Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be rolling out a series of prospect previews for Spring Training. This week we look at one possibly one of the highest potential players in the system: Zach Cole
Zach Cole was selected by the Astros in the 10th round of the 2022 draft after hitting .361 as a junior at Ball State. He signed for just $97,500, but the upside was evident. An elite athlete, the left-handed hitter and thrower possesses plus power and speed, tools that show up both on the bases and in center
field.
In his first full professional season, Cole hit .258 with 20 doubles, 19 home runs, 37 stolen bases, and an .869 OPS across two levels. The production was loud, though swing-and-miss concerns remained. The 2024 season proved more challenging, as injuries and adjustments at Double-A led to some growing pains.
2025, however, told a different story. After a slow start, Cole caught fire in Double-A, posting 19 doubles, 14 home runs, and an .868 OPS over 82 games. He earned a promotion to Triple-A and continued to rake, hitting .353 with five home runs in just 15 games before receiving a call-up to Houston, where he posted an .880 OPS with four home runs in 15 games. Overall, he totaled 22 doubles, seven triples, 19 home runs, and a system-leading 151 wRC+ across 97 minor league games. Read more on Cole here.
Do you think Cole will be a full-time player at the major league level?
