The final review of the 2025 season will be looking at each position in the Astros farm system. Next up is the relief pitchers.
BEST OF THE BUNCH
Nick Hernandez
Hernandez has been in out of the season for a few years. He had a dominant season in Triple-A posting a 2.12 ERA with 63 strikeouts over 46.2 innings. He pitched some in Houston too, totaling 10.2 innings and allowing 6 runs. He is a free agent so not sure what his future holds, but it was a solid season for him.
2025 Stats: 46 G, 2.12 ERA, 46.2 IP, 25 H, 11 ER, 22 BB, 63 K, 12.2 K/9
Alimber Santa
Santa has been in the system since 2021 and has some high potential. The Astros moved him to full time relief role in 2025 and he had the best start of his career posting a 1.26 ERA with 63 K in 57 innings for the Hooks in Double-A. He was promoted to Triple-A but struggled with a 6.92 ERA. He should be back in Triple-A in 2026 and is only 23 years old.
2025 Stats: 46 G, 2.31 ERA, 70.0 IP, 46 H, 18 ER, 39 BB, 82 K, 10.5 K/9
Ramsey David
David was drafted by the Astros in the 10th round and immediately started turning some heads with his heater reaching 99 MPH in Spring Training. He started the year in Single-A and had a 3.86 ERA with 51 K in 51.1 innings. He dominated in High-A posting a 1.40 ERA before finishing the season in Double-A. Overall, he showed plenty in his first full season to be excited about his potential in 2026.
2025 Stats: 30 G, 3.47 ERA, 85.2 IP, 61 H, 33 ER, 51 BB, 87 K, 9.1 K/9
Colby Langford
Langford had a very interesting season. On one hand, he was dominant striking out 87 over 60.2 innings and holding opponents to just a .177 batting average against. On the down side though, Langford walked 63 in 60.2 innings. Obviously he has some dominating stuff from the left side, just has to clean up the command.
2025 Stats: 42 G, 3.26 ERA, 60.2 IP, 36 H, 22 ER, 63 BB, 87 K, 12.9 K/9
THE REST OF THE PACK
Hudson Leach
Leach has some of the nastiest stuff in the system and was dominant at times in 2025, but overall finished with a 5.54 ERA. He did finish with 63 strikeouts in 39 innings, including some run in Triple-A. He should return to Double-A or Triple-A in 2026.
2025 Stats: 34 G, 5.54 ERA, 39.0 IP, 33 H, 24 ER, 24 BB, 63 K, 14.5 K/9
Amilcar Chirinos
Chirinos is another right-hander who at times was dominating. He started the year in High-A and struck out 38 over 22.2 innings, but had a 5.56 ERA. He finished the season in Double-A with a 4.30 ERA over 29.1 innings.
2025 Stats: 46 G, 4.85 ERA, 52.0 IP, 51 H, 28 ER, 28 BB, 65 K, 11.3 K/9
Wilmy Sanchez
Sanchez is an undersized right-hander with an electric fastball. Like some others on this list, he was dominating at times but his command bit him a lot. He finished the season with a 6.05 ERA and 51 walks in 61 innings, though he did strike out 75.
2025 Stats: 46 G, 6.05 ERA, 61.0 IP, 59 H, 41 ER, 51 BB, 75 K, 11.1 K/9
Michael Knorr
Knorr was a 3rd round pick in 2022 but hasn’t live up to the hype yet. He pitched strictly in relief in 2025 posting a 5.03 ERA over 53.2 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. He has some good stuff but just hasn’t translated to success.
2025 Stats: 20 G, 4.34 ERA, 120.2 IP, 99 H, 53 ER, 55 BB, 122 K, 9.1 K/9
2026 OUTLOOK
The back end of the bullpen is locked down with Abreu and Hader but after that, there are some holes that probably need to get filled. I’m not sure it will be from anyone on this list, but the Astros will most likely look towards some of the starters who could help in the pen. Maybe someone like Blubaugh or Ullola will get some pen time as well.
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