This post has been purposely left for last in the set of position reviews. In fact, it is two months later than the last offensive position reviewed – third base.
That was done on purpose and in this case, it kept us from writing a review that was lacking the names Jose Altuve and Cam Smith (though I may have to revisit the 2B review at some point soon).
So, here is a look at the Astros outfield positions in 2025.
2024 By the Numbers
Here are stats for all those who played LF, CF and RF in 2024 for the Astros:
| Left Field | Center Field | Right Field | |
| BA | .267 (2nd in AL) | .220 (13th) | .250 (7th) |
| OBP | .323 (5th) | .283 (11th) | .340 (3rd) |
| OPS | .734 (4th) | .634 (14th) | .795 (5th) |
| Doubles | 23 (15th) | 27 (T-7th) | 27 (T-8th) |
| Home Runs | 20 (5th) | 14 (T-3rd) | 28 (5th) |
| RBIs | (1st) | 70 (6th) | 72 (8th) |
Some oddities…
- Seems strange that the Astros can have the most RBIs among left fielders (mostly looking at you Yordan Alvarez) and be at the bottom in doubles.
- Center fielder numbers sport a dichotomy – they are in the bottom few clubs in the AL in BA/OBP/OPS, but somehow in the top half in doubles, homers and RBIs.
- Kyle Tucker missing so much time certainly tore the heck out of the right field stats. While he was near the top in many stats – the people who replaced him were awful.
Now looking at some of the personnel who played in the majors last season and may populate the outfield this season. (Well, not Tucker….)
| Stat | Kyle Tucker | Yordan Alvarez | Chas McCormick | Jake Meyers | Jose Altuve | Mauricio Dubon |
| AB | 277 | 199 | 242 | 461 | 628 | 260 |
| BA | .289 | .322 | .211 | .219 | .295 | .265 |
| OBP | .408 | .391 | .271 | .286 | .350 | .299 |
| OPS | .993 | .954 | .576 | .646 | .790 | .703 |
| Runs | 56 | 33 | 32 | 51 | 94 | 25 |
| Doubles | 13 | 9 | 6 | 20 | 31 | 14 |
| HRs | 23 | 13 | 5 | 13 | 20 | 2 |
| RBIs | 49 | 40 | 27 | 61 | 65 | 25 |
| Walk % | 16.5 | 11.1 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 6.9 | 3.8% |
| K % | 15.9 | 9.5 | 27.0 | 22.8 | 17.4 | 13.1% |
Note – Yordan is showing his stats as a LF only. Dubon’s at LF, RF and CF.
A few comments:
- Of the Astros who DH – Yordan is the one who falls off the least from when he hits while playing the field. One fascinating thing is that as a LF – he walked (11.1%) a little more than he K’d (9.5%) while as a DH he K’d (21.5%) far more than he walked (13.3%).
- Jake Meyers played a lot more than Chas McCormick in 2024 (461 vs. 242 ABs), and did not hit well, but still was a better RBI guy – 61 RBIs despite batting .219. If you pro-rate up Chas’ RBIs to Jake’s number of at bats – it would only be 51 RBIs.
- Altuve could mostly fill Tucker’s absence in the OF – especially considering Tucker’s absence, but can they fill in behind Altuve at 2B.
- Chas has to pick it up. Period.
Major League Possibilities
Other players who played outfield for the Astros last season, who are still around include:
- Ben Gamel – 8 games LF/ 18 games RF – was backup OF for a late chunk of 2024 before getting injured.
- Cooper Hummel – 4 games LF – likely organizational depth
- Pedro Leon – 6 games RF – been injured most of the spring
Gamel as a left hand hitter probably has the best chance of finding a spot on the final roster.
Top Prospects
#1 Prospect Cam Smith is getting the attention, deservedly, in Spring Training for a possible spot in right field to start the season (.423 BA/ 1.362 OPS so far). You have to wonder if there are any thoughts about using Zach Dezenzo (#5 prospect) in LF a bit. He played some LF in the Puerto Rican league and is currently one of the top spring hitters not named Cam (.371 BA / 1.005 OPS). Other top prospects, who might see time with the big club this season are #3 prospect Jacob Melton and #17 Shay Whitcomb, who has played both IF/OF in the minors and had a cup of coffee with the Astros in 2024.
2024 AAA
The only name that sticks out from last year’s AAA roster that has not been mentioned yet is Quincy Hamilton. Hamilton was solid at AAA last season (.246 BA/ .350 OBP/ .814 OPS) and has shown well in Spring Training so far (.296 BA/ .367 OBP/ .737 OPS). He might get a shot if someone goes down.
2024 AA
Players not mentioned elsewhere who played significant time at AA Corpus are Colin Barber, Kenedy Corona and Rolando Espinosa. They share some similarities in that all three hit for below .230 BA and .700 OPS, neither of which will necessarily get them noticed.
Heading into the off-season the 3rd base position looked like the most fascinating competition. But with the Kyle Tucker trade bringing in Bregman “replacement” Isaac Paredes and with the announcements that both Jose Altuve and Cam Smith would be in the OF mix – the outfield competition trumps all.
We could see an outfield of LF Altuve / CF Jake and Chas/ RF Smith and that would be a lot of fun.
ALL THINGS ASTROS 
9 responses to “Astros 2025: A quick view of the outfield position”
I keep hoping that Melton as a left-handed hitter can get in the center field mix. I know that he has struggled against left handed pitching, but with the weak hitting Meyers, the bar seems pretty low. At this point, I have doubts that Chas regains his hitting stroke. At any rate, Meyers would be a great 4th outfielder.
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It does appear Altuve will spend most of the time in LF. He might go in and play some 2B so Yordan can get some reps out there, which may be why the Astros haven’t seemed to care to fix the hole at 2B.
It also appears Meyers can’t really hit himself out of a job early. If he is hitting .220 in June, I am sure the rumbles will start. I’m rooting for Jake, just give us a .260, because he draws walks a little better than other options, which means at .260 he is league average or better OBP, and with 10-15 HR power the perfect 9 hitter that can play near gold glove caliber CF.
That takes us to RF, where Chas is drawing walks in the spring but not hitting. Zach Dezenzo is hitting but not drawing walks. Ben Gamel is doing neither but is the only real candidate that swings from that side.
You better keep your eye on Hummel. It’s not going to surprise me if he makes this team. He can play 1B, LF and RF, and functions as a third catcher, hits from both sides but is a better left handed hitter, and at 30 could be entering an opportunity to have a prime year. There could be 2 or 3 good major league seasons to get from the guy as a 4th OF’er, backup 1B, emergency catcher type. It’s just about making enough contact. He draws walks. He doesn’t strike out too much. It’s just how good and consistent is that contact. Personally, I would be platooning Hummel with Chas to open the season, not Gamel.
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I also believe that Altuve will start the season as our left fielder. I think Jake will be in center most of the time early, in spite of his lifetime 86 OPS+ because he’ll need to help out Altuve and some of the guys playing right. Chas might get screwed out of starts again, but he has not hit in a year despite his own lifetime 108 OPS+, which would be more than serviceable and would eventually give him the centerfield job. But he got hurt and never came close to earning a job in 2024. If Walker is ready on opening day, my guess is that both Dezenzo and Smith start the season in Sugar Land because they should be playing every day. But I don’t see Hummel or Gamel or Dubon suddenly hitting enough to justify giving any of them much playing time in the outfield but at least two of those three will be on the roster come Opening Day. I think by May or June someone will force their way into the Astro line up. I still don’t think it will be Melton. But I hope Dezenzo gets starts at first, left and right in AAA. I hope Smith gets an equal amount of starts between third and right.
Rodgers and G man, sorry I just can’t remember how to spell that one, will both get most of their work at second base early. But I’m dubious that either will hit enough. That’s why I’m ultimately hoping to see Smith at third and Dezenzo in right post the All Star break. Defensively it would be a challenge, but I think they will both be high OPS hitters. That would move Paredes over to second, assuming he can show a bit of range. I noticed yesterday that he’s a bit chunky around the bread basket for a 25 year old.
But overall, I still like this club and I certainly do not see a third place finish in the west.
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Not mentioned is Taylor Trammell who hasn’t played this spring due to a calf injury, right? What’s the status on that? I find it hard to believe he would be worse than 2024 Chas, Ben Gamel, or Pedro Leon. It wouldn’t surprise me for him to be better (offensively) than Jake. The thing about putting Altuve in LF is you’re looking at needing a late inning defensive replacement for him.
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Devin, we’re going to disagree here. Like it or not, if Altuve is due up late in a tight game, he’ll be in the line up for his bat. We’re going to have to hope he gets comfortable out in left. Because he’ll likely be out there for a few years.
Taylor Trammel has never hit in MLB. It would be great if he could find what was initially promised, but I’ve got a lot more confidence in Chas hitting again. And I’m surprised so many have written him off but are still thinking Jake might hit. Jake has never put together a season at the plate.
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I’m with you. Indicators suggest that despite his ST Chas is going to get first go in RF, though I suspect Gamel makes this team as well and they both spend time out there. And I think Chas will take advantage of it and play well enough.
BUT, if he isn’t, he still has options left. He could find himself in AAA by May 1st as Cam Smith steps in. The Astros are going to say the right things in the media but would be foolish to have Cam Smith either on the 40 man or in the majors before April 20th. I hate service time rules, they cost Springer and will probably cost Cam millions, but they exist so a team is going to take advantage of them.
I’m thinking an opening day lineup right now – Altuve-LF, Paredes-3B, Yordan – DH, Walker -1B, Diaz-C, Pena-SS, Chas-RF, Dubon-2B, Jake – CF. The bench, if I’m guessing, Gamel, Caratini, Dezenzo, and Singleton. But they may very well keep Rodgers over Dezenzo or Singleton simply because he provides more depth to the middle infield, especially a sore 2B spot. Now this is different than WSWD, but I’m not a guy that gets to pick em. Everyone seems confident that Walker will be fine, but of course things change if he does open on the 10 day IL just to give him a little more time (the kind of thing that is very much a Dana thing to do).
Some things – They brought Luis Guillorme here for a reason, and have given him at bats that could have went elsewhere for a reason. Same with the PT received by Short and Hummel. They’ve taken longer looks at these guys. Not saying any of them make it, but Dana had an intent to change to profile of this team, and hitting around the edges of the bench with guys that are lower on the K’s and take a few pitches to get there seems intentional.
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Steven, I think you got the opening day line up right, but it will probably be a bit different for game 2. And 3.
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Saw some of the game today and Altuve botched the fly ball and allowed a run to score but he did make a good running catch on a fly out. He doesn’t look comfortable. Another bad play by Pena cost a run also. Dubon gets picked off at 1st and Dezenzo has to leave after getting hit in the head trying to stop a hard hit grounder. McCormick can’t hit a beach ball and Jake’s starting to look like the swing and miss king. I hope they play better than this when the season starts but this was bad baseball all around. Pitching seemed OK but Arrighetti was a little off. Lance was OK in his 1st appearance with a HBP.
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Salazar, Whitcomb and Hernandez optioned. Don’t think any of those are surprising. We are probably just a few days from getting some real surprises.
We should still see all 3 at points in the season.
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