Familiar young faces to keep an eye on in the 2026 season.
Hunter Brown:
With Framber Valdez likely lost to free agency, Hunter Brown will be anchoring the pitching staff this upcoming season. The 27-year-old made his major league debut on September 5, 2022. In 2025, he made 31 appearances and put up solid numbers.
His ERA was 2.43, and anything under 3.00 is really strong. That shows he does a solid job of keeping runs off the board. He also had 206 strikeouts, proving he can get outs on his own without relying too much on the defense. His WHIP was 1.03, which is excellent, showing he has good control and doesn’t give opponents too many opportunities. Finally, his innings pitched, 185.1 over 31 starts, show durability. While he looked solid and maintained a good workload for a young pitcher, monitoring stamina will be key, per MLB.
Brice Matthews:
A 23-year-old shortstop who made his major league debut on July 11, 2025. He was drafted by the Astros in the first round of the 2023 draft and has already begun to show why the organization views him as a versatile option moving forward.
The Houston native is an elite athlete with speed. He is primarily a shortstop but has also seen time at second base and third base. While his arm and swing still need refinement, having a versatile player on this injury-prone team can be beneficial in a pinch.
Zach Cole:
Cole debuted on September 12, 2025, as an outfielder. Known for his speed and solid defensive instincts, he can cover a lot of ground in the outfield. Offensively, he’s still adjusting to major league pitching, but his athleticism and baseball IQ make him a player to watch in 2026.
Cam Smith:
Smith earned a spot on the 2025 roster thanks to his combination of power, speed, and defensive skills. A right fielder, he’ll need to continue refining his plate discipline, but he brings the potential to be a key contributor in the lineup and an everyday option in the outfield.
Miguel Ullola:
Not a familiar face at the major league level, but familiar to the Astros franchise. He was officially added to the 40-man roster in 2025. The Dominican pitcher posted a 3.88 ERA over 113.2 Triple-A innings with 131 strikeouts. Known for his mid-90s fastball and slider, Ullola will need to manage his control to contribute at the MLB level this season, per MLB.