Max Holy has kept forcing his way into the conversation inside the Astros’ farm system, and it’s the glove that keeps doing the talking.
Houston’s Minor League field coordinator, Micheal Thomas, has been high on the 24-year-old shortstop for a while now, even comparing the defender’s feel to a familiar big-league type.
"He gives me these weird early David Eckstein-type vibes," Thomas said. "He's a really solid defender who may do some incredible things in his career."
Holy, ranked No. 29 in the organization, signed with the Astros as an nondrafted free agent in July 2024. He came out of Central Missouri, the same school Astros owner Jim Crane attended, and his best work at the plate came during his redshirt junior season, when he hit .364/.478/.659 with 14 homers.
That bat has come and gone since he entered Houston’s system, but the defense has stayed loud. Holy has earned 60 grades for both his run and arm tools, and his 65-grade field tool - tied for second-best in all of the Minor Leagues - stands out as his best trait.
Thomas said Holy has spent time sharpening the arm, but the real separator has been his quick reactions and his ability to move laterally.
"Since Max has walked in the door, the work ethic itself and the dynamic about how he goes about his business, it's been overly impressive," Thomas said.
"Nothing seems to overwhelm him. Nothing seems to scare him. … He's been one of the more comfortable defenders I've seen in professional baseball in a long time, especially for a UDFA guy from a small school."
The game has not rushed Holy, who is one of three nondrafted free-agent signings on the Astros’ Top 30 Prospects list. He has made 96 starts at shortstop this season across Double-A and High-A, and he has graded out as one of Houston’s top defenders on the club’s internal leaderboard, including against upper-level players and those with big league experience.
"The glove part is electric to watch," Thomas said. "The range piece is the part that sits behind it and definitely assists.
The arm, he uses what he has. I don't think he tries to overblow it in any regards, but he definitely has pushed the needle on that."
Holy has also shown the Astros some versatility. He has 42 career starts at second base and five at third this season, and Houston has moved him through three levels already in his pro career.
"He's exciting to watch when you see balls get hit 105+ (mph) on the ground, and Max makes them look like routine ground balls," Thomas said. "If he gets to it and he's clean, you're out. There's no question."
The offense has taken a step back since his May promotion to Corpus Christi. After putting up a 107 wRC+ in 20 games with Asheville, the right-handed hitter has posted a .199/.334/.305 line over 87 games.
In Other News...
Astros Have A September Roster Decision Fans Should Watch Closely
September brings the first real roster flexibility of the late season, and for the Astros that means a chance to add help as they try to steady the final month. With MLB clubs moving from 26 to 28 players on Sept. 1, Houston has a few minor league options worth watching, especially after three Triple-A standouts have put themselves in the mix by playing well and giving the organization some useful versatility.
Miguel Ullola has been one of the names to follow, while Cavan Biggio and Trenton Brooks have also made cases for themselves with recent strong work in Triple-A. For a club looking to patch holes and deepen the bench, those kinds of internal options matter, and the decision on who gets the nod should tell fans a lot about how Houston plans to manage the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
Astros September Push Could Come Down To One Carlos Correa Update
The Astros head into September with the division lead in hand, but the calendar is not exactly forgiving from here. Houston has 24 games left, and nine of them come against teams already in playoff position, which puts a premium on the kind of steady production the club needs from Yordan Alvarez, Framber Valdez, AJ Blubaugh and Jose Altuve if it is going to stay on top in the American League West.
Amid all of that, the biggest swing factor may be Carlos Correa, who is set for a medical checkup tied to his ankle surgery. His status has become one of the more important September questions for Houston because any chance of him returning this season would add another layer to an already tense stretch run, while a setback would leave the Astros to navigate the final month without knowing if that reinforcement is coming at all. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Face A Tough Rotation Question With Mike Burrows Waiting
September brings the roster reset every contender circles, and for the Astros it could soon create a real decision in the rotation. With rosters expanding to 28 players, Houston is expected to bring up starting pitcher Mike Burrows after a strong stretch at Triple-A Sugar Land, giving the club another arm to consider as it lines up the final month. It is the kind of move that can look routine on paper but carries extra weight for a team trying to balance immediate needs with longer-range stability.
The pressure point is Ronel Blanco, whose return from Tommy John surgery has not gone smoothly. He has struggled since coming back, and a recent rough outing came with a velocity drop that only sharpened the concern around how effective he can be right now. If the Astros do make room for Burrows, the bigger question is not just who gets the call, but how long they can keep waiting for Blanco to find something close to his old form. [Read more 🡒]