Astros move away from recent trend of college players in first round for a left-handed hitting shortstop from Washington

With their first-round pick in the 2025 MLB draft, the Houston Astros selected shortstop Xavier Neyens at No. 21 overall out of Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Wash. Originally committed to play for Oregon State collegiately, he plans on forgoing that commitment to begin his professional career with the Astros.

Michael Shapiro is a sports reporter for Chron, covering the Astros, Rockets, Texans and every team in town. Michael is a Denver native and graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, and a noted fan of pull-up threes, wide-receiver passes and a good hot fudge sundae.

Growing up on a farm about an hour north of Seattle, Xavier Neyens cheered for the Mariners and is very aware of how the Astros have dominated the American League West division in the last decade. “I know they whip the Mariners every year in the AL West,

The Mount Vernon High School shortstop was drafted by the Houston Astros with the No. 21 overall pick in the first round of the MLB Draft on Sunday, shining a rare national spotlight on the Skagit Valley baseball scene.

Seattle Mariners fans have disliked the Houston Astros for the last decade or so, and it seems like the rivalry is set to continue for many more years to come.