As Houston makes its way through the offseason, it’s a good time to check out the Astros’ rising stars. One player to keep an eye on is Jacob Melton, who has shown potential after making his debut in the majors in the 2025 season.
The 25-year-old outfielder attended Oregon State, where he first gained attention for his outstanding performance during the 2022 season. Soon after, Melton was drafted by the Houston Astros in the second round of the June 2022 amateur draft. His official signing was finalized on July 17, 2022.
Melton made a name for himself even before he hit the minor leagues. While at Oregon, he set the school’s single-season records for total bases and RBIs, while also hitting 17 home runs and stealing 21 bases, consistently showcasing his talent. After a memorable college performance, he carried over his skills into the minors. Here’s a look at his stats, per MILB.
2025 Minor League Season: AVG: .286, HR: 6, RBI: 17, SB: 12, OBP: .389, SLG: .556, OPS: .945
2024 Minor League Season: AVG: .253, HR: 15, RBI: 54, SB: 30, OBP: .310, SLG: .426, OPS: .736
2023 Minor League Season: AVG: .245, HR: 23, RBI: 55, SB: 46, OBP: .334, SLG: .467, OPS: .801
2022 Minor League Season: AVG: .261, HR: 4, RBI: 13, SB: 5, OBP: .353, SLG: .466, OPS: .819
After two successful seasons in the minors, Melton made his official major league debut on June 1, 2025. All it took for Melton to create a core memory for the fans in the stadium and for himself was one hit. His first at-bat resulted in a base hit, and the fans got to their feet as the stadium erupted. It was a close play that was challenged, but the replay showed the hit would stand. All of his hard work in Triple A paid off. His major league career has only just started, but looking at his stats, he has carried over his talent into the majors, per MILB.
2025 Major League Season: AVG: .157, HR: 0, RBI: 7, SB: 7, OBP: .234, SLG: .186, OPS: .420
This 25-year-old outfielder has already made an impression in the majors and on Houston fans. With a solid career early on, starting at Oregon, then in the minors, and carrying over his drive and skill into the majors, Jacob Melton is definitely one to watch in the 2026 season.