Future Astros might be shaped by rising stars.

HOUSTON – The Astros’ remarkable streak of eight consecutive playoff appearances wouldn’t have been possible without significant contributions from their Minor League system. Despite their farm system dropping to 30th in the rankings in 2024, Houston still had a player finish in the top five for American League Rookie of the Year voting in nine out of the last ten seasons (2014-23).

The organization remains optimistic about its emerging talent, many of whom made an impact in 2024. Here’s a look at some Astros prospects you could hear more about soon:

3 players who made a strong impression.

RHP Ethan Pecko (Astros’ No. 18 prospect)
Pecko, selected in the sixth round of the 2023 Draft from Towson University, was honored as the Astros’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2024. He posted a 3.47 ERA over 26 games (15 starts) across three levels: Single-A Fayetteville, High-A Asheville, and Double-A Corpus Christi. In 96 innings, the 22-year-old struck out 125 batters, finishing with a 1.21 WHIP and holding opponents to a .219 batting average. Pecko ranked second in Houston’s Minor League system in strikeouts per nine innings (11.72) and fourth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.38).

Anderson Brito’s five strikeouts

RHP Anderson Brito (Astros’ No. 8 prospect)
Signed for $10,000 out of Venezuela in November 2023, Brito broke into pro ball by posting a 0.40 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League. He earned two promotions in the next two weeks and continued to thrive, finishing with 27 1/3 innings at Fayetteville (2.63 ERA, 1.24 WHIP). Brito’s fastball has jumped about 5 mph since he turned pro, and he now operates in the mid-90s and reaches 99 mph with quality carry up in the zone.

James Hicks strikes out six batters

RHP James Hicks (Astros’ No. 15 prospect)
Hicks’ first full season in pro ball in 2024 saw him appear in 25 games (12 starts) across three levels, finishing with 12 games (five starts) for Corpus Christi. He had a combined 3.82 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP, 115 strikeouts and only 29 walks in 106 innings. Hicks pounds the strike zone with six pitches that work well together because of his ability to mix them. He can pitch to both corners while keeping hitters off-balance, though he doesn’t have much margin for error.

2 breakout players to watch in 2025

CF Joseph Sullivan (not ranked)
The Astros got only a glimpse of Sullivan after taking him in the seventh round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of South Alabama. He appeared in 20 games at Fayetteville and posted a .740 OPS with 13 walks, 11 strikeouts and eight steals. In three seasons at South Alabama, he slashed .271/.436/.528 with 25 homers, 16 doubles, seven triples and 45 stolen bases — a nice blend of power and speed from the left-hand side of the plate. He’s the grandson of 1971 Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan.

Jancel Villarroel plates

C Jancel Villarroel (Astros’ No. 26 prospect)
In his first taste of full-season professional baseball in 2024, Villarroel appeared in 54 games at Fayetteville and slashed .233/.339/.321, displaying the advanced strike zone judgment he first showed in the Dominican Summer League (.435 OBP in ’23). Signed for $10,000 out of Venezuela in June 2022, Villarroel is a 5-foot-8 catcher with solid speed who also started games at first base, second, third, left field and center last season. He’s an intriguing hitter who could wind up as some sort of version of Isiah Kiner-Falefa with more thump, if not Gold Glove defense.

1 big prospect question for next season

Miguel Ullola’s fifth strikeout

Can RHP Miguel Ullola (Astros’ No. 7 prospect) continue to progress by refining his control and lowering his walk totals?
Ullola should be in the rotation at Triple-A Sugar Land next season after striking out 166 batters in 127 1/3 innings with a 4.24 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 27 games (23 starts) at Corpus Christi in ’24. Ullola, who signed for $75,000 out of the Dominican Republic at 18 1/2 years old, possesses one of the biggest arms in the system and has averaged 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings in the Minor Leagues, but he’s also averaged 6.1 walks per nine innings — something he’ll have to improve to fulfill his potential.