Throwing Heat for Home
Cypress area’s own Hayden Wesneski comes full circle and makes his Astros debut for his home team.
Hayden Wesneski’s road to the majors started right here in Cypress, and now he’s back where it all began. The Cypress native is bringing the heat — and the hometown pride — back to Houston. Hayden Wesneski’s journey from Cypress Little League to the Houston Astros is a story built on hard work, big dreams, and a whole lot of Texas pride. Before he was firing fastballs under the bright lights of Minute Maid Park, Wesneski was just a Cypress kid with a dream, one fueled by backyard ball games, Little League afternoons, and a lifelong love for the Houston Astros.
Now, after making his mark in the big leagues, Wesneski has come full circle, suiting up for the team he grew up rooting for. For the hometown fans who watched him rise, and for Wesneski himself, it’s more than just another chapter in his career — it’s the ultimate homecoming.
“When you’re an Astros fan, you grow up [wanting] to be an Astros baseball player,” said Wesneski, as reported by MLB.com. “You don’t grow up to be a Braves baseball player or something. It’s just a dream-come-true kind of thing. I am excited to be an Astro.”
Born in 1997 in Houston, Wesneski’s background included preschool tee ball teams and playing baseball for the Arnold Middle School Buccaneers and the Cy-Fair High School Bobcats. During his high school career, he achieved a 25–9 win-loss record with a 3.56 ERA. In 2016, the Tampa Bay Rays selected him in the 33rd round of the MLB Draft, but in a show of wisdom beyond his years, he didn’t feel ready for the major leagues and chose to pursue college baseball at Sam Houston State instead. As a Bearkat, he duly made his mark by earning a 10–2 record with a 3.93 ERA over 19 appearances, earning him Freshman All-America honors and the Southland Conference Freshman of the Year award. By the end of his collegiate career, he ranked fourth in school history with 224 career strikeouts.
Following his time at Sam Houston, Hayden was drafted by the Yankees in the sixth round of the MLB draft in 2019. By 2021, he had progressed through the minor league system and reached Triple-A. In 2021 alone, he had an impressive 25 appearances across three levels, earning an 11–6 record with a 3.25 ERA and 151 strikeouts. Following his stint in the Yankees system, he went on to throw for the Chicago Cubs.
He made his MLB debut on September 6, 2022, pitching five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds. In a show of supreme efficiency and skill that’s rare even for MLB pitchers, Wesneski pitched an immaculate inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 22, 2022. In an immaculate inning, the pitcher strikes out three batters on nine pitches, an infrequent feat for any MLB ace—in all of MLB history, only 105 pitchers have accomplished this. With Wesneski’s healthy mix of pitches—he’s known for his four-seam fastball, slider, changeup, and more recently his cutter and curveball—it’s no wonder he’s racked up some impressive stats.
In his rookie season, he posted a 2.18 ERA over six games. In 2023, Wesneski appeared in 34 games, including eleven starts for the Cubs, recording a 3–5 record with a 4.63 ERA and 83 strikeouts over 89.1 innings. The following year, he made 28 appearances, achieving a 3–6 record with a 3.86 ERA and 67 strikeouts over 67.2 innings. Following his time with the Cubs, Hayden reached his homecoming moment with a return to the Houston Astros.
“I get to sleep in my own bed, and that’s something that people take for granted,” said Wesneski, as reported by MLB.com. “You think wherever you play is your home, but it’s not necessarily true. I actually get to sleep in my own bed and see my family and little things like that.”
Up to this point, Wesneski has made five starts for the Astros, posting a 1–2 record with a 3.86 ERA, 26 strikeouts, and a 1.00 WHIP over 28 innings. He has adapted his pitching approach, incorporating a broader mix of pitches, including cutters, changeups, and a newly added curveball, while reducing reliance on his signature sweeper.
During a spring training Q&A with MLB.com, Hayden was quoted as saying, “The guys in the clubhouse are super nice. [Pitching coaches] Josh [Miller] and Bill [Murphy] have made it really easy, and really, the Astros are super disciplined. It’s really cool to see the work, the little things that you don’t necessarily see. … It’s been very welcoming and warm over here. It’s always good to play for your hometown team.”
Hayden Wesneski’s return to Houston isn’t just a career milestone; it’s a full-circle moment for a hometown kid who’s dreamed of wearing the Astros’ uniform since his early days in Cypress. From his high school baseball games to his rise through the ranks of professional baseball, Wesneski’s journey has been defined by hard work, determination, and an unwavering love for the game. Now, as he takes the mound for the team he grew up rooting for, he’s not just representing the Astros — he’s representing his community, his family, and every kid in Cypress who dares to dream big. With the Houston Astros’ jersey on his back, Wesneski has come home, ready to chase even greater victories in front of the fans who have always believed in him. For Hayden, this homecoming is just the beginning of the next chapter in a career that continues to inspire.
