The Houston Astros will have representation at this year’s All-Star Futures Game in Philadelphia, with outfield prospect Kevin Alvarez earning a spot on the American League roster.
Alvarez, 18, is the organization’s top-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 2 in Baseball America’s latest rankings. Playing in his first full season at Single-A Fayetteville, he is hitting .266/.322/.437 with six home runs and 30 RBIs in 55 games—the youngest player at a full-season Class-A affiliate.
The selection is the latest milestone in a rapid rise for a player who has yet to complete his second professional season. Born in Colón, Cuba, Alvarez left the country with his father in December 2021 and settled in the Dominican Republic, where he became one of the top targets in the 2025 international signing class. Houston signed him for $2 million in January 2025—one of the largest international bonuses in franchise history.
He justified the investment almost immediately. In his professional debut with the DSL Astros, Alvarez hit .301/.419/.455 with two home runs, 11 stolen bases, and more walks than strikeouts, earning DSL All-Star recognition and a No. 6 prospect ranking in the league. He also registered an exit velocity of 110 mph—a preview, scouts believe, of what his 6-foot-4 frame has yet to fully produce.
This spring, the Astros brought Alvarez from minor-league camp to make his Grapefruit League debut, a signal of how highly the organization regards him. Manager Joe Espada took notice.
“Very impressed by how he goes about his at-bats, how he goes about his defense, his work ethic,” Espada said at the time. “He looks like a pretty good player to keep an eye on.”
The Futures Game is scheduled for July 12 at Citizens Bank Park, two days before the All-Star Game, with first pitch at 11 a.m. CT.
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