This offseason, I’m bringing back a series that focuses on one notable statistic from an Astros minor league player during the 2026 season. The statistic could be good or bad, but it will be something worth highlighting.
STAT OF THE WEEK:
Xavier Neyens finished the 2026 season with a 24.5% walk rate.
Walk percentage (BB%) is a simple statistic that shows the percentage of a player’s plate appearances that end in a walk.
Among all Minor League Baseball players with at least 400 plate appearances, Neyens
had the highest walk percentage. The slugger totaled 114 walks in 103 games while splitting time between Single-A and High-A.
The Astros selected Neyens out of high school in the first round of the 2025 MLB Draft, and so far, he has lived up to expectations. The young hitter showed off elite exit velocities this season while also displaying tremendous patience and a good understanding of the strike zone.
Neyens did have his share of strikeouts, but some of those could be cut down with a slightly more aggressive approach on pitches he can hit. As he continues to develop, finding a balance between being patient and aggressive will be important.
Even with the strikeouts, the 19-year-old put together a strong first full professional season, finishing with a .874 OPS and 137 wRC+. He also connected on 20 home runs and stole 19 bases.
Overall, it was an impressive season for a teenager playing his first full year of professional baseball. With his combination of power, patience and athleticism, Neyens has one of the highest ceilings in the Astros’ system and gives fans plenty of reasons to be excited about his future.
