Inside the Astros

Houston Astros Now Hold Two Top 100 Prospects in Latest Update

The Houston Astros now have two top 100 prospects in a recent rankings update.

Dylan Sanders

Hooks' Brice Matthews bats during the game against the Amarillo Sod Poodles at Whataburger Field on Thursday, August 1, 2024, in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Hooks' Brice Matthews bats during the game against the Amarillo Sod Poodles at Whataburger Field on Thursday, August 1, 2024, in Corpus Christi, Texas. / Angela Piazza/Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK
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The Houston Astros have not been known for their farm system for multiple years, but that does not mean that there aren't any players to get excited about.

Whether it just ends up being an improvement in trade value or actually making an impact for the Astros in the big leagues at some point, a couple of players increased interest in their names this past season.

In the latest Top 100 update from Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter, Houston now has two players representing them. They had another end up in the "next 50" honorable mentions group as well.

C Walker Janek - Honorable Mention

Though he didn't crack the top 100 this time around, the Astros' latest first round pick will likely make his way there at some point.

Janek was the 2024 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year but also had a great season at the plate. He posted a .364/.476/.709 slash line during his final collegiate campaign.

His professional debut did not see the same instant success, but it was a small sample size over just 25 games. The first full offseason and season of play in the minors will say a lot about where his career is headed.

SS Brice Matthews - No. 88

Matthews was one of the quickest risers in the Houston system this season as he quickly proved his bat was translating well.

He played his way all the way up from rookie ball to Triple-A this past year. While his bat's production did drop drastically with each jump, it is still an impressive feat.

Overall, he posted a .265/.384/.481 slash line with 15 home runs and 44 RBI. He stole 32 bases to boot.

The 22-year-old had a 20/20 season in his final year in college, but few expected him to get so close to doing it this fast as a pro.

OF Jacob Melton - No. 80

Melton's bat has also translated well from college to professional baseball, and he has maintained solid production throughout his minor league career.

He posted a .253/.310/.426 slash line with 15 home runs and 30 stolen bases, producing fairly even splits between Triple-A and Double-A this year.

The Astros could give him a chance in the Majors next season if he has an impressive Spring Training. Their outfield was fairly week and could use a breakout star to improve the results in 2025.

The 23-year-old could also be a popular name in trade talks this offseason if Houston looks to make a splash.

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Dylan Sanders
DYLAN SANDERS

Dylan Sanders graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree from the Manship School of Mass Communication in 2023. He was born in raised in Baton Rouge, LA but has also lived in Buffalo, NY. Though he is a recent graduate, he has been writing about sports since he was in high school, covering different sports from baseball to football. While in college, he wrote for the school paper The Reveille and for 247Sports. He was able cover championships in football, baseball and women's basketball during his time at LSU. He has also spent a few years covering the NFL draft and every day activities of the New Orleans Saints. He is a Senior Writer at Inside the Marlins and will also be found across Sports Illustrated's baseball sites as a contributing writer. You can follow him on Twitter or Instagram @dillysanders

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