Houston Astros Star Prospect Could Steal Alex Bregman's Job

Maybe the Houston Astros won't need to extend Alex Bregman after all.

While the star third baseman is set to reach free agency next winter, his replacement at the hot corner appears to be waiting in the wings.

The Astros have to be pleased with the progress they've seen from third-base prospect Zach Dezenzo. After batting a sizzling .407/.474/.628 in 31 games at High-A Asheville this season, the 23-year-old infielder was promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi.

Dezenzo held his own in the Texas League, slashing .257/.339/.486 with 14 homers, 16 steals and 41 RBIs in 63 games. He fared well in the Arizona Fall League as well, batting .231/.333/.446 with three homers, two steals and seven RBIs in 16 games.

More importantly, he made major strides at the plate that have turned heads in Houston's organization.

In a recent Baseball America article, Astros senior director of player development and performance science, Jacob Buffa, lauded the former 12th round draft pick for his ability to improve his contact skills without sacrificing power, which is tough for most hitters to do. 

In fact, Dezenzo's power has improved at all three of his minor league stops. His ISO has risen from .147 at Single-A to .221 at High-A to .229 at Double-A --an encouraging trajectory for the team's No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.

While Dezenzo still needs additional seasoning before he's ready for the big leagues, it's possible that Houston fans could see him up in the majors by the end of 2024. If he continues to show potential, the Astros' front office may feel better if Bregman walks next winter.