The Houston Astros selected Texas Tech left fielder Logan Hughes with the 17th overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft on Saturday, marking the highest draft position for a Red Raider since 2022.
From DeLand to Lubbock to Houston
Hughes, a native of DeLand, Florida, transferred to Texas Tech after one season at Stetson and became a fixture in the Red Raiders' lineup. He started 107 games for Tech across two seasons, producing big offensive numbers that attracted professional scouts despite the program’s recent team struggles.
In 2025 Hughes hit .327 with 19 home runs and 58 RBIs. He followed that with a breakout junior year in 2026, batting .375 with 18 homers and 70 RBIs. His combination of power and selectivity at the plate — he walked more than he struck out both seasons — helped him earn multiple All-America honors and raise his draft stock.
What the Astros are getting
Scouting reports emphasize Hughes’ offensive tools. He led the Big 12 this past season with a .510 on-base percentage and ranked among conference leaders in batting average, walks, OPS (1.245) and RBIs. Over two seasons at Texas Tech he hit 37 home runs, tying him for seventh on the school's career list.
Defensively, Hughes’ profile is less robust. At 5-foot-11 and 211 pounds, he bats and throws left-handed. Evaluators note below-average arm strength and speed; he split time between left field (45 starts) and first base (10 starts) during the most recent season. MLB Pipeline listed him among the draft class' top prospects, citing his offensive upside.
- Draft position: 17th overall, Houston Astros
- 2026 key stats: .375 average, 18 HR, 70 RBI
- Strengths: power, plate discipline, high on-base percentage
- Limitations: below-average arm and speed
| Season | AVG | HR | RBI | BB-K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | .327 | 19 | 58 | 26-24 |
| 2026 | .375 | 18 | 70 | 50-33 |
The selection is notable for Texas Tech and the state’s baseball pipeline. Hughes is the highest Red Raider picked since Jace Jung went 12th overall to Detroit in 2022 and is the fourth-highest draftee in school history, behind Donald Harris (fifth, 1989), Josh Jung (eighth, 2019) and Jace Jung.
For the Astros, adding a left-handed bat with a strong on-base profile addresses organizational depth in the corner-outfield/first-base mix. How the club deploys Hughes — whether as a left fielder, a first baseman or a designated hitter while he develops defensively — will shape his path to Houston.
Locally, Hughes’ rise underscores Texas Tech’s continued ability to develop professional-caliber hitters even as the program works to improve team results. For Lubbock and the Big 12, his selection is another example of the college-to-pro pipeline that keeps regional baseball prominent in the national conversation.
