The 2026 MLB First-Year Player Draft will take place July 11-13 in Philadelphia. The Houston Astros will start off with two first-round picks: 17 and 28. The 28th overall pick was awarded to them after Hunter Brown finished in the Top 3 of last season’s Cy Young Award voting. They will also receive a pick after the 4th round as compensation for the Tigers signing Framber Valdez. Right now, this pick is #134. Provided that they don't make any free agent signings that will require draft pick compensation, the Astros will have 12 picks in the first 10 rounds. Spoiler Baseball America’s first stab at the 2026 draft has the Astros picking Florida RHP Liam Thompson at #17. Elite stuff, suspect control. Where have we heard this before? 77% whiff rate on slider, 93% on the change… that’ll do. Thompson is described as a nice project for a player development staff that thinks they could fix him. With the 28th pick, BA has the Astros taking Auburn 2B Chris Rembert. Rembert is described as being one of the most polished college hitters in this year’s class. He had been bothered by an ankle injury to start the year, but is still slashing .323/.436/.419. Here are the Astros' selections within the first 10 rounds: 1. 1-17 (Round 1, Pick 17) 2. 1-28 (Prospect Promotion Incentive pick awarded for Hunter Brown finishing in the Top 3 of the Cy Young Award voting) 3. 2-57 4. 3-93 5. 4-121 6. Compensation B, pick 134 (Compensation for Tigers signing Framber Valdez) 7. 5-155 8. 6-182 9. 7-212 10. 8-242 11. 9-272 12. 10-302
Players I would like at 17 or 28: SS Eric Becker 3B Ace Reese SS Rocco Moniscalso SS Tyler Bell SS Tyler Spangler Rembert is a pretty high floor prospect but it is kind of hard to get too excited about a guy whose ceiling comps are Howie Kendrick and Christian Moore. At 57 I like SS Archer Horn, 3B Beau Peterson, and SS Connor Comeau. This draft is the most important task of Dana Brown’s career, even though it seems unlikely that he will still be GM of the Astros when its final verdict is rendered.
IMO, the Astros 2028 starting SS is not currently in the organization. He must be by February 2028 but there is a world where Dana Brown isn't. The draft is the next chance to get that player. Ideally, there is a high ceiling college SS who can stick there and be ready in less than 2 seasons. But I could see Brown going with the best prospect available that should impress immediately, regardless of position, in order to keep his job. I still think trading Jeremy next offseason is best, but that would require a legit SS already in the system or included in the trade.
If he falls to 17 I would love to see the Astros draft Caden Sorrell Left hand hitting OF with power, athletic enough to play CF Dad and both grandpa's played in MLB Would be a perfect fit
This team needs high ceiling middle infielders who can stay up the middle, especially with the arm and range to stick at SS. I know 50% of an average draft is pitching and it feels like 50% of all position players are SS but the Astros have taken guys who all end up moving. Maybe picking earlier allows a dude to fall. Maybe they simply haven't prioritized those tools in the past but I think its crucial that they get at least one of those guys very early this year.
Yeah I really have no interest in Houston drafting a pitcher in the top 2 rounds any time soon. Between the standard bust risk and Houston’s proven ability to get value there later in the draft, it just doesn’t make sense. Outside of that I want them to draft the best player available, whether that’s a catcher, outfielder, or infielder, but really hope it works out to where their top 3 picks this year are guys who project to stick at 2B, SS, or 3B.
Oh wow, I had no idea you get a 1st round pick for finishing in the top 3 of the CY young. Too cool!!! I must admit what a pleasant surprise. Perhaps this way the Astros can start to have a much deeper system with top tier talent. Sure they are good finding diamonds in the rough, but the near sure-fire ML level-stars is also good to have in the system.
Just because it takes 5+ years to really grade a draft and I don’t think Brown has that kind of longevity. He’s done well in some areas and poorly in others but reality is he probably doesn’t survive the next season Houston misses the playoffs. I think Crane has a quick trigger on front office firings and I also think Crane could sell the team in the next few years in which case the new owner would very likely bring in their own GM/POBO.
Fair enough . I feel like if Houston missed the playoffs then Dana would get to make a managerial choice before he gets axed . I can see your point tho . Even if we say Harder was cranes choice . Brown seems 0-2 on javier and Christian walker . If we flop because of Imai and burrows then despite how much I like him as a talent evaluator he will have been disastrous in trades and FA .
I think it's an incentive to start rookies rather than bench them to get an extra year of control. I don't think it's JUST for any top 3 pitcher.
