The Astros made a minor league deal with 26-year-old Houston native Christian Roa. The right-handed pitcher attended Texas A&M and has been playing in the minor leagues since being drafted.
Roa was a second-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 2020. Three years later, he was added to the Reds’ 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
He struggled in Triple-A during the 2024 season and suffered a right shoulder injury late in the year that ended his season. The Reds tried to hold onto him through waivers, but the Marlins claimed him.
After joining Miami, Roa spent most of the 2025 season with Triple-A Jacksonville. He posted solid results, and the Marlins called him up for the final few weeks of the season. In the majors, he threw three scoreless innings across two appearances, striking out three and walking three.
So what is this young pitcher known for? He features a four-seam fastball and sinker, both sitting around 95–96 mph, and primarily pairs his fastballs with a slider in the mid-80s. Originally a starter, Roa has transitioned to a full-time bullpen role over the last couple of seasons.
The Astros organization seems focused on adding pitching depth. With all these new additions in both the majors and minors, Roa has an intriguing opportunity to carve out a role in Houston’s system.