<\/p>\n
Astros pitching prospect Ethan Pecko in action for Double-A Corpus Christi during the 2024 season.<\/p>\n
Courtesy Corpus Christi Hooks<\/p>\n
When\u00a0Ethan Pecko takes the mound<\/a> for the Houston Astros<\/a> on Wednesday, he\u2019ll be their eighth player to make his major league debut this season.<\/p>\n As an indicator of how this season has gone, Pecko, who will start against the Los Angeles Angels, will be the 17th different starting pitcher the Astros have tried in an injury-riddled year. Pecko was the organization\u2019s minor league pitcher of the year<\/a> in 2025 and had spent this season at Triple-A Sugar Land.<\/p>\n The right-hander from just outside of Philadelphia, who turns 24 next week, will make his debut in the middle of a heated playoff race with the Astros entering Wednesday with just a one-game lead over the Texas Rangers in the American League West.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Here\u2019s everything to know about Ethan Pecko before he takes the mound\u2026<\/p>\n Where Ethan Pecko ranks among Astros prospects<\/p>\n Ethan\u00a0Pecko\u00a0 of the Houston Astros pitches during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros at Cacti Park at the Palm Beaches on Friday, March 14, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida.<\/p>\n Trevor Gallagher\/MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n You won\u2019t see\u00a0Pecko\u2019s name in any Top 100 prospects list, but he is well-regarded within the Astros’ pool of prospects. MLB.com ranks him<\/a> as the team\u2019s ninth-best overall prospect and third among pitchers behind Jack Radel, who the Astros just drafted with the 28th overall pick<\/a> last month, and Bryce Mayer, who just got promoted to Triple-A this month.<\/p>\n How Ethan Pecko was pitching in the minors<\/p>\n Ethan Pecko was scratched from his scheduled outing Sunday for Triple-A Sugar Land so\u00a0he could make a spot start for the Astros if needed.<\/p>\n Scott Marshall\/Getty Images<\/p>\n After posting a 3.05 ERA in 39 innings at Triple-A last season,\u00a0Pecko hasn\u2019t exactly taken the Pacific Coast League by storm this year. He went 4-6 with a 4.94 ERA with 71 strikeouts and just 28 walks in 74 \u2154 innings. It should be noted that the PCL is a notoriously hitter-friendly league.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Ethan\u00a0Pecko in the draft<\/p>\n Astros pitching prospect Ethan Pecko in action for Double-A Corpus Christi during the 2024 season.<\/p>\n Courtesy Corpus Christi Hooks<\/p>\n Pecko was a sixth-round pick out of Towson in 2023, making him the third Astros’ selection from that draft to reach the big leagues, joining Brice Matthews and Jake Bloss. He was given a $250,000 signing bonus and finished out that year at Single-A Fayetteville<\/p>\n Ethan Pecko\u2019s progression through the minors<\/p>\n Astros pitching prospect Ethan Pecko in action for Double-A Corpus Christi during the 2024 season.<\/p>\n Courtesy Corpus Christi Hooks<\/p>\n Pecko reached Double-A Corpus Christi in his first full season of professional baseball in 2024 and started there in 2025 before getting promoted to Triple-A Sugar Land after 10 starts. He opened this season at Triple-A where he had started 15 games before getting called up.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Ethan Pecko\u2019s stuff on the mound<\/p>\n Astros pitching prospect Ethan Pecko in action for Double-A Corpus Christi during the 2024 season.<\/p>\n Courtesy Corpus Christi Hooks<\/p>\n Pecko throws a fastball in the mid-90s with the ability to touch 98 mph, according to Statcast. He also mixes in a slider, cutter and a curveball. His biggest weapon though is his control, having walked 40 batters in 117 \u2154 innings at Triple-A over the last two years.<\/p>\n Ethan Pecko\u2019s injury history<\/p>\n Astros pitching prospect Ethan Pecko in action for Double-A Corpus Christi during the 2024 season.<\/p>\n Courtesy Corpus Christi Hooks<\/p>\n Pecko had Tommy John surgery as he entered college, so after graduating high school in 2020 and having his season wiped out that year by the pandemic, Pecko didn\u2019t pitch again until 2022 when he threw 17 \u2154 innings for Towson. He missed the first month of the 2023 season in college, but excelled when he returned, which led to him being\u00a0drafted by the Astros. Pecko wasn\u2019t part of the team\u2019s big-league camp at spring training this year because he was coming off thoracic outlet surgery, but returned and made 18 starts in\u00a0the minors before getting called up.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Astros pitching prospect Ethan Pecko in action for Double-A Corpus Christi during the 2024 season. 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