Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve takes up his position in left field during the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
The Houston Astros are moving their best player in franchise history to a position he has never played before.
Jose Altuve is slated to start Opening Day on Thursday in left field against the New York Mets. The career-long second baseman has played sparingly at shortstop, but never once in his 14-year career has he played in the outfield.
Houston will instead opt for a platoon at second base, with Mauricio Dubon as the main starter. Dubon is a Gold Glove utility man, so moving Altuve to the outfield in favor of somebody who can play both the infield and outfield is a strange move.
Isaac Paredes is also an option at second base, after being acquired from the Cubs in the Kyle Tucker trade. The Astros announced that their number one prospect, Cam Smith, will be on the Opening Day roster. Smith, who was also in the Tucker deal, will see time at third base and possibly in left field.
Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve flies out during the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
It is not like Altuve’s numbers have declined to a point where he is only playing because of his legacy with the team. The Venezuelan made his ninth all-star game last season and still hit almost .300 in 153 games. Altuve only committed five errors in the second last year, tied for the least he has ever committed in a full season. The one-time Gold Glove Award winner even led all second basemen in fielding percentage last season, making this move even more preposterous.
Altuve has not played great in left field during spring training, misplaying multiple fly balls which led to unearned runs and baserunners. It will continue to take time for him to improve, but the Astros seem set on their ways to keep Altuve in left.
This experiment has failed multiple times, with Hanley Ramirez recently falling victim. After signing a big contract in 2015, Ramirez played 92 games in left field, a position he never played before or after. Coming off a hot month of April, mashing 10 home runs, Ramirez sprained his shoulder when he collided with a wall while running after a fly ball. This sidelined him for an extended period of time, and he only hit nine more home runs the entire season.
The Sox did not learn their lesson the next year as they trotted out second-year catcher Blake Swihart in left field. Swihart also collided with a wall at Fenway, causing an ankle injury which would sideline him for the remainder of the season. The switch-hitter never met his full potential and would be out of the league after the 2019 season.
An injury to Altuve in the outfield is not out of the question given his recent injury history. He only appeared in 90 regular season games in 2023 while nursing thumb, shin, knee and multiple oblique injuries. The soon to be 35-year-old will need to do a lot more in left field than second base, and it could start to show his age.
Altuve has stuck with the Astros through thick and thin. He has been with the team since they were in the National League. He was a part of some of the worst teams in franchise history, but he just put his head down and did his job. This is no way to treat the two-time World Series champion.
Just because he said he would play the outfield doesn’t mean you have to let him. He needs no improvement, he’s already the baddest 2nd baseman of all time. He’s a lock to go into the baseball hall of fame on his first time eligible after retirement. We all worship him and credit him as being instrumental in bringing not one but two world series championship’s to our beloved Astros. Don’t let a few misplaced words on his behalf turn our hero into a scapegoat. He is and always will be the bestest team player we have had ,or could have dreamed of having. Coach Espada please restore Altuve to his natural position.