Fri Sep 12 23:40:00 UTC 2025: **Astros Prospect Zach Cole Turns Heads with Dominant Triple-A Performance**
**SUGAR LAND, TX** – Houston Astros outfield prospect Zach Cole is making a splash in Triple-A Sugar Land, quickly becoming a player to watch within the organization. After a stellar start with the Space Cowboys, Cole, ranked as the Astros’ No. 19 prospect by MLB Pipeline, earned Pacific Coast League Player of the Week honors.
In his first 12 games with Sugar Land, the 2022 10th-round pick out of Ball State University has launched five home runs and driven in 15 runs. The highlight was a dramatic walk-off grand slam on Sept. 4 against Oklahoma City, a moment that Cole described as a “cool experience” and the first in Space Cowboys history.
“It was a new at-bat and an opportunity to help the team,” Cole said about the moment. “I was lucky enough to get a fastball and not miss it.”
Cole’s impressive performance at Triple-A follows a solid season with Double-A Corpus Christi, where he hit .267 with 14 home runs and 15 stolen bases in 82 games. His success is attributed to adjustments he has made to his swing, focusing on making better contact and recognizing he can’t swing at max effort all the time. Jacob Buffa, Astros senior director of player development and performance science, noted a significant increase in Cole’s “barrel rate” this season.
Looking ahead, staying healthy and consistent with his approach are Cole’s priorities. Hampered by hamstring issues in the past, he aims to continue his development in the Arizona Fall League and is expected to be added to the Astros’ 40-man roster this offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.
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