Melton (back) has gone 4-for-21 with two home runs, two doubles, three walks and a stolen base over six games since being reinstated from Triple-A Sugar Land's 7-day injured list April 9.
Melton missed only a handful of games to begin the season while he tended to a back injury that he aggravated in the Astros' final Grapefruit League game. The 24-year-old is capable of playing all three outfield spots and is a plus runner with decent power, but his ability to handle a full-time role at the big-league level may hinge on him cutting down on strikeouts. He struck out in 25.4 percent of his plate appearances at Triple-A Sugar Land in 2024 and has already struck out seven times in 24 plate appearances (29.2 percent) this season.
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Astros' Jacob Melton: Placed on IL with back injury
Rotowire
Triple-A Sugar Land placed Melton (back) on the injured list Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Melton dealt with a back issue throughout the spring and re-injured himself while making a diving play during Grapefruit League action. The No. 64 overall pick in the 2022 draft, Melton ended last season with Triple-A Sugar Land after being bumped up from Double-A. Across 105 minor-league contests last year, Melton slashed .253/.310/.426 with 15 home runs, 54 RBI, 59 runs scored and 30 stolen bases.
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Astros' Jacob Melton: Cleared for Spring Breakout game
Rotowire
Melton (back) is listed on Houston's roster for its March 14 Spring Breakout game versus Washington prospects, Manny Randhawa of MLB.com reports.
The Astros sent Melton out to minor-league camp earlier this week after he missed time to begin spring training due to a back injury, but manager Joe Espada said that the outfielder was close to being ready for game action. Melton's inclusion on the Spring Breakout roster is an indication that he'll be cleared to play by the end of the next week, putting the 24-year-old on track to open the season in a full-time role at Triple-A Sugar Land.
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Astros' Jacob Melton: Among five reassigned
Rotowire
The Astros reassigned Melton to minor-league camp Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Of the five players Houston reassigned Monday, Melton is the big name as one of the organization's top prospects. Melton has been slowed in camp by a back injury, but manager Joe Espada said that the outfielder is close to being game-ready, with the outfielder likely to be brought back to play in some Grapefruit League games later this week. While Melton is headed for Triple-A Sugar Land to start the season, he has a shot to eventually break into a relatively uncertain Astros outfield situation.
Melton is dealing with mild back soreness, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
It sounds like a day-to-day type injury. One of the Astros' top prospects, Melton is not yet on the 40-man roster but should push to debut sooner rather than later, particularly with the team's lack of outfield depth. He slashed .253/.310/.426 with 15 home runs and 30 stolen bases between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land in 2024.
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Astros' Jacob Melton: Darkhorse for roster spot
Rotowire
Melton could push to make the Opening Day roster in 2025, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com suggests.
Melton progressed to Triple-A Sugar Land in 2024, accruing 192 plate appearances at the level. However, he managed only a 78 wRC+ and is not yet on the team's 40-man roster. That combination makes him a longshot to open the year in Houston, though he has significant power and speed tools, so if he does earn playing time he could quickly emerge on the fantasy radar. In addition, the Astros have an unresolved outfield and Melton is capable of playing all three spots.
The Astros promoted Melton from Double-A Corpus Christi to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Melton has slashed a rather pedestrian .248/.307/.443 with 10 home runs and 19 stolen bases over 58 games with Corpus Christi this season, although his production could have been hampered somewhat by a wrist injury he dealt with earlier in the year. The 23-year-old can play all three outfield spots and offers a fantasy-friendly skill set with some power and plenty of speed, although he'll probably have to wait until 2025 before he debuts in the majors.
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Astros' Jacob Melton: Shakes off wrist injury
Rotowire
Melton (wrist) returned to action for Double-A Corpus Christi on June 13 and has slashed .207/.281/.345 with four doubles and three stolen bases in eight games since rejoining the lineup.
Though Melton was never formally placed on Corpus Christi's injured list, he was sidelined for three weeks with a wrist injury. The 23-year-old outfielder has struggled to return to form since returning to an everyday role but is still upholding a .754 OPS over 169 plate appearances on the season.
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Astros' Jacob Melton: Nursing wrist injury
Rotowire
Melton is expected to miss the next week or two due to a wrist injury, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Melton suffered the injury on a diving attempt in the field but isn't expected to miss much time. He's been putting together a solid season at Double-A Corpus Christi before being temporarily shut down with the injury, hitting .268 with five homers, 24 RBI, 10 stolen bags and 15 runs scored in 32 games.
Melton was promoted from High-A Asheville to Double-A Corpus Christi on Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Melton hit only .244 over 86 games with Asheville, but he also recorded a .338 on-base percentage, 18 home runs and 41 steals. The Astros saw enough from the 22-year-old to determine that he was ready for a stiffer test.
Melton is slashing .232/.337/.443 with 14 home runs and 30 steals in 62 games for High-A Asheville.
Melton turns 23 in September and is playing half his games in the extremely hitter-friendly park in Asheville, so this statistical output is essentially him meeting expectations. A physical and athletic 6-foot-3 outfielder, Melton brings an intriguing combination of power and speed to the table, and we should learn more about the viability of his hit tool once he starts facing age-appropriate pitching at Double-A.
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