Houston Astros Prospects Update: April 4

The Houston Astros currently has seven top-30 prospects playing for Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys, and they all have a chance to make their MLB debut in 2023.

With three of the Houston Astros top-30 prospects making the Opening Day roster to start the season — pitcher Hunter Brown (No. 1), catcher Yainer Diaz (No. 2) and outfielder Corey Julks (No. 30) — it’s time to take a closer look at the prospects playing at Triple-A Sugar Land.

Seven remaining top-30 prospects for Houston are currently playing for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys to start the year, as the Astros Triple-A squad is off to a 2-1 start on the young season.

Leading off the prospects in Sugar Land is catcher and designed hitter Korey Lee (No. 7), who is currently batting .385 through three games (13 at-bats) with one home run and three RBI.

Outfielder Pedro Leon (No. 8), meanwhile, is slashing .500/.571/.583 at the plate this season (12 at-bats) with one double, while outfielder Justin Dirden (No.9) is batting .308 through three games (13 at-bats) with one double and an RBI.

Misael Tamarez (No. 13), a right-handed pitcher for the Space Cowboys, has yet to see action this season.

Joe Perez (No.16), another infield prospect for the Astros, is batting .125 through two games (8 at-bats) with one home run and three RBI.

Pitcher Forrest Whitley (No. 21), a right-handed hurler from San Antonio, Texas, has yet to see any playing time this season with Sugar Land. He is a top depth option for Houston if he can build up his pitch count.

Right-hander Shawn Dubin (No. 25) rounds out the top-30 prospects in Triple-A, with the young pitcher notching a 6.00 ERA through 3.0 innings pitched, striking out four batters and walking one.

Left-handed pitcher Matt Gage, meanwhile, who almost made the Opening Day roster for the Astros, has struggled to start the season.

Although Gage isn’t ranked in the top-30 prospects, he’s definitely on Houston’s radar as a possible call-up this season but he will need to see improvement.

Thus far in 2023, Gage has a massive 40.50 ERA — although that’s not indicative of how productive he can be on the mound, as Houston fans and coaches witnessed in spring training — allowing three hits and three runs over 0.2 innings pitched with two strikeouts.

The Space Cowboys return to action on Tuesday, April 4, as Sugar Land hosts the Round Rock Express at 6:05 p.m. CT, once again giving Astros prospects a chance to shine in the spotlight as the season rolls on.

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