Cole went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk, a stolen base and a second run scored in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Angels.
Cole has swiped a bag in three straight games, which accounts for all of his steals in the majors this year. He's added four homers, 11 RBI and nine runs scored while batting .279 and slugging .605 over 47 plate appearances in his first taste of the majors. Cole will likely need to supplement this late-season audition with a strong spring training, but he's certainly in the mix to begin 2026 in the majors.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Zach Cole: Part of corner-outfield committee
Rotowire
Cole is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.
Cole will sit for the second straight game, with both of his absences coming against right-handed pitching. With the Astros returning Isaac Paredes from the 60-day injured list Friday and installing him as their everyday designated hitter, the team would appear to have one spot available in the corner outfield. Manager Joe Espada may be inclined to take a committee approach to that spot in the lineup, as Cole, Cam Smith and Mauricio Dubon have all made one start apiece in the corner outfield since Paredes' return.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Zach Cole: Goes yard in MLB debut
Rotowire
Cole went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and four RBI in Friday's 11-3 win over Atlanta.
Starting in left field and batting eighth in his big-league debut, Cole became just the fifth player in Astros history to leave the yard in their first career at-bat when he deposited a Hurston Waldrep cutter over the right-field fence in the third inning for a two-run homer. Cole's presence in the lineup returned Jose Altuve to second base and Yordan Alvarez to DH, and if the rookie keeps swinging a hot bat, he could quickly become a fixture in the lineup against right-handed pitching. Prior to his promotion, Cole was slashing .347/.430/.645 over 32 games for Triple-A Sugar Land since the beginning of August with 20 of his 43 hits going for extra bases (nine doubles, five triples and six homers).
... See More... See Less
Astros' Zach Cole: Call-up official
Rotowire
The Astros selected Cole's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Cole's first MLB stint officially begins Friday, as the outfielder had his contract selected. The 25-year-old slashed .353/.459/.745 with five home runs and three stolen bases in 15 games with Sugar Land. With Yordan Alvarez, Jake Meyers and Jesus Sanchez healthy, Cole doesn't have a direct path to playing time.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Zach Cole: Back in action at Double-A
Rotowire
Cole (oblique) has gone 3-for-13 with a double, three walks and a stolen base in four games since being activated from Double-A Corpus Christi's 7-day injured list April 16.
After sustaining an oblique injury in the spring, Cole had a brief stay on the shelf to begin the season before getting cleared to make his debut last week. Though the 24-year-old is healthy again, cutting down on his strikeouts will likely be essential if he's to receive his first big-league call-up later this season or in 2026. He struck out at a 38.6 percent clip with Corpus Christi in 2024 and has already struck out in seven of his 15 plate appearances so far this season.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Zach Cole: Out with oblique injury
Rotowire
Double-A Corpus Christi placed Cole on the 7-day injured list with an oblique injury, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline reports.
Cole isn't expected to miss too much time. A toolsy outfielder with significant strikeout issues, Cole hit .214 with 10 home runs, 14 steals and a 38.3 percent strikeout rate in 70 games at Double-A last year. He turns 25 in August.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Zach Cole: On shelf at Double-A
Rotowire
Cole is opening the year on the injured list at Double-A Corpus Christi with a hamstring injury, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.
According to Callis, Cole should return to play in the near future. A 23-year-old outfielder who hits from the left side, Cole slashed .247/.349/.480 with eight home runs, 12 steals and a 33.1 percent strikeout rate in 41 games last year at High-A.
