The Astros have been winning for a decade so it is normal to see some of their best players aging. Jose Altuve is still here, but many others are gone, and some of their best veterans are now into the middle of their careers.
Through trades and the draft, however, the Astros have begun to rebuild a farm system that has been consistently ranked near the bottom of the league. Better yet, some of those players may be ready to contribute sooner rather than later. Here are five players under the age of 25 who are close to making a direct impact on the major league roster.
1. Cam Smith
Age: 21
Position: 3B, Outfield
Acquired: Trade with Cubs
If you weren’t aware of Smith, arguably the most important piece of the Kyle Tucker trade, you may want to check Tuesday’s box score in Spring Training when Smith launched a pair of home runs including one to the opposite field. Smith is the number one prospect in the Astros system and a player with all kinds of athletic gifts. During the TV broadcast of Tuesday’s game, GM Dana Brown sang his praises saying he could see Smith, eventually, as a franchise cornerstone. Brown thinks Smith will contribute sometime within the next 18 months as the team works to increase his flexibility to play multiple positions. Ultimately, he could be the team’s third baseman of the future, but his future looks very bright.
2. Jacob Melton
Age: 24
Position: Outfield
Acquired: Drafted, 2nd round, 2022
Melton had a minor injury to start Spring Training that could keep him off the Opening Day roster, but don’t expect him to be in Sugar Land long. The team’s second best prospect (former number one before the arrival of Smith) is a skilled outfielder with a smooth swing and power from the left side of the plate, something the Astros lack this year after moving Tucker. He’s no spring chicken at 24, but he has moved quickly through the minors, something Brown is fond of doing, and he should be at Diakin Park early in the season.
3. Brice Matthews
Age: 22
Position: Infield
Acquired: Drafted, 1st round, 2023
This is a guy to watch who could sneak onto the roster by Opening Day. Matthews, a natural shortstop who has been playing a ton of second base, is the kind of quick athletic player the Astros love. He has a terrific combination of speed and power for a middle infielder and shows impressive range on the diamond. Given Altuve’s transition to left field, there is an opening. Newly acquired Brendan Rodgers should get the first look at second and utility whiz Mauricio Dubon will see plenty of time there, but Matthews looks like the real deal. If he doesn’t win the job at second this spring, it’s only a matter of time before he does.
4. Zach Dezenzo
Age: 24
Position: 3B, Right Field
Acquired: Drafted, 12th round, 2022
Dezenzo appeared in 19 games for the Astros last year picking up a couple of homers and flashing a solid glove in the outfield, which is where the Astros hope to test the versatile Dezenzo. Because he also plays a competent third and first, he could be a handy utility player. And with plenty of options still remaining for him, someone the team could move quickly back and forth from the Space Cowboys as needed.
5. A.J. Blubaugh
Age: 24
Position: Pitcher
Acquired: Drafted, 7th round, 2022
Probably not too many Astros fans are familiar with Blubaugh, but they might this year or next. Blubaugh is a big, strong righty who expanded his arsenal of pitches to five over the last couple seasons. He had a breakout year at Triple-A Sugar Land last year where he went 12-4 in 124.2 innings pitched (25 starts) with just a 3.41 ERA in the hitter friendly Pacific Coast League. The only thing holding him back this year is the fact that the Astros have a crowded starting rotation and they don’t seem inclined to move him to the bullpen just yet. Any injury to a starter however could result in a Blubaugh call up.
