They were already missing their first- and second-round picks due to punishment by Major League Baseball for sign-stealing. That's before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the league and the sports world at large.
Since then, MLB and the Players Association agreed to shorten the draft from 40 rounds to five rounds.
It's widely understood that the Astros need to bolster their farm system, once a strength of the team that led to a successful rebuild, but now considered one of the worst in baseball.
Many of the prospects Houston had accumulated were dealt for the likes of Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole and Zack Greinke, among others.
Now, the Astros are left with a two-year window of contention before it's time to start looking at the next wave of baseball stars in Houston.
Click's first draft, albeit a lighter one, will be an important step.
The Astros farm system is heavy on right-handed pitchers, low on position players and in this draft, they have the least amount of money in the allotted bonus pool.
Houston's first pick is the No. 72 overall selection on Day 2 (Thursday). Sixteen teams will have made at least three selections by then, and two of them will have picked four times.
It's tough to say who they might pick, or who might be available.
Click has said the best they can do is have a good process and be prepared to read and react.
You can watch Day 1 of the draft on MLB Network and ESPN at 6 p.m. CT.
Day 2 begins at 4 p.m. CT on Thursday on MLB Network and ESPN2.