Astros Slugger Proving To Be Team’s Quiet Leader
There is no question that second baseman Jose Altuve is the leader of the Houston Astros. It’s one of the many reasons why the Astros extended him for five more seasons through 2029.
But, one player cannot lead a baseball team. Others must contribute. In many cases those leaders are players like Altuve, ones who are built to last and connected to the team for the long term.
Yordan Alvarez may not speak as often as Altuve, at least not in public, but there is no question in his teammates’ minds that when he talks, they listen, according to a recent feature on Alvarez by The Athletic’s Chandler Rome.
Alvarez is already cemented in Astros lore for his performance in the 2022 World Series. He nearly duplicated that in the 2023 AL Championship Series, though the Astros lost to the Texas Rangers in seven games.
Last year he fought injuries and only played in 114 games. No worries. He still produced. He had 31 home runs and 97 RBI, along with a slash line of .293/.407/.583/.990.
At least one set of projections sees Alvarez having the kind of season that underscores Altuve’s belief that Alvarez is the “best hitter in baseball,” something Alvarez has said on many occasions.
