Lookback at Astros’ 2024: Position by position

Today, we look at how the Astros hitters did at each position in the field or (DH) in the dugout compared to the other teams in the American League.

These numbers are cumulative for whoever was at each position for a particular game. So, somebody like Yordan Alvarez‘s numbers are split between DH and LF. I’m also showing the Astros ranking for that stat at that position in the AL.

Pos	BA	OBP	OPS	HRs	RBIs
DH	.280 (1st)	.356 (1st)	.845 (2nd)	30 HR (T-3rd)	73 RBI (10th)
C	.280 (1st)	.331 (2nd)	.759 (1st)	16 HR (11th)	88 RBI (3rd)
1B	.226 (12th)	.291 (13th)	.651 (12th)	18 HR (11th)	68 RBI (12th)
2B	.291 (1st)	.344 (1st)	.774 (1st)	19 HR (T-3rd)	69 RBI (3rd)
SS	.265 (5th)	.309 (8th)	.700 (7th)	15 HR (8th)	71 RBI (T-6th)
3B	.259 (2nd)	.317 (7th)	.753 (4th)	25 HR (3rd)	83 RBI (3rd)
LF	.267 (2nd)	.323 (5th)	.734 (4th)	20 HR (5th)	87 RBI (1st)
CF	.220 (13th)	.283 (11th)	.634 (14th)	14 HR (13th)	70 RBI (6th)
RF	.250 (7th)	.340 (3rd)	.795 (5th)	28 HR (5th)	72 RBI (8th)

General

In looking at the stats it is good to have some perspective on offensive numbers. In 2024 the AL average slash line was what would seem to be below average .240/BA/.309 OBP/ .703 OPS. On that basis it is not surprising that the two positions well below average are first base and centerfield based on the majority of the numbers at those two positions being manned by Jon Singleton/Jose Abreu at 1B and Jake Meyers/Chas McCormick at CF. All the other positions are well above the league average except for SS where Jeremy Pena had a year that was hovering around and slightly above average.

The other thing to consider in looking at the Astros individual stats is how they summed up as a team. Here is where they ended up in the AL in 2024:

• 4.60 runs/game – 4^th
• .262 BA – 1^st
• .322 OBP – 2^nd
• .741 OPS – 3^rd
• 190 HRs – 5^th
• 701 RBIs – 6^th

A few things come to mind looking at those numbers. The Astros, despite how it “feels” are in the top third in offensive production in the AL. Their run production is running a bit behind their slash (BA/OBP/OPS) placement in the league. They do have that oddity that they are 4^th in runs/game but only 6^th in RBIs. Teams can score in ways that don’t stem from an RBI, such as wild pitches, passed balls and the one that seems applicable here, double plays.

Matching the eye test, the Astros were second (132 DPs) to the Yankees (138 DPs) in this area. This was far behind the Baltimore Orioles who only hit into 71 DPs in 2024. The Astros seemed to be hitting into DPs with the bases loaded all the time, scoring runs yet killing rallies. And it was pointed out often that the Astros, who used to specialize in it, did not hit one Grand Slam in 2024.

With all that as background – let’s discuss the Astros position by position numbers.

Designated Hitter

The Astros’ DH had some very solid numbers across the board (with one exception) which would be expected because Yordan Alvarez and Yainer Diaz, the two best hitters on the club not named Altuve made 130 of the 162 starts at DH. Note – Yes Kyle Tucker is one of their best hitters, but playing less than half the games lowered his value in 2024.

The exception to the solid numbers is being 10^th in the league in DH RBIs. The team, as a whole, was down a bit on RBIs and the main DH, Alvarez only had 53% (46) of his RBIs as a DH, even though he had 64% of his at bats as the DH.

Can they improve run production at DH in 2025? You look back at 2023 and the Astros had 13 more RBIs in a season when Yordan due to injury had about 90 less at bats as a DH as in 2024. But even with those 90 less at bats, Yordan himself had 11 more RBIs than he would have in 2024. So, yes some low hanging fruit are out there.

Catcher

I really dare anyone to find better overall numbers for Astro catchers as a group in any year before 2024. They may have had more home runs in other years, but Yainer Diaz and Victor Caratini with a small amount of Cesar Salazar thrown in were between 1^st and 3^rd in the AL in BA/OBP/OPS and RBIs. The catcher position had more RBIs than any other position on the Astros and Diaz and Caratini should both be back in 2025.

First Base

The overall numbers at first base were very bad for the season. Now, when you drop out the awful numbers of Jose Abreu, it improves to bad. Jon Singleton’s numbers for the season .234 BA/ .321 OBP/ .707 OPS were not too bad and are worth a little further dip.

After Jose Abreu was let go, Singleton had more consistent play. In his last 69 games after Abreu left, Singleton’s slash was .249 BA/ .325 OBP/ .749 OPS. Spreading those numbers over a whole season, they would be 8^th (BA)/6^th (OBP)/ 5^th (OPS), which would have been very acceptable.

Do they think using him mostly against right handers and using someone else against the leftys that they can end up with a serviceable first base situation in 2025? We may see.

Second Base

Jose Altuve, even with a dip towards the end of the season again showed himself to be a good offensive player at a position that is not usually a strong offensive spot. The Astros were first in BA/OBP/OPS in the AL among second basemen due to Altuve and his146 starts. Some may gripe at his “only” coming in 3^rd in HRs and RBIs, but c’mon – he’s a leadoff hitter.

Shortstop

Jeremy Pena started 157 games at SS in 2024 and gave the Astros production of just over the halfway mark among AL shortstops. Does he have another gear? (I would not call the few weeks in the 2022 playoffs another gear as much as a hot streak).

Third Base

For eight seasons (2017 – 2024) the team went to Spring Training knowing who their third baseman would be. It will feel very different if Alex Bregman is not the starting 3B after all that time.

In 2024 the Bregman (142 starts) led Astro 3B had very good numbers at that position – in between second and fourth in all categories, but one. They were 7^th in OBP. This is bizarre as Bregman is usually at the top of this category among 3B – 1^st in 2018, 2019, 2023 and 2^nd in 2022 among AL 3B. But we know this was a different kind of year for Bregman and the team when it came to walk %.

Left Field

The total numbers for the Astro left fielders are a bit of a headscratcher against the rest of the AL. Between 2^nd and 5^th in BA/OBP/OPS and HRs.  First in RBIs??

Yordan hit his best when he was in left field, but that was only about 1/3 of the starts (53 games). Mauricio Dubon and Chas McCormick combined for almost half of the starts (76), but neither were big run producers in 2024. Six others led by Joey Loperfido and Jason Heyward had some impact there.

But it was Yordan’s numbers in LF – .322 BA/.391 OBP/.954 OPS with 13 HRs and 40 RBIs in 53 games (the equivalent of 40 HRs/122 RBIs over 162 games) was what drove the numbers here.

This is the big conundrum for the Astros – they would love to get this production in the lineup, but they want to protect Yordan as a DH….

Center Field

The Astros numbers in center field were crappy, because Jake Meyers (126 starts) numbers were crappy. The only positive there was the 70 RBIs – 6^th in the AL for CFs.

Do the Astros give Pedro Leon (who looked totally lost in his 2024 call-up) a shot at this position? Do they let Meyers go and try to find some help out there on the cheap or by turning to a hopefully rejuvenated McCormick? Is any other prospect ready?

Center field is definitely a spot begging for improvement.

Right Field

The teams’ right fielders ended up in the middle of the pack in the AL for one reason only. Kyle Tucker missed 3 months due to his fractured shinbone. How good might have Tucker’s season been? Ever heard of Juan Soto?

Soto played in double the games as Tucker. Their numbers might have looked like if you double up what Tucker did.

Soto        41 HRs / 109 RBIs / 7 SBs  / .288 BA / .419 OBP / .988 OPS

Tucker    46 HRs /  98 RBIs / 22 SBs / .289 BA / .408 OBP / .993 OPS

The Astros will be fine in RF, if they can get a full season out of Tucker.

This was just a quick look at the Astros’ positions vs. their counterparts in the AL. Does anything strike you here?