Field Level Media
27 Feb 2025, 00:39 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)
Career second baseman Jose Altuve will make his spring training debut on Friday, and he'll do it in left field, Houston Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters on Wednesday.
Following the trade of All-Star Kyle Tucker, the Astros have an opening in the outfield. And Altuve has said he will play anywhere on the field that he's needed.
Altuve, who turns 35 in May, has played 1,766 games at second base and two at shortstop, never manning the outfield during his 14 seasons. A nine-time All-Star and former American League Most Valuable Player, he won the Gold Glove at second in 2015.
His defensive stats at second base have slipped in recent seasons, however. In the past three seasons, he has registered a minus-15 defensive runs saved and two campaigns of minus-13.
The seven-time Silver Slugger hasn't dropped off offensively, though. Altuve, a three-time American League batting champion, has averages of .300, .311 and .295 during that span.
Espada told reporters on Tuesday that Altuve is doing well in his transition to left field.
'He's actually been pretty good out there,' Espada said. 'One thing, it's practice and we can control the environment and the volume, but once the game starts he'll be tested and we'll get a better read of where he's at. Right now, the attitude is exactly what we're expecting and the work has been pretty good.'
Mauricio Dubon currently sits atop the depth chart at second base, but he is being challenged by Brendan Rodgers and Luis Guillorme.
The Astros will face the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday in West Palm Beach, Fla.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Sports Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Sports Sun.
More Information(Photo credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images) The Philadelphia Flyers continue to surge, most recently at the expense of the reeling...
(Photo credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images) After back-to-back overtime losses, the Boston Bruins look to bounce back when they host...
(Photo credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images) The Montreal Canadiens will aim to win three games in a row for the fourth time this...
(Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images) The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have declined their option on starting safety Jordan Whitehead,...
(Photo credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images) INDIANAPOLIS -- More than half of the 53-man roster in Washington is eligible for free...
(Photo credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images) Career second baseman Jose Altuve will make his spring training debut on Friday, and he'll...
(Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images) The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have declined their option on starting safety Jordan Whitehead,...
(Photo credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images) INDIANAPOLIS -- More than half of the 53-man roster in Washington is eligible for free...
(Photo credit: Gregg Pachkowski/[email protected]) Oklahoma has hired Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy as its new general manager, the university...
(Photo credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images) INDIANAPOLIS -- Eliot Wolf and the New England Patriots are gearing up to make the roster...
(Photo credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) INDIANAPOLIS -- When NFL teams ask Mason Graham for a game film from...
(Photo credit: Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) The Green Bay Packers have held trade...