The Houston Astros will host the Miami Marlins in this year’s Spring Breakout game on March 19 at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, and MLB has released the preliminary roster of prospects expected to participate.
Now in its third year, the Spring Breakout showcase pits each organization’s top minor league talent against another club’s prospects in a nine-inning exhibition. All games will be broadcast on MLB Network and streamed on MLB.TV, MLB.com, and the MLB App.
It is worth noting that the current rosters are preliminary. The 40-man player pools will be trimmed to official 23–27 man rosters on March 18, so not every name listed below is guaranteed to appear in the game.
Here is a look at six Astros prospects named to the preliminary pool.
Kevin Alvarez, OF (Astros No. 1)
The newly crowned top prospect in Houston’s system, Alvarez is an 18-year-old Cuban outfielder who signed with the Astros for $2 million in January 2025. He hit .301/.419/.455 in his DSL debut with more walks than strikeouts and has already drawn comparisons to a young Kyle Tucker. The Spring Breakout game could offer one of his first opportunities to appear stateside in front of a broader audience.
Xavier Neyens, OF (Astros No. 2)
One of the more projectable bats in the organization, the 18-year-old Neyens has yet to play a professional game. Spring Breakout could mark his first action in an Astros uniform, making him one of the more intriguing unknowns on the roster.
Ethan Frey, OF (Astros No. 3)
A third-round pick in the 2025 draft out of LSU, Frey impressed in his pro debut, hitting .330 while showing an advanced approach at the plate with a strong walk-to-strikeout ratio. He also homered in Grapefruit League action this spring, offering an early glimpse of the offensive potential that made him one of Houston’s most interesting young hitters.
Bryce Mayer, RHP (Astros No. 6)
A projectable right-hander moving steadily through the system, Mayer is one of three pitchers from Houston’s top 10 prospects included on the preliminary Spring Breakout roster.
Ethan Pecko, RHP (Astros No. 7)
Another arm to watch, Pecko joins Mayer as part of a pitching-heavy group of Astros prospects expected to take part in the showcase.
Ryan Forcucci, RHP (Astros No. 9)
A third-round pick in the 2024 draft, Forcucci features a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and has touched 97 mph, paired with a sharp slider. If his command continues to develop, he profiles as a potential above-average starter.
The Astros’ Spring Breakout matchup against the Marlins is scheduled for 11:05 a.m. CT on March 19 at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.