Astros' Jose Altuve: Confirmed as primary left fielder
Rotowire
Astros manager Joe Espada confirmed Wednesday that Altuve will play "most of his games" in left field this season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Espada noted that it's possible personnel changes down the road alter this line of thinking, but for now the plan is to go into the season with Altuve as the club's everyday left fielder. It's no surprise, as Altuve has been focusing on left field since the beginning of camp and has played the position adequately enough that the team feels comfortable with him there. Mauricio Dubon is the favorite to open the season at Altuve's old second base position.
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Astros' Jose Altuve: Manager pleased with work in LF
Rotowire
Astros manager Joe Espada said Thursday that Altuve has done "enough for me to feel good about playing (him in) left field," Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Altuve had a misplay at the left-field wall during Thursday's game against the Cardinals, but Espada appears to be pleased with how the 34-year-old has looked as he attempts to convert from second baseman to left fielder. Espada has not yet officially said that Altuve will be the team's primary left fielder this season, but that announcement seems inevitable.
Astros' Jose Altuve: Plan 'right now' is to play LF
Rotowire
Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that the plan "right now" is for Altuve to be the team's primary left fielder Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
It's not a surprise, given that Altuve seems to be working out almost exclusively in left field this spring. However, Espada stressed that nothing has been decided yet, as he's still evaluating how Altuve looks in the outfield and he also wants to get feedback from the player. Espada noted that he wants to avoid moving Altuve back-and-forth between left field and second base, so if the team commits to making the 34-year-old a left fielder, that's where the overwhelming majority of his reps will come.
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Astros' Jose Altuve: Starting in left field Friday
Rotowire
Altuve will make his Grapefruit League debut in left field Friday versus the Cardinals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Altuve has never played left field in professional ball, but he's been working out at the position this spring, and it appears to be the spot he's most likely to man on a regular basis for the Astros in 2025. The 34-year-old slashed .295/.350/.439 with 20 home runs and 22 stolen bases across 153 contests for the Astros during the 2024 regular season.
Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Altuve will make his Grapefruit League debut in left field later this week, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Altuve's workouts so far in camp have focused on left field, and that's the position he'll man in his first game this spring. As long as he proves to be adequate defensively, it seems as though Houston plans to play him there often, if not on a full-time basis. Altuve has never played the outfield either at the major- or minor-league level.
Astros' Jose Altuve: First spring game will be in LF
Rotowire
Manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Altuve will play left field in first Grapefruit League game this spring, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Altuve has seen significant reps in the outfield in the early days of camp and will work with the outfielders exclusively over the next 4-to-5 days. It's becoming clear at this point that the Astros are serious about potentially moving Altuve to left field, although the 34-year-old will have to show he's comfortable out there before the team commits to it. If Altuve does shift to the outfield, Mauricio Dubon looks to be the current favorite to start at second base. Houston also just agreed to a minor-league deal with Brendan Rodgers, who will be a threat to win the second base job.
Astros' Jose Altuve: Dabbling in left field, second base
Rotowire
Astros manager Joe Espada reiterated Monday that Altuve will see action at both second base and in left field this spring, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Earlier this month, Espada revealed that Altuve had been working out in left field for a couple weeks before the start of spring training, perhaps in anticipation of the Astros re-signing third baseman Alex Bregman, which would have resulted in offseason pickup Isaac Paredes shifting over to second base. While Bregman ultimately came to terms with the Red Sox on a three-year, $120 million deal, the Astros aren't yet closing the door on giving Altuve some exposure to left field, a position the 34-year-old hasn't played at any point since beginning his professional career in 2007. Espada said that he's made no permanent decisions on where Altuve will play this season, calling it an "everyday thing" with regard to how Altuve's deployment in the field will evolve throughout the spring based on the feedback he receives from the veteran. Even if Altuve ends up opening the season at his familiar spot at the keystone, the Astros could still look to move him to left field later on in the campaign to make way in the infield for top prospect Brice Matthews, who has spent most of his time at shortstop in the minors but made 11 starts at second base during winter ball in Puerto Rico.
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