Top 30 Houston Astros Prospects For Dynasty Leagues In 2024

The next stop on our tour of 2024 Top 30 Organizational Prospect Rankings is the Houston Astros. The Astros have been able to stay competitive and bring up “homegrown” prospects for years despite having one of the lower-ranked farm systems. This creates an interesting opportunity for dynasty managers to be able to trade for some of these lower-ranked Astros prospects that make a difference with the Astros at a fraction of the cost to acquire the top 100 prospects in other systems. The big question is who to target. Let’s take a deep dive into the top 10 prospects in the Astros system for you to target in your dynasty leagues now and check out the rest of the Top 30 ranked out a little further down the page. You are sure to find some gems waiting to be found.

Top 10 Houston Astros Prospects

Jacob Melton, OF

(99 GP, .245/.334/.467, 23 HR, 83 R, 55 RBI, 46 SB)

Drafted in the second round of the 2022 MLB draft out of Oregon State University Jacob Melton put together a solid season in 2023. Melton started the season at High-A Asheville where he slashed .244/.338/.454 with 18 home runs, 73 runs scored, 42 RBIs, and stole 41 bases in 86 games played. The plate discipline was solid as Melton walked 12.2% of the time while only striking out 21.1% across 394 plate appearances. The Astros promoted Melton to Double-A Corpus Christi for the final 13 games of the season where he slashed .250/.304/.558 with five home runs, 10 runs scored, 13 RBIs, and five stolen bases with the Hooks. The walk rate slid a bit to 7.1% while the strikeout rate rose to 28.6% in 56 plate appearances.

HOU OF Jacob Melton base hit in A+ Greensboro off Thomas Harrington. #Ready2Reign @GoTourists @JacobMelton25 @Fantrax pic.twitter.com/O0VSkEkddZ

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) August 1, 2023

For dynasty I like Jacob Melton despite him being the top name on the list he is still relatively cheap to acquire in dynasty leagues. I was able to talk with Jacob Melton while he was in High-A with the Asheville Tourists and I was impressed with how he would approach each at-bat and that he was focusing trying to make solid contact and spread the ball to all fields. There is easy 25-plus home runs power in Melton and before the small stint in Double-A, he would walk above 10% while striking out in the low 20% range. The power and speed will give him an opportunity to play at the major league level and can help your dynasty teams.

Zach Dezenzo, 3B/2B

(94 GP, .305/.383/.531, 18 HR, 80 R, 61 RBI, 22 SB)

Selected in the 12th round of the 2022 MLB draft out of Ohio State Zach Dezenzo made his name known with his performance in 2023. The 23-year-old Dezenzo started the season in High-A Asheville where he slashed .407/.474/.628 with four home runs, 38 runs scored, 20 RBIs, and stole six bases in 31 games played. Dezenzo walked 12% while only striking out 20.3% while with the Asheville Tourists. Houston then promoted Dezenzo to Double-A Corpus Christi where he slashed .257/.339/.486 with 14 home runs, 42 runs scored, 41 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases in just 63 games played. The walk rate dipped to still a respectable 9.4% but the strikeout rate jumped to 28.5% with the Hooks.

For dynasty purposes, this is absolutely an “under the radar” target as Zach Dezenzo hasn’t made it high on prospect rankings yet. There is 20-20- potential here at least early on in his pro career. The power could be what makes Dezenzo stand out most and with a solid eye at the plate he could make a push for the major leagues in 2024.

Joey Loperfido, OF/1B

(124 GP, .278/.370/.510, 25 HR, 79 R, 78 RBI, 27 SB)

If Zach Dezenzo is still considered an “under the radar” prospect, Joey Loperfido is not. Selected in the seventh round of the 2021 MLB draft out of Duke Joey Loperfido was on fire for the first half of the 2023 minor league season. The Astros started Loperfido out in High-A Asheville where he slashed .265/.297/.529 with one home run, five RBIs, and three stolen bases in eight games before being promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi. Once with the Hooks Loperfido hit his stride slashing .296/.392/.548 with 19 home runs, 60 runs scored, 57 RBIs, and stole 20 bases in 84 games played. At the plate, Loperfido showed a disciplined approach walking 12.9% while striking out just 22.2% of the time.

The results once promoted to Triple-A Sugar Land were not as impressive for Loperfido as he slashed .235/.333/.403, with five home runs, 15 runs scored, 16 RBIs, and four stolen bases. The walk rate remained solid at 11.6% while the strikeout rate jumped to 32.6% in 138 plate appearances. It was a large enough sample size to put a pause on the Loperfido craze for me, there is still great upside with Loperfido who has become a super utility player of sorts in 2023. There should be 20-20 potential here long term and as the Astros mainstays like Altuve and Bregman’s contracts come to an end Loperfido might force his way into consideration.

Pedro Leon, OF

(128 GP, .244/.343/.435, 21 HR, 74 R, 72 RBI, 21 SB)

The Astros continue to let Pedro Leon grind away in Triple-A Sugar Land for the third season in a row. Leon got his first taste of Triple-A back in 2021 where he played 17 games with lackluster results. The following season he played 115 games with the Space Cowboys and slashed just .228/.365/.431 with 17 home runs, 71 runs scored, 63 RBIs, and 38 stolen bases with a 14.1% walk percentage and a 28.8% strikeout rate. Obviously, the average and high strikeout rates did not cut it for the Astros who sent him back to Triple-A in 2023 if at first you don’t succeed try again right? Well in 128 games things didn’t really fair better as Leon slashed .244/.343/.435 with 21 home runs, 74 runs scored, 72 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases with an 11.2% walk rate and once again a 28.4% strikeout rate.

The end result for dynasty owners is that I’m not sure what you have here. Leon can hit for some pop and steal some bases but the hit tool did not and has not looked ready to make the jump to the major leagues. The walk rate is so encouraging every season but he can not get the strikeout rate below 28.4% and that just won’t cut it with how the Astros are with their major league club. Despite the high rank here, I would not be betting on Pedro Leon to help your dynasty team in 2024 or beyond for that matter. There is a chance he figures it out but I can find less frustrating options elsewhere.

Brice Matthews, SS

(35 GP, .208/.365/.352, 4 HR, 22 R, 11 RBI, 18 SB)

The Houston Astros have only had two first-round picks since 2019 when they selected Korey Lee 32nd overall. The only other first-round picks in that span were Drew Gilbert (now with the Mets) and Brice Matthews. The early results for Brice Matthews weren’t the most encouraging as he slashed just .208/.365/.352 in 35 games played between rookie ball and Low-A. To understand what the Astros were hoping to get look no further than the season Matthews put up with Nebraska before being drafted. In 54 games played with the Cornhuskers Matthews slashed .359/.481/.723 with 20 home runs, and 20 stolen bases.

We saw the speed when Matthews was drafted as well as a bit of the pop in the bat. What we will need to see going forward is how the bat will fair as he faces more advanced pitchers. There is potential for 20-20 seasons from Brice Matthews and I believe he will start hitting for a better average as he gets more comfortable in the minor leagues. Don’t be scared away by the early numbers with Matthews he could be a quick riser depending on what the Astros do with Altuve who is currently in the last year of his contract.

Alonzo Tredwell, RHP

(9 GS, 45.1 IP, 51 K, 10.1 K/9, 1.213 WHIP, 3.57 ERA)

One of the most exciting arms in the Astros farm system is Alonzo Tredwell. Drafted in the second round of the 2023 MLB draft out of UCLA Tredwell did not pitch after being drafted. If we look back at his time with Bruins Tredwell was a relief pitcher in 2022 appearing in 25 games with a 11.9 K/9, 2.11 ERA, and notched six saves. The Bruins had Tredwell in the rotation in 2023 where he started in nine games striking out 51 batters across 45.1 innings pitched (10.1K/9) with a 3.57 ERA.

Tredwell possesses a plus fastball and slider that has above-average movement inducing swing and miss while in college. The 6’8” righty also features a curveball and change-up something I believe the Astros can improve as they have for many pitchers in their organization. There could be an SP 2 profile here if the Astros are able to get the most out of Tredwell making him an interesting target in FYPD.

Will Wagner, 3B

(65 GP, .337/.420/.518, 7 HR, 44, 38 RBI, 6 SB)

The Astros selected Will Wagner in the 18th round of the 2021 MLB draft out of Liberty University and the now 25-year-old has been flying up the minor league system. Wagner played the majority of his season in Double-A Corpus Christi where he slashed .309/.385/.507 with seven home runs, 36 runs scored, 32 RBIs, and three stolen bases. All the while Wagner showed excellent plate discipline walking 11.1% of the time while only striking out 20.1% across his 234 plate appearances. This set Will Wagner to finish the season with a short stint in Triple-A Sugar Land where he slashed .577/.607/.692 with three runs scored, four RBIs, and two stolen bases in just six games played.

For dynasty managers, this is a solid trade target as a high contact and low strikeout corner infield prospect that has gone largely “under the radar”. There could be 15 home run pop here but it’s the bat that could get him playing time with the Astros and we have seen them be able to get the most out of players like Wagner in the past. I’m buying in now while the cost to acquire is still minimal.

Luis Baez, OF

(58 GP, .248/.357/.481, 11 HR, 30 R, 38 RBI, 1 SB)

There is a high-upside bat in the Astros system currently in the lower minor leagues in Luis Baez. The 19-year-old had a solid debut in the Dominican summer league in 2022 and followed it up with a solid showing in the Astros complex ball and Low-A in 2023. While in complex ball Baez slashed .271/.434/.661 with seven home runs, 15 RBIs, and one stolen base with a 21.1% walk rate and 18.4% strikeout rate across 17 games played. The Astros then promoted Baez to Low-A Fayetteville where he slashed .239/.324/.413 with four home runs, and 23 RBIs with a 9.5% walk rate and 26.8% strikeout rate.

For Baez, there is big raw power here that could translate into 20-25 plus home run power in the major leagues. Now going into his age 20 season I could see the Astros starting him back in Low-A Fayetteville to start the season before moving him up to High-A. The strikeout rate at 26.8% although fine was a bit high for me at the lower level so I will be curious to see how Baez fairs in 2024 as he begins to see more breaking pitches and advanced pitchers.

Rhett Kouba, RHP

(28 GP, 24 GS, 128 IP, 136 K, 9.6 K/9, 1.195 WHIP, 4.36 ERA)

Another late-round prospect making his way up the rankings of the Houston Astros is Rhett Kouba. Drafted in the 12th round of the 2021 MLB draft out of Dallas Baptist Kouba features a fastball, slider, curveball, and change-up with the latter being his most effective pitch. Kouba ascended two levels in 2023 starting in Double-A Corpus Christi where in 23 appearances (21 starts) Kouba struck out 118 batters in 110 innings pitched (9.65 K/9) with a .227 average against and finished with a 3.27 ERA. The walks were solid at 1.88 BB/9 confirming Kouba’s above-average control of his pitch mix.

The Astros promoted Kouba to Triple-A to finish out the season where he appeared in five games (three starts) striking out 18 batters in 18 innings pitched (9 K/9) finishing with a 4.50 ERA. With the jump to Triple-A, the numbers were just alright in the short 18-inning sample size for Kouba. For dynasty owners I would expect Kouba to start the season in Triple-A in 2024 and get back to what we saw in Double-A and with any injuries to the Astro’s starting pitchers, Kouba could be a likely call to fill in and stake a claim like France did in 2023.

Colton Gordon, LHP

(29 GP, 24 GS, 128.1 IP, 151 K, 10.6 K/9, 1.340 WHIP, 4.14 ERA)

The Houston Astros drafted Colton Gordon in the eighth round of the 2021 MLB draft out of Central Florida. Gordon features a fastball, curveball, change-up, and slider the latter being the true out pitch for him paired with his above-average command. We saw bulk innings from Gordon in 2023 as he started the season in Double-A Corpus Christi. Across 20 appearances (18 starts) Gordon struck out 121 batters in 93.1 innings pitched (11.67 K/9) with a 3.47 BB/9, .214 average against, and finished with a 3.95 ERA. Then the Astros promoted Gordon to Triple-A Sugar Land where the numbers took a major step back. In nine appearances (six starts) Gordon struck out only 30 batters in 35 innings pitched (7.71 K/9) with a 5.66 BB/9, .277 average against, and finished with a 4.63 ERA.

📝📈HOU LHP Colton Gordon has been fantastic this season for Corpus Christi. 73 K in 61 IP across 11 starts with a .215 AVG and a 3.98 ERA. This needs to be a stash in deep league formats. #Ready2Reign @ColtonZimGordon @cchooks @UCFKnights @AstrosFuture https://t.co/4lk3Oh4D04

— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) June 21, 2023

For Colton Gordon, it was the tale of two seasons, a dominant 93.1 innings pitched at Double-A and a completely less than dominant performance at Triple-A in 35 innings pitched. If you dig into Gordon’s performance prior to the 2023 season you are seeing double-digit strikeout rates with low walk rates never rising above .150 so I believe Colton Gordon can figure it out and get back to what we saw in Double-A if not a little better with the walk rate. This would give me the confidence to acquire Colton Gordon in deeper dynasty formats.

For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.

Top 30 Houston Astros Prospect Rankings