The Future: Darkhorse Candidates for 2025
Two names to keep an eye on for 2025 and beyond
Editors Note:
My current plan is to spend next week working on the site’s back end and setting up for next season, unless news warrants otherwise.
Regular programming should return the week of December 2.
The Future
The Astros could be entering a transition phase depending on how things turn out with Alex Bregman and free agency.
I’ve estimated that Bregman’s 4.1 fWAR translates to 8.9 wins that will need to be replaced if Bregman moves on.
Perhaps more than those 8.9 wins, not resigning Bregman after Jose Altuve publicly implored Jim Crane to do so would be a signal to the team and fans alike that an era is likely coming to an end.
With this in mind, I reached out to Kenny Van Doren of Astros Future (I highly recommend podcast) for players who had the potential to help the Astros in 2025.
No one knows more about Astros prospects than Kenny.
Kenny provided the prospects below, which we’ve profiled recently.
He also provided two “Darkhorse” candidates for 2025 and I’ve outlined their history below.
Darkhorse Candidate for 2025 - RHP Misael Tamarez
One look at Misael Tamarez’s numbers, and you might understand why he wasn’t listed as one of the Astros' top 30 prospects on MLB.com.
The 6’1, 206-pound Tamarez will be 25 in January, has been in the Astros organization since 2019 and owns a 19-29 record and 4.60 ERA over that time, totaling 118 appearances, including 68 starts.
Pitcher’s records are the least of concerns in the minor leagues and a 4.60 ERA isn’t bad, especially when half of his appearances and more than a third of his starts have come in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
Tamarez also ended the 2024 season on a high note.
Video courtesy of Kenny Van Doren.
As for what makes Tamarez a Major League prospect, Kenny had this to say:
He throws a mid-90s fastball that’s topped around 99 in his career, but that was when he was a younger starter. I think he can get back there as a reliever.
But it pairs well with his slider that has touched 90 before but sits mid-80s. Both have noticeable vertices movement in different directions.
The expectation is that Tamarez will work out of the bullpen, if and when he makes The Show.
Darkhorse Candidate for 2025 - RHP Logan VanWey
The first thing to learn about Logan VanWey, an undrafted free agent from Missouri Southern State, is it’s pronounced: “Van-Why”.
Talk about your meteoric rises through the system. After 8 innings in the FCL in 2022, VanWey ripped through three levels in 2023, compiling a 2-1 record and 3.72 ERA in 40 outings, covering 48.1 innings for A+ Asheville, AA Corpus Christi, and AAA Sugar Land.
Below is a video clip of Kenny discussing VanWey on the Locked on Astros podcast.
VanWey, who will turn 26 in February, spent all of 2024 with the Space Cowboys, going 9-1 with 4 saves and a 3.22 ERA in 60 appearances, spanning 72.2 innings.
Over his MiLB career, VanWey has allowed just 7.1 hits per 9 innings while striking out 12.3 per 9. His rates at Sugar Land this past season were right in that area (7.3 hits and 12.1 K/9).
Many thanks to Kenny for sharing his vast knowledge of the Astros prospects with CSJ.
Thanks for reading.