Astros Predicted To Land 18-Year-Old Outfielder With Star Potential

Blake Bowen could be a first-round steal for the Houston Astros in the 2026 MLB Draft.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 4:23pm

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The Houston Astros hold the No. 28 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, and Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter predicts they will select high school outfielder Blake Bowen. Bowen has significant raw tools, including 60-power and 60-speed potential, but needs to prove he has the hit tool to consistently get to that upside. The Astros would need to pay Bowen big money to get him to come over to pro ball, but he could be a superstar prospect if his bat-to-ball skills translate.

Why it matters

The Astros are looking to upgrade their organization after falling short of the postseason last year. Landing a potential star like Blake Bowen in the first round could be a big boost for their future.

The details

Bowen boosted his stock on the showcase circuit last summer, with his raw tools translating to better on-field success than expected. He has 60-power and 60-speed potential, but still needs to prove he has the hit tool to consistently get to that upside. The Astros would need to pay Bowen big money to get him to come over to pro ball, but he could be a superstar prospect if his bat-to-ball skills translate.

  • The Astros hold the No. 28 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.

The players

Blake Bowen

A high school outfielder with significant raw tools, including 60-power and 60-speed potential, but needs to prove he has the hit tool to consistently get to that upside.

Houston Astros

A Major League Baseball team that is looking to upgrade their organization after falling short of the postseason last year.

Joel Reuter

A writer for Bleacher Report who predicted the Astros will select Blake Bowen with their first-round pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.

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What they’re saying

“Bowen boosted his stock significantly on the showcase circuit last summer, with his raw tools translating to better on-field success than expected after he had previously split his time between baseball and football. There is 60-power, 60-speed potential in his profile, but he still needs to prove he has the hit tool to consistently get to that tantalizing upside.”

— Joel Reuter, Bleacher Report Writer (Bleacher Report)

The takeaway

The Astros have a chance to land a potential star in Blake Bowen with their first-round pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, but they would need to pay him big money to get him to come over to pro ball. If Bowen's bat-to-ball skills translate, he could be a superstar prospect that helps the Astros upgrade their organization from the ground up.