HOUSTON -- Trading pitcher Jake Bloss, outfielder Joey Loperfido and infielder Will Wagner to the Blue Jays for veteran left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, as well as the graduation of pitcher Spencer Arrighetti has caused some shuffling among the Astros’ Top 30 Prospects.

MLB Pipeline released the midseason re-rankings of its Top 100 Prospects list and Houston’s Top 30 Prospects list on Tuesday, and the Astros had some movement up and down the list, with outfielder Jacob Melton remaining the club’s top prospect. He was promoted to Triple-A Sugar Land last month.

Melton was ranked 65th in MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 at the beginning of the season, but the club doesn’t have a player in the Top 100 following the re-rank. Catcher Walker Janek, the Astros' first-round pick in this year’s MLB Draft, makes his debut at No. 2 on the club’s Top 30 list, while infielder Brice Matthews -- last year’s first-round pick -- remains at No. 3 after moving up from No. 4 earlier in the season. Matthews was placed on the injured list Friday with back spasms.

Let’s break down Houston’s farm system following MLB Pipeline’s midseason update:

Here’s a look at the Astros' top prospects:

1. Jacob Melton, OF
2. Walker Janek, C
3. Brice Matthews, SS/3B
4. Luis Baez, OF
5. Zach Dezenzo, 3B

Complete Top 30 list »

Biggest jump/fall

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

Jump: Chase Jaworsky, SS/2B (Preseason: 29 | Midseason: 13)
Jaworsky is a 6-foot-1 left-handed hitter who was taken in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft from Rock Canyon High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo. He has speed, which he uses defensively to play an elite shortstop, and has a good approach at the plate. Jaworsky was slashing .233/.335/.346 with 32 RBIs, 29 walks and 28 stolen bases through 78 games at Single-A Fayetteville this season. Jaworsky, who turned 20 on July 31, has been on the injured list with a pinky injury since Aug. 1.

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Fall: Waner Luciano, 3B/OF (Preseason: 18 | Midseason: 29)
Signed for a mere $45,000 out of the Dominican Republic, Luciano quickly became one of the most intriguing players in Houston's 2022 international class because of his power. He hit just .238 in his first two pro seasons while still showing good bat-to-ball skills, but he has struggled at the plate this year and went on the developmental list in June to work on his mechanics. Luciano was activated a few weeks later but has since been sent back to the Rookie-level Florida Complex League. He was slashing .187/.299/.270 with 15 extra-base hits in 252 at-bats through 72 games at Single-A Fayetteville before that.

New to the list

Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization:

No. 2, Walker Janek, C (2024 Draft, first round)
No. 12, Ryan Forcucci, RHP (2024 Draft, third round)

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: 50 -- Jancel Villarroel (Kenni Gomez, Walker Janek, Chase Jaworsky, Jacob Melton)
Power: 60 -- Luis Baez
Run: 60 -- Jacob Melton (Zach Cole, Pedro León)
Arm: 70 -- Pedro León (Zach Cole)
Defense: 65 -- Kenedy Corona
Fastball: 70 -- Miguel Ullola
Curveball: 50 -- Jackson Nezuh (A.J. Blubaugh, Anderson Brito, Trey Dombroski, Jose Fleury, Michael Knorr, Rhett Kouba, Alimber Santa, Alonzo Tredwell)
Slider: 60 -- Anderson Brito
Changeup: 65 -- Jackson Nezuh (Jose Fleury)
Control: 55 -- James Hicks (Trey Dombroski, Ryan Forcucci, Rhett Kouba, Alonzo Tredwell)