These 3 prospects could contribute to Astros in 2025

HOUSTON -- Despite a farm system that in recent years has been at the bottom of MLB Pipeline’s rankings -- and this year was ranked 30th from among the 30 clubs -- the Astros have continued to churn out impact homegrown players.

The Astros have had a top-five finisher in American League Rookie of the Year voting in nine of the past 10 years, including winners in shortstop Carlos Correa (2015) and slugger Yordan Alvarez (2019). More recently, right-hander Cristian Javier finished third in 2020, right-hander Luis Garcia second in 2021, shortstop Jeremy Peña fifth in 2022 and catcher Yainer Diaz fifth in 2023.

In 2024, the Astros had 13 rookies appear in a game, but none had a bigger impact than right-hander Spencer Arrighetti. The Opening Day pitcher for Triple-A Sugar Land, he made two starts for the Space Cowboys before injuries summoned him to Houston. He spent the rest of the season in Houston’s rotation and was 7-13 with a 4.53 ERA in 29 games (28 starts).

So, who’s next?

Here’s three players to watch who could arrive and make an impact in 2025:

OF Jacob Melton (Astros' No. 1-ranked prospect/ No. 89 overall)

Melton split the season between Double-A Corpus Christi (58 games) and Triple-A Sugar Land (47 games) and slashed .253/.310/.426 with 15 homers, 54 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. His numbers were a tad better at Double-A, which is to be expected, posting a .748 OPS with Corpus Christi and .719 with Sugar Land.

Melton spent time at all three outfield spots last season, playing mostly center field. It’s a position that’s somewhat uncertain for the Astros with Chas McCormick having a poor offensive year and Jake Meyers regressing after a good start. Melton will come to camp with a shot to make the team, especially if McCormick or Meyers is non-tendered.

“Melton’s another guy that could be a big piece for us,” Astros general manager Dana Brown said. “He’s a really good defensive outfielder with power. He has a chance to make an impact.”

IF Brice Matthews (Astros' No. 3)

Matthews, a first-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Nebraska, slashed .265/.384/.481 across three levels last season, posting a .865 OPS. He finished the season with 12 games at Sugar Land, going 6-for-42 (.143) with five RBIs, 19 strikeouts and three walks.

The 22-year-old right-hander slashed .321/.423/.580 at High-A Asheville before his midseason promotion to the Texas League. He’s held his own at Corpus Christi, slashing .253/.376/.497 with nine homers, eight doubles, 16 steals, nine homers and 21 RBIs in 42 games.

The Astros could have an opening at third base next year if they don’t re-sign Alex Bregman, but Matthews will begin the season in Triple-A with a chance to make his debut at some point in 2025. Matthews played 179 innings at third base last season and 417 2/3 at shortstop.

“We really like the way Brice Matthews has been playing,” Brown said. “His overall OPS for the year is somewhere around .860, showing some power. Just have to refine his skill set in terms of defense.”

RHP Ryan Gusto (unranked)

Gusto, a 6-foot-4 right-hander taken in the 11th-round of the 2019 MLB Draft, was scheduled to make his Major League debut by starting the final game of the 2024 regular season in Cleveland, but it was canceled because of rain. Don’t worry, Gusto figures to be in the mix for big league innings in 2025.

Gusto spent the whole season in the Space Cowboys’ rotation and was 8-6 with a 3.70 ERA in 29 appearances (26 starts) with 141 strikeouts in 148 1/3 innings. In 108 innings after June, he posted a 2.08 ERA, a 23.2 percent strikeout rate and 6.4 percent walk rate.

“Ryan Gusto ... had a really good year,” Brown said. “He’s one of the guys that, coming out of Spring Training, was on my mind, and there were times that I felt maybe we were going to have to call him up. But our rotation sort of got right. But he’s definitely a guy that he’s on my radar.”

The Astros’ rotation in 2025 will be anchored by Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco and Arrighetti, with Luis Garcia set to be ready following surgery. Lance McCullers Jr. could also return at some point next year, and Javier and Jose Urquidy should be ready by July after having Tommy John surgery in June 2024.