The Astros' situation will require a lot of guys taking the next step, but not all will figure it out.
In many ways, breakout performances from Hunter Brown and Jeremy Peña helped to keep the Houston Astros afloat in 2025 much longer than they should've been. Houston is going to need more of the same in 2026, and there is no shortage of candidates who may rise to the occasion.
For most teams, having a group of players take the next step is important.