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Cole will compete to be the Astros' starting left fielder in spring training, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.
Cole made a good impression in a 15-game stint with Houston late last season, posting an .880 OPS with four home runs and three stolen bases. With Jake Meyers slated to man center field and Jesus Sanchez in right, the Astros' final outfield spot should come down to either Cole or Cam Smith, with the loser likely to open the year in Triple-A.
Cole went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk, a stolen base and a second run scored in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Angels.
Cole has swiped a bag in three straight games, which accounts for all of his steals in the majors this year. He's added four homers, 11 RBI and nine runs scored while batting .279 and slugging .605 over 47 plate appearances in his first taste of the majors. Cole will likely need to supplement this late-season audition with a strong spring training, but he's certainly in the mix to begin 2026 in the majors.
Cole went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Mariners.
Cole was initially expected to sit out Sunday, but Jeremy Pena (oblique) was scratched, forcing the Astros to shuffle some players around. Cole ultimately got the start in right field and got Houston on the board with his third-inning homer, though that was after the Mariners put up seven runs in the second. The rookie outfielder had gone 0-for-10 over his previous four games, slipping into a part-time role in the process. He's batting .296 with three homers, eight RBI, four runs scored and no stolen bases over his first nine major-league contests.
Astros' Zach Cole: Part of corner-outfield committee
Rotowire
Cole is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners.
Cole will sit for the second straight game, with both of his absences coming against right-handed pitching. With the Astros returning Isaac Paredes from the 60-day injured list Friday and installing him as their everyday designated hitter, the team would appear to have one spot available in the corner outfield. Manager Joe Espada may be inclined to take a committee approach to that spot in the lineup, as Cole, Cam Smith and Mauricio Dubon have all made one start apiece in the corner outfield since Paredes' return.
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Astros' Zach Cole: Day off Saturday
Rotowire
Cole is not in Saturday's lineup against the Mariners, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The lefty-hitting Cole heads to the bench even with a righty (George Kirby) on the hill for Seattle. Cole is hitless with four strikeouts and one walk in his last three games after bashing two home runs with seven RBI in his first four big-league games. Cam Smith is starting in right field and batting ninth.
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