Astros Eye Top Prospects to Strengthen Struggling Bullpen
The Houston Astros’ bullpen ranks last in baseball early this season. Through 53.1 innings across 13 games, it carries a 7.09 ERA.
Bullpen performance so far
Relievers have allowed 15 home runs and issued 36 walks to begin the year. Josh Hader and Bennett Sousa remain sidelined, leaving limited experience available.
Front office figures have the Astros eye top prospects as they seek to strengthen a struggling bullpen. The club needs reinforcements quickly.
Individual reliever struggles
- AJ Blubaugh has allowed 10 runs on 11 hits over 8.1 innings of relief.
- Ryan Weiss has given up eight runs, seven earned, on 13 hits in 8.2 innings.
- Bryan Abreu has surrendered nine runs, eight earned, and three homers across 3.2 innings.
- Roddery Muñoz has allowed seven runs on seven hits with three homers in four relief innings.
Options waiting in Triple-A
Two arms at Triple-A Sugar Land have compiled strong recent numbers. Both merit immediate consideration for big-league duty.
Alimber Santa
Santa posted a 2.31 ERA last season. He struck out 82 batters over 70 innings between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land.
The 22-year-old converted from starter to full-time reliever in 2024. This season he has allowed one run in 4.1 innings with a 0.692 WHIP.
Santa is the club’s No. 17 prospect and has not yet made his major-league debut. His recent performance argues for a look in Houston.
Jayden Murray
Murray appeared in nine games during his first big-league stint last September. He allowed two runs in 11.2 innings while issuing three walks.
He has carried that form into 2026. Murray has allowed one run and three hits across six innings, holding opponents to a .143 batting average.
Those numbers put him in position for a promotion if the Astros call on Triple-A reinforcements.
Filmogaz.com will continue tracking developments as the club evaluates these options. The bullpen’s early struggles make quick decisions likely.
