Mariners fans will sadly have a hard time rooting against Astros' top draft pick

The Houston Astros may have just pulled off a gut-punch to Seattle Mariners fans — and somehow made themselves just a little harder to hate along the way.

With the 21st overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, Houston selected 6-foot-4 shortstop Xavier Neyens out of Mt. Vernon High School in Washington state — a self-proclaimed Mariners fan who now finds himself heading straight to one of Seattle’s biggest division rivals.

Sure, Neyens probably dreamt of one day putting on a Mariners uniform and patrolling the infield at T-Mobile Park. But instead, his future lies deep in the heart of Texas. Still, he’s no stranger to the team that just drafted him, according to MLB.com’s Brian Mctaggart.

Seattle native drafted by Astros delivers painfully honest take on Mariners-Astros rivalry

“I know they whip the Mariners every year in the AL West, so that’s what I know most about the Astros,” Neyens said. “I’ve been to quite a few Mariners-Astros games. I watched a bit of it on TV, but I just know they always run the West.”

Brutal honesty, but hard to argue with the facts. The Astros have long tormented Seattle in the standings and the postseason alike, and Neyens grew up watching it unfold firsthand. Now, he’s joining the machine.

But despite the sting for Mariners fans, it’s impossible not to appreciate Neyens’ makeup. The 18-year-old already sounds like a pro’s pro.

“I’m a dirtbag; I’m a baseball player,” Neyens said. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to win all the time.”

He describes himself as a hard worker with an elite left-handed bat, one that’s only getting better as his frame fills out. Over the past year, Neyens says he’s added considerable strength and fine-tuned his bat path to create more lift — unlocking even more power potential.

The confidence doesn’t stop there. At the plate, Neyens models his offensive game after Bryce Harper. Defensively, after Corey Seager, another shortstop who isn’t known for elite range but makes up for it with high baseball IQ.

Originally committed to Oregon State, Neyens confirmed he’ll forgo college and sign with the Astros, getting to work immediately in their farm system. It’s a tough reality for Seattle fans, watching one of their own join the opposition. But from Houston’s perspective, this is a win-now and win-later kind of pick — a high-upside, high-character addition to a franchise that rarely misses on development.

It’s bittersweet, sure. But even the most diehard Mariners loyalist might find themselves peeking at Neyens’ minor league box scores. As much as it hurts to say it, the kid is incredibly easy to root for. If and when he makes it to the Astros’ big league roster, well...let’s just say Mariners fans won’t mind seeing a few 0-for-4 nights from him at T-Mobile Park.