What other prospects could we see in 2019?
After Corbin Martin's call-up, who's next?
May 20, 2019, 6:55 am
What other prospects could we see in 2019?
After Jose Altuve was sent to the Injured List, the first position player of the year to end up there, the Astros took the opportunity to call up Corbin Martin to make his Major League debut. While Houston fans should hope that there aren't too many more players going to the IL to create these opportunities, George Springer and Aledmys Diaz are both nursing injuries that need further evaluation. So it's fair to ask, who else might we see in 2019?
Let's start with the obvious candidate that has the most buzz surrounding him right now, Yordan Alvarez. He has been DOMINATING in the minors this season, currently batting an incredible .411 average with a 1.378 OPS. He has 18 home runs and 55 RBIs over 39 games this season, placing him firmly on top of the minor-league batting charts.
Yordan had the opportunity to get some major-league action this spring, making the Spring Training roster and getting 49 at-bats with the big-league team. He didn't light up the scoreboard, hitting for a .265 average with 7 RBIs and 14 strikeouts, but his performance since then has shown that his upside is very much worth a chance.
The Astros will likely take their time with Alvarez to avoid any early arbitration or free agency situations, so if they do call him up, it'll likely be in June. Yet, with Tyler White off to a slow start in his DH role, it has many understandably wondering why Alvarez can't be given a shot.
Kyle Tucker was in a very similar situation as Alvarez last year when he got his highly-anticipated call up in July of 2018. He had been putting together great offensive numbers in the minor leagues, however, when brought up to the majors couldn't quite replicate that success.
Tucker was invited to Spring Training this season, where he hit a respectable .276 average, but he still has not quite gotten back to the performance that earned him his debut last season. Still, his ceiling is incredibly high, making it no surprise that he was in pre-season Rookie of the Year prediction talks. He could easily go on a tear and earn another shot at the majors.
Similar to Tucker, Forrest Whitley finds himself struggling recently to live up to his big expectations. Whitley, who is Houston's overall top prospect and ranked number 9 in the league, has had a lot of buzz as being a future starting pitcher for the Astros, especially after being designated as one of the few players Houston would simply not give up in any trade.
Whitley also was brought to Spring Training to get a little major-league exposure. During the spring he pitched 15 innings, over which he allowed five runs giving him an ERA of 3.00 while striking out 11, a respectable result. However, after being sent to the minors to continue improving for his inevitable promotion to the big-league roster, he's struggled heavily. In his 22.1 innings this season for Round Rock, he's allowed a surprisingly high 26 earned runs, giving him an ERA of 10.48. Whitley has very high upside, so he too could turn things around quickly and still make his way onto the Astros' roster, but for now, he needs more time to turn things around in the minors.
Another player currently spending time developing in a Round Rock Express uniform is Myles Straw. Straw made his major-league debut as a September call up in 2018, brought in to give the Astros some speed on the base paths for the playoffs. While he definitely still warrants consideration for his speed, he continues to develop as a hitter, too.
Straw was another invitee to Spring Training, where he hit for a strong .378 with 1 home run and 2 RBIs in his 45 plate appearances. He's continued to do well at the plate in the minors this year, sitting with a .308 average with 15 RBIs over his 38 games. He's not one of the most renown prospects, but his speed and versatility make him a good fit if the Astros should need some depth in the outfield this season.
The Astros are fortunate that these are just four of the many prospects they have in their system that could have big impacts in this and the coming years. All of the years of prospect hoarding in the down years has paid off in a big way, and it's showing via the good problem to have: having major-league caliber players that have to be slowly moved into the big-league system.
The NFL has released its full 2025 regular season schedule, and the Houston Texans are no longer flying under the radar. The league is rewarding Houston with four nationally televised games, including two prime-time Monday Night Football matchups, a Thursday night showdown with the Bills, and a late-season Sunday night contest against the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs.
GET READY FOR THE SHOW 🍿 pic.twitter.com/hRVqP1CIjq
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) May 15, 2025
Here's a breakdown of the Texans' full 2025 slate and what to watch for:
Week 1 – at Rams
Sunday, 3:25 PM CT
Houston opens the season on the road in Los Angeles, a marquee afternoon slot against an NFC contender.
Week 2 – vs. Buccaneers
Monday Night Football, 6:00 PM CT
The Texans return home to a national audience in Week 2, hosting Tampa Bay under the lights at NRG Stadium.
Week 3 – at Jaguars
Sunday, 12:00 PM CT
An early AFC South test on the road in Jacksonville, where divisional stakes are always high.
Week 4 – vs. Titans
Sunday, 12:00 PM CT
Houston faces a familiar foe, looking to assert dominance in the South.
Week 5 – at Ravens
Sunday, 12:00 PM CT
A rematch of last season’s playoff clash, the Texans head to Baltimore for one of their toughest road games.
Week 6 – Bye Week
A well-placed midseason break as Houston gears up for a rugged stretch ahead.
Week 7 – at Seahawks
Monday Night Football, 9:00 PM CT
Another prime-time moment for Houston as they travel to Seattle for a late-night showdown.
Week 8 – vs. 49ers
Sunday, 12:00 PM CT
The 49ers visit NRG in a heavyweight NFC-AFC battle, with both teams eyeing deep playoff runs.
Week 9 – vs. Broncos
Sunday, 12:00 PM CT
Houston looks to capitalize on home-field advantage in back-to-back weeks.
Week 10 – vs. Jaguars
Sunday, 12:00 PM CT
A crucial rematch with Jacksonville that could have major implications in the division race.
Week 11 – at Titans
Sunday, 12:00 PM CT
The Texans head to Nashville for the second leg of their rivalry series.
Week 12 – vs. Bills
Thursday Night Football, 7:15 PM CT
Short week, big stage—Josh Allen and the Bills come to town for a showdown under the lights.
Week 13 – at Colts
Sunday, 12:00 PM CT
Houston travels to Indianapolis in another pivotal AFC South matchup.
Week 14 – at Chiefs
Sunday Night Football, 7:20 PM CT
All eyes will be on Arrowhead as the Texans get their shot at the reigning AFC champs in prime time.
Week 15 – vs. Cardinals
Sunday, 12:00 PM CT
Houston returns home to face an Arizona squad in the late-season playoff push.
Week 16 – vs. Raiders
Sunday, 3:25 PM CT
Another home test for the Texans as they look to stack wins in December.
Week 17 – at Chargers
Date/Time TBD
A potential flex game as the playoff picture takes shape in the AFC.
Week 18 – vs. Colts
Date/Time TBD
The regular-season finale at home could decide the division—or more.
The schedule sets up for a dramatic season with playoff implications likely lasting into Week 18.
Here's a look at the Texans schedule release video:
Say WAZZUPPPPPP to our 2025 Schedule ‼️ pic.twitter.com/nY5Kwh5tWl
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) May 15, 2025
*ChatGPT assisted.
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