Houston Astros 2024 MLB Draft Report Card

Best Pure Hitter: The Astros have a top-heavy hitting class with catcher Walker Janek (1) inking a $3.1 million deal and no other hitter signing for more than $500,000. Unsurprisingly, he’s the most exciting hitter of the group coming off a .364/.476/.709 slash line with Sam Houston State in 2024 while projecting an average hit tool.

Best Power Hitter: Janek (1) has a solid blend of hitting ability and power potential. Most of his power goes to the pull-side, and it’s more solid-average game power potential than plus, but he went from seven, to 13, to 17 home runs in each season in college and had a solid 105.4 mph 90th-percentile exit velocity with a metal bat. 

Fastest Runner: Outfielder Joseph Sullivan (7) is a plus runner who has been a consistent stolen base threat in college. He went 45-for-53 (84.9%) in his career with South Alabama, and stole eight bags in 20 games in his pro debut, though that came at a 66.7% success rate.

Best Defensive Player: Walker (1) was regarded as one of the top defensive catchers in the class and checks all the boxes for an impact defender at the position. He’s a consistently strong receiver, moves well behind the plate, has soft hands and blocking ability and has both a plus throwing arm and quick, efficient exchange. He’s a lock to stick at the position and a solid bet to add lots of defensive value at the position. 

Best Fastball: Righthander Ryan Forcucci (3) averaged 93-94 mph and touched 97 last spring with UC San Diego, generating a strong 31% miss rate on the pitch thanks to a above-average riding life from a lower-than-average release height. 

Best Secondary Pitch: Forcucci (3) also has a mid-80s slider that flashes above-average potential with two-plane break and swing-and-miss qualities to his glove side. Righthander Parker Smith (4) has a change for an above-average changeup in the upper 80s.

Best Pro Debut: Sullivan led five Astros debut hitters with a .740 OPS in his 20-game pro debut with Low-A Fayetteville. He hit .250 but showed on-base skills with more walks (13) than strikeouts (11). Righthander Bryce Mayer (16) started two games and pitched in relief in another with Fayetteville. He struck out 10 batters, walked four and posted a 2.84 ERA in 6.1 innings. 

Best Athlete: Sullivan’s (7) speed in the outfield and on the bases, as well as occasional power, could make him a candidate for this category, as could Janek’s (1) impressive mobility behind the plate. 

Most Intriguing Background: Righthander Ramsey David (19) ranked as the No. 301 prospect as a high schooler out of Georgia back in the 2019 class when he showed a projectable frame and advanced feel for pitching. The Diamondbacks drafted him but didn’t sign him, and David is now looking to rediscover his previous command while throwing a significantly harder fastball in the mid-to-upper-90s. 

Closest To The Majors: Smith (4) doesn’t have the most velocity but he has been a consistent strike-thrower for three years with Rice and could have the polish and three-pitch mix to move through the minors quickly. 

Best Day Three Pick (Or NDFA): Righthander Ryan Verdugo (12) had a tremendous 2024 season with Cal State Bakersfield and features a fastball that gets into the mid 90s and a high-spin breaking ball that has potential with more consistent shape.