Astros recall Zach Cole, option Zach Dezenzo, DFA Daniel Johnson

Zach Cole’s return gave Houston another left-handed outfield option, but the sharper ripple fell on Sugar Land, where the Space Cowboys lost one of the Astros’ most advanced young outfielders and gained back Zach Dezenzo for everyday work.

The Astros’ transaction log showed a full shuffle: Cole was recalled from Sugar Land, Dezenzo was activated from the 10-day injured list and then optioned back to the Space Cowboys, and Daniel Johnson was designated for assignment. In one move, Houston tightened its major-league outfield coverage while keeping Dezenzo in the Triple-A pipeline and clearing a 40-man spot that had been occupied by a short-term add.

Cole’s call-up says as much about Houston’s confidence in its upper-level depth as it does about his own ceiling. The 2022 10th-round pick out of Ball State debuted in the majors on Sept. 12, 2025, and finished last season as the Astros’ Minor League Player of the Year after splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A. He entered this season with Sugar Land after that rise, although his 2026 line was light in limited action, .111 with one homer. Even so, Houston chose him over a bigger sample elsewhere, a sign the organization still values his left-handed bat, center-field ability and long-term upside.

Dezenzo’s brief stop on the major-league roster had a different purpose. The 25-year-old, drafted out of Ohio State in the 12th round in 2022, has been viewed inside the organization as a versatile option who can move between the corners and the infield in a pinch. By sending him right back to Sugar Land after activating him, Houston preserved his health while giving the Space Cowboys a right-handed bat that can stay in the lineup and accumulate the reps he was missing during the injury stint.

Johnson’s DFA was the cost of that reset. The 30-year-old left-handed hitter had only recently arrived in Houston after a strong run in the Mexican League, where he hit .429/.512/.943 in 10 games for Caliente de Durango before moving to San Francisco’s Triple-A affiliate and then having his contract selected by the Giants. His exit leaves Houston with one less stopgap on the 40-man roster and underscores how quickly the club has pivoted back to younger internal options.

That matters with Yainer Diaz still listed on MLB.com’s injury page with a left abdominal injury and a return labeled TBD. For now, Houston’s answer is to lean on Cole’s upside, keep Dezenzo ready in Sugar Land and trust that the next injury scramble can be handled from within.