WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —The Astros leaned into youth Sunday, stacking their second Grapefruit League lineup with prospects as they continue easing veterans into game action.
Outfielder Ethan Frey was called up from minor league camp to serve as designated hitter against the Cardinals. Catcher Walker Janek and outfielder Lucas Spence, both in big-league camp, also started.
It’s a short window—many prospects will soon return to minor league fields—but Houston used the opportunity to evaluate three players who could factor into the organization’s next wave.
Ethan Frey, OF
Houston’s third-round pick in 2025 out of LSU, Frey stands 6-foot-6 and impressed in his pro debut, slashing .330/.434/.470 in 26 games at Single-A Fayetteville. Baseball America ranks him the Astros’ No. 2 prospect entering 2026.
General manager Dana Brown described Frey as “a big human being” during Sunday’s radio broadcast and praised his plate discipline. In 122 plate appearances last season, Frey walked 20 times and struck out 25. His 6.2% swinging-strike rate and 83.4% contact rate suggest a mature approach, though upper-level pitching will present a different challenge.
Frey primarily DHed at LSU but started 13 games in center field during his brief Single-A stint. Assistant GM Gavin Dickey said center “is still on the table” for 2026, with right field also part of the mix.
During Frey’s second at-bat Sunday, Brown pointed out a seven-pitch sequence that ended with Frey laying off a two-strike changeup.
“Great to see in a young hitter,” Brown said.
For now, Frey’s goals remain measured.
“Just show improvement from last year,” Frey said. “Be able to look back and say I gave my best and I had a better year than the year before.”
Hudson Leach, RHP
Right-hander Hudson Leach made his first Grapefruit League appearance Sunday, working a scoreless inning while sitting 95-97 mph. He touched 99 mph last spring after adding strength and refining his delivery.
Leach said the velocity jump stemmed from mechanical adjustments.
“My first year, I was kind of standing up and falling down the mound,” he said. “So we worked a lot on the hinge and drop.”
Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Leach climbed four levels last season, finishing at Triple-A. He posted a 5.54 ERA across 39 innings but struck out 63 against 24 walks. Baseball America ranks his curveball the best breaking ball in Houston’s system and lists him as the organization’s No. 26 prospect.
Houston’s right-handed relievers ranked 22nd in average fastball velocity last season, according to Baseball Savant. If Leach’s upper-90s velocity holds, it could eventually address that gap.
Despite two elbow procedures in high school and another in college, Leach remained healthy in 2025 and pitched in the Arizona Fall League.
“They value me,” Leach said. “It was important to me.”
Lucas Spence, OF
Spence signed as an undrafted free agent in 2024 after junior college ball and one season at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. Houston was the only club to show serious pre-draft interest, and Spence called signing with the Astros “a no-brainer.”
He reached Double-A Corpus Christi in August and finished 2025 with a .244/.368/.403 line across 116 games at three levels. Baseball America ranks him the Astros’ No. 12 overall prospect and their top defensive outfielder.
Spence drew 73 walks last season, including 25 in 30 Double-A games. He posted an .827 OPS against right-handers but just .628 against lefties, a split that will need refinement. Manager Joe Espada described him as more of a line-drive hitter compared to fellow left-handed prospect Joseph Sullivan.
Spence logged time at all three outfield spots and profiles as an above-average defender with a strong arm. His 30-game stint at Double-A was “definitely a jump,” he said, but strong enough to earn a big-league camp invitation.
“I think I belong here and I think I’m ready,” Spence said.
None of the three is likely to break camp with the Opening Day roster. But their presence in early Grapefruit League action signals organizational interest and provides a glimpse of Houston’s next wave developing just beneath the surface.