When the Houston Astros gave Luis Baez $1.3 million as an international free agent, the hope was that he could develop into a guy with plus power who also had a strong feel for the strike zone. The hype train sped up when Baez put together a loud pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2022 with a .903 OPS. However, after a couple of mediocre seasons at the plate in full-season ball, Baez was conspicuously absent from minor league action to start the 2025 season.
After a reasonable 2023 season, which saw Baez's stock on the rise before the following season, his numbers dipped to a passable .