance to make MLB history with sub-2.00 ERA season
• Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. has real chance to break Alex Rodriguez's 30-year hitting record
• How ex-White Sox, Red Sox 3.41 ERA All-Star can 'save' Braves rotation