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Astros may have struck gold with undrafted 19-year-old pitching prospect Jagger Beck

Beck had a breakthrough campaign for Class A Fayetteville
ByJimmy Price
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Fayetteville pitcher Jagger Beck (44) pitches during opening day of the Augusta GreenJackets at SRP Park in North Augusta, S.C., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. The GreenJackets beat Fayetteville 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale - Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY NETWORK
Fayetteville pitcher Jagger Beck (44) pitches during opening day of the Augusta GreenJackets at SRP Park in North Augusta, S.C., on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. The GreenJackets beat Fayetteville 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale - Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Astros were once the cream of the crop when it came to finding pitching prospects out of nowhere. While that has slowed a bit lately, they have still produced a few in recent years, including Ethan Pecko and Bryce Mayer. One more name that will hopefully join that group of unheralded arms and make an impact is right-hander Jagger Beck.

Beck attended Sutter High School is Sutter, California, and was committed to the University of Hawaii in 2024. He went undrafted in the 2024 MLB Draft, but the Astros were able to sign him away from his commitment, as Beck was eager to get his professional career started.

Despite not being a "top" prospect during the draft process, Beck has already proven that the Astros' gamble on him was a worthwhile investment.

In 2025, Beck logged just 10 innings in rookie ball while battling a few injuries. That winter, he had the opportunity to play in Australia, where the right-hander was able to show what he could do. At just 18 years old, more than seven years younger than the average player in the league, Beck posted a 3.16 ERA with 36 strikeouts over 37 innings, setting himself up for a big 2026 season.

This past season, Beck spent the entire year with Single-A Fayetteville. This wasn't a bad thing, as Beck is still just 19 years old. After a tough April, Beck turned things around, posting a 1.84 ERA in May and a 1.76 ERA in June. Over the final three months of the season, Beck continued to pitch well, posting a 2.74 ERA with 45 strikeouts over 42.2 innings. It was a very successful season for the right-hander.

The Woodpeckers ended up making a late-season run into the playoffs, and Beck got a chance to pitch in an even more meaningful game when he started Game 2 of the Carolina League Semifinals. He delivered, striking out five over 4.2 innings while allowing just one run. The Woodpeckers would go on to win the Carolina League Championship.

Beck has a huge frame at 6-foot-6 and is listed at 205 pounds, with room to grow. He currently features a mid-90s fastball and a really good curveball that was his go-to pitch in 2026. He also mixes in a good slider and an improving changeup.

After entering the season unranked, Beck moved up quite a bit and is now ranked No. 27 in the Astros system according to MLB Pipeline. But given that he is just 19 years old, has a big 6-foot-6 frame, throws 95+ mph and features an above-average curveball, it's safe to say he is still underrated in the Astros system.

The question I ask... if Beck was drafted in the 5th round and go an over-slot deal out of high school, where would he rank after the season he just put together?

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