Zach Cole

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Houston Astros #18 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.
  
  Track Record: Cole broke out in his third season at Ball State by hitting .361/.449/.727 with 13 home runs. He was taken in the 10th round by the Astros in 2022 and signed for $97,500. Cole had a strong full season debut in 2023 hitting .258/.380/.489 with 19 home runs and 37 stolen bases. Cole’s 2024 season got off to a late start due to a hamstring injury that cost him all of April and most of May. He returned in late May and hit .214/.302/.408 over 70 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Cole is an impressive natural athlete with a tantalizing blend of raw tools, but his lack of developed plate skills has led to high strikeout totals and loads of swings and misses. Cole is a strong fastball hitter but chases at a high rate against breaking balls and offspeeds. Due to his plus bat speed, Cole shows good overall numbers against major league-quality velocity. He has plus raw power, and his contact quality is elite when he does connect. Cole is a plus runner and basestealing threat when he reaches. His speed translates to the ability to play all three outfield positions and he’s a plus defender in center field, where he can cover large areas of ground. Cole has a plus-plus arm that fits in any outfield spot.
  
  The Future: Cole is a tooled-up three-true-outcome hitter with poor bat-to-ball skills but enough tools to carve out a bench role in the future.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 30 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Field: 60 | Arm: 70.
• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #7 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Cole played in just 22 games during his first two seasons at Ball State before breaking out in his third, hitting .361/.449/.727 with 13 home runs for the Cardinals in 2022. He joined Cotuit of the Cape Cod League after the season and played in 16 games prior to the draft. The Astros selected Cole in the 10th round and signed him for a below-slot $97,500. Cole reached Low-A Fayetteville after the draft and returned to the level to begin 2023. He hit .265/.397/.494 with 11 homers and 25 steals in 70 games. Promoted to High-A Asheville on July 19, he hit .247/.349/.480 with eight homers and 12 steals in 41 games.
  
  Scouting Report: Cole has an elite athletic capacity, providing the highest ceiling of any Houston prospect. An explosive offensive player, he falls into the category of a three true outcomes hitter. Cole’s bat-to-ball skills are well below-average, driving a high strikeout rate. He showed patience against Class A pitching, but many question the quality of his approach and how his swing decisions will translate as he moves up. Cole’s plus raw power is his carrying tool and he’s shown the ability to get to it in games by hitting 47 extra-base hits in 2023. His underlying exit velocity data is strong with a 91 mph average and a 106.5 mph 90th percentile EV, both numbers well above the major league average. Cole is an easy plus runner with long graceful strides in the outfield and the quick first step to be a basestealing threat. He’s a strong defensive outfielder with the range to handle center field and the plus-plus arm to fit in any outfield position. Despite overall hitting questions, Cole is a tooled-up specimen with big upside.
  
  The Future: A standout defender with an exciting blend of power and speed, Cole looks like an everyday regular with all-star potential if everything breaks right.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 30 | Power: 55 | Run: 60 | Field: 60 | Arm: 70