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The 2026 MLB Draft is officially in the rearview mirror, and the Houston Astros’ newest additions are already making their mark.
ESPN MLB insider Kiley McDaniel recently released his updated rankings of each organization’s top 10 prospects, and three 2026 draft picks immediately made Houston’s list. McDaniel’s top 10 Astros prospects are as follows, with bolded names denoting 2026 draft picks:
- Kevin Alvarez, CF
- Xavier Neyens, 3B
- Logan Hughes, LF
- Jack Radel, RHP
- Beau Peterson, 3B
- Ethan Frey, RF
- Ethan Pecko, RHP
- Bryce Mayer, RHP
- Walker Janek, C
- Albert Fermin, SS
Hughes was selected with the No. 17 overall pick after the outfielder hit .362 with a 1.245 OPS, 18 home runs, and 70 runs batted in at Texas Tech on his way to earning All-Big 12 First Team honors this spring.
Radel became Houston's second first-round selection at No. 28 overall after the Astros received a Prospect Promotion Incentive pick following Hunter Brown’s third-place finish in the 2025 AL Cy Young Award voting. The right-handed pitcher earned All-ACC First Team honors this season after posting a 3.29 ERA with 116 strikeouts across 87.2 innings while serving as the Friday night starter for Notre Dame.
Houston added Peterson in the fourth round at No. 133 overall using the compensation pick awarded after Framber Valdez rejected the Astros’ qualifying offer and signed with Detroit in free agency last winter. Peterson hit .535 with 24 extra-base hits and a 1.536 OPS for Mill Valley H.S. (Shawnee, KS) and was named Gatorade Kansas Baseball Player of the Year.
As Hughes, Radel, Peterson, and the rest of the class begin their professional careers, the Astros will look to develop their newest additions into key pieces for the future.
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