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Astros release preliminary Hooks roster; Janek gives Coastal Bend a hometown link
The Astros set the tone for Opening Week by unveiling a preliminary 28-man Hooks roster for 2026, keeping much of last year’s core intact under second-year manager Ricky Rivera [1][2]. The group features 22 returners and a 16-man pitching staff, including 2025 Hooks Pitcher of the Year Trey Dombroski anchoring the arms [1][2].Catcher Walker Janek (Gregory-Portland) headlines the early storyline. If he breaks camp on the active roster, he would become the first Coastal Bend native to suit up for Corpus Christi since the club’s inaugural 2005 season, a milestone sure to resonate at Whataburger Field [1][2].Before the league slate starts, fans get a hometown tune-up: the Hooks host Texas A&M–Corpus Christi in a spring exhibition on March 31. The regular season then opens with a three-game series at Whataburger Field from April 2–4, giving the Ballpark by the Bay an immediate burst of early-season buzz [1][2].