Astros to Host Houston Winter Invitational at Daikin Park

4 days ago 2

The Houston Astros will host the 14th annual Houston Winter Invitational at Daikin Park at the end of the month, from Jan. 30-Feb. 1. The tournament will feature six NCAA Division II universities, squaring off in nine games across the three days. Tickets for the tournament are now available for purchase at Astros.com/WinterInvitational.

The tournament field features the University of Central Missouri, which co-hosts the event each year with the Astros, the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), Arkansas Tech University, Ashland University (OH), North Greenville University (SC), and Rollins College (FL). Central Missouri is coming off an excellent 48-14 campaign, finishing as the NCAA Division II National Runner-Up for the third time in program history.

Central Missouri is the alma-mater of Astros Owner and Chairman Jim Crane, who was a standout right-handed pitcher in his college career. He pitched for the Mules from 1973-76, posting a 21-8 record with a career 2.42 ERA. Crane still ranks atop the Central Missouri career leaderboards in complete games (23) and shutouts (7) and ranks fifth in strikeouts (215). He still holds the Mules single-game strikeout record of 18, which at the time, set a DII College World Series record. Crane was inducted into the University of Central Missouri Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997, and earned an induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.

Crane contributes to Central Missouri annually to provide athletic scholarships for Mules baseball. Additionally, Crane was the primary underwriter of a $1.2 million renovation in 1998 of the old Mules Field on the University of Central Missouri campus, which has since been renamed the James R. Crane Stadium. In 2016, Crane and the UCM Foundation upgraded the university’s baseball facility with a new synthetic turf playing surface. In 2021, a lead gift from Crane paved the way for the new Mules Baseball Clubhouse which features an MLB-style layout for the baseball program.

2026 Houston Winter Invitational Schedule (times subject to change) (home teams listed second)

Friday, Jan. 30 10 a.m. Ashland vs. Arkansas Tech

1:30 p.m. UAH vs. North Greenville

5 p.m. Rollins vs. Central Missouri

Saturday, Jan. 31 10 a.m. UAH vs. Ashland

1:30 p.m. North Greenville vs. Central Missouri

5 p.m. Arkansas Tech vs. Rollins

Sunday, Feb. 1 10 a.m. North Greenville vs. Rollins

1:30 p.m. Ashland vs. Central Missouri

5 p.m. UAH vs. Arkansas Tech

Read Entire Article