The Houston Astros are an iconic American professional baseball team with a long history of success. Based in Houston, Texas, the Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the American League West division. Founded originally as the Houston Colt .45s back in 1962, they joined the National League for their first 51 seasons before transitioning to AL West for 2013 and beyond. Throughout their years on both sides of MLB’s leagues, The ‘Stros have seen numerous achievements including multiple World Series wins and four pennants over that time period. With some truly incredible players taking up residence at Minute Maid Park throughout its tenure — from Jeff Bagwell to Craig Biggio — it’s no wonder why this beloved franchise has become one of America’s favorite teams.
1. José Altuve
Second baseman
Career
- 8× All-Star (2012, 2014–2018, 2021, 2022), 2× World Series champion (2017, 2022), AL MVP (2017), All-MLB First Team (2022), All-MLB Second Team (2019), ALCS MVP (2019), Gold Glove Award (2015), 6× Silver Slugger Award (2014–2018, 2022), AL Hank Aaron Award (2017), 3× AL batting champion (2014, 2016, 2017), 2× AL stolen base leader (2014, 2015), AP Athlete of the Year (2017)
José Altuve is a two-time American League MVP and three-time Silver Slugger Award winner. Altuve was born in Maracay, Venezuela, on May 6, 1990. He played college baseball at the University of Miami before being drafted by the Houston Astros in 2010.
José Altuve has spent his entire MLB career with the Houston Astros, appearing in 1,847 games over six seasons (2011–16). In 2017 he became only the fourth player ever to reach 2,000 hits and 500 home runs during a single season; additionally he won his third consecutive American League MVP award that year.
Altuve was married to former Miss Universe Alicia Machado in December 2018 after ending their engagement earlier that year following allegations of abuse from Machado's past which she has since denied.
José Altuve is a five-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion who has led the AL in batting four times, stolen bases twice, and hits once.
José Altuve won the 2017 American League MVP award after leading the Astros to their first championship in franchise history. Altuve was a unanimous selection for both the All-MLB First Team and Second Team at the end of his career in 2022.
He also won six Silver Slugger Awards while with Houston including three consecutively from 2014 to 2018. In 2019, he became just the fourth player ever to win multiple Gold Glove Awards at each outfield position as well as being named AP Athlete of The Year his fifth consecutive season receiving accolades on that front.
Also Played For: venezuela baseball, mlb
2. Jeff Bagwell
Infielder
Career
- 4× All-Star (1994, 1996, 1997, 1999), NL MVP (1994), NL Rookie of the Year (1991), Gold Glove Award (1994), 3× Silver Slugger Award (1994, 1997, 1999), NL RBI leader (1994), Houston Astros No. 5 retired, Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Jeff Bagwell was a legendary first baseman for the Houston Astros, and he is still considered one of the best players in franchise history. Bagwell enjoyed an incredible career with the Astros, batting over .300 every season and hitting more than 400 home runs.
He was a powerful hitter who could hit for both power and average, making him a tough out at any level. After spending his entire MLB career with the Houston Astros, Bagwell retired after 2005 due to injury.
Jeff has since been involved in broadcasting and coaching roles with various teams in Minor League Baseball, helping young talent reach their potential on the field Bagwell was a four-time all-star and three time NL MVP, making him one of the most decorated players in Astros history.
Bagwell also won a Gold Glove Award as an outfielder and was named to the National League All-Star team six times. He retired with 1,529 runs batted in (RBI) which is sixth on the all-time list for Astros players. Jeff Bagwell will be inducted into the Houston Astros Hall of Fame in 2017.
3. Craig Biggio
Catcher
Career
- 7× All-Star (1991, 1992, 1994–1998), 4× Gold Glove Award (1994–1997), 5× Silver Slugger Award (1989, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998), Roberto Clemente Award (2007), NL stolen base leader (1994), Houston Astros No. 7 retired, Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Craig Biggio was a two-time All-Star and played 19 seasons in the MLB. He is best known for his time with the Houston Astros, where he won three World Series titles.
In 2006, Biggio became the first player in history to be voted into both the Baseball Hall of Fame and the National Baseball League (MLB) Veterans Committee.
Craig Biggio retired from baseball after playing his final game in 2007 at age 38, but has since continued to work as an ambassador for several charities and organizations including The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Operation Homefront USA .
Craig Biggio currently resides in Smithtown, New York with his wife Bridgette and their two children Caden and Harper Craig Biggio is a Hall of Fame baseball player who spent his entire 19-year career with the Houston Astros. He was one of the most successful hitters in team history and won five Silver Slugger Awards, as well as seven All-Star appearances.
Craig Biggio is perhaps best known for leading the National League in stolen bases during 1994, an accomplishment that earned him recognition from Roberto Clemente Award recipients.
3. After retiring following the 2007 season, Craig Biggio became a commentator for ESPN’s coverage of Major League Baseball games.
4. Lance Berkman
Career
- 6× All-Star (2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011), World Series champion (2011), NL Comeback Player of the Year (2011), NL RBI leader (2002), Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Lance Berkman is an outfielder and first baseman who has played in MLB for over a decade. He was drafted by the Astros in the first round of the 1999 MLB draft, and made his debut with them later that year.
His best season came in 2002, when he hit .282 with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. Berkman spent most of the next few seasons struggling to stay healthy, but rebounded somewhat in 2008 with a .290 average and 32 home runs.
However, injuries began to take their toll on Berkman again after that point, and he retired at the end of 2013 after playing just one final game for the Rangers – finishing his career with a batting average of .277/.350/.496 overall (all stats as an Astro).
Lance Berkman played for the Houston Astros from 1999 to 2010. He was a six-time All-Star and won a World Series with the team in 2011.
Lance Berkman had a great career batting average of .293, home runs of 366, and 1,234 RBIs. Lance Berkman is one of only two players (the other being Albert Pujols) to hit at least 350 home runs and steal over 100 bases in their careers.
After playing for the Astros, he transferred to play for the New York Yankees from 2010 to 2012 before returning to Texas Rangers in 2013 where he retired after this season.
5. José Cruz
Career
- 2× All-Star (1980, 1985), 2× Silver Slugger Award (1983, 1984), Houston Astros No. 25 retired, Houston Astros Hall of Fame
José Cruz was a versatile outfielder who played for the Cardinals, Yankees and Astros in his career. He had a brief but successful MLB career, playing in parts of nine seasons between 1970 and 1988.
José Cruz is best remembered for his batting ability; he finished with an average of .259 over his MLB career. After retiring from baseball, José Cruz worked as a coach with the Astros' minor league system before passing away in 2016 at the age of 75 years old.
José Cruz was a three-time All-Star and two time Silver Slugger Award winner with the Houston Astros. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1970–1974) and Houston Astros (1975–1987).
Cruz is best known for his home run power, hitting 165 over his career. After playing for the Yankees from 1988 to 1990, he retired at age 36 in 1991 due to a knee injury.
6. Roy Oswalt
Pitcher
Career
- 3× All-Star (2005–2007), NLCS MVP (2005), NL wins leader (2004), NL ERA leader (2006), Pitched a combined no-hitter on June 11, 2003, Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Oswalt is a former pitcher for the Houston Astros and Colorado Rockies. He has had a successful career, winning 163 games in total with an ERA of 3.36. Oswalt was born on August 29th 1977 in Weir, Mississippi USA.
His MLB debut came on May 6th 2001 when he started for the Houston Astros against the Seattle Mariners and recorded 7 strikeouts over 8 innings to take victory for his team.
Oswalt played his final game for the Rockies on September 29th 2013 after 11 years with the club during which time he amassed 1,852 strikeouts making him one of the most prolific strikeout pitchers in history.
Oswalt was a three-time All-Star and NL wins leader for the Astros. Oswalt had a combined no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 11, 2003.
Oswalt signed with Philadelphia in 2010 and pitched for the Phillies until 2011 when he joined Texas Rangers. In 2013, Roy Oswalt rejoined Houston as their starting pitcher where he currently remains.
7. Jimmy Wynn
Career
- 3× All-Star (1967, 1974, 1975), Houston Astros No. 24 retired, Houston Astros Hall of Fame
He was an outfielder in the MLB for over 20 years and had a successful career. Wynn is best known for playing with the Houston Colt .45s, Milwaukee Brewers, and Boston Red Sox.
He passed away from cancer on March 26th 2020 at the age of 78 years old. Wynn was a three time All-Star and Houston Astros Hall of Famer. Wynn batted .250 with 291 home runs and 964 RBI in his 18 year career.
Wynn played for the Houston Colt .45s, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, and New York Yankees during his illustrious playing career.
8. Nolan Ryan
Pitcher
Career
- 8× All-Star (1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1989), World Series champion (1969), 2× NL ERA leader (1981, 1987), 11× Strikeout leader (1972–1974, 1976–1979, 1987–1990), Los Angeles Angels No. 30 retired, Houston Astros No. 34 retired, Texas Rangers No. 34 retired, Angels Hall of Fame, Houston Astros Hall of Fame, Texas Rangers Hall of Fame, Major League Baseball All-Century Team, , MLB records, , 5,714 career strikeouts, 7 career no-hitters
Nolan Ryan was a dominant pitcher in the MLB for many years and is still considered one of the greatest pitchers to ever play the game. He led his teams to many championships, including three MVP awards, and holds several records as a result of his impressive pitching performances.
Ryan has also been involved in several controversial moments during his career, but he remains one of baseball's most popular stars. Nolan Ryan is considered one of the greatest pitchers in history and was a six-time all-star.
He led the league in strikeouts eleven times, including seven consecutive seasons from 1976 to 1980.
His record for most complete games with at least twenty innings pitched stands at 205, which he set in 1984. In 1988, Ryan became only the second pitcher ever to win three Cy Young Awards (the first being Sandy Koufax).
Ryan retired after winning his sixth Cy Young Award in 1993 and has since been inducted into both the Angels and Astros halls of fame as well as several other Halls of Fame around baseball.
9. Justin Verlander
Pitcher
Career
- 9× All-Star (2007, 2009–2013, 2018, 2019, 2022), 2× World Series champion (2017, 2022), AL MVP (2011), ALCS MVP (2017), 2× All-MLB First Team (2019, 2022), 3× AL Cy Young Award (2011, 2019, 2022), Triple Crown (2011), AL Rookie of the Year (2006), AL Comeback Player of the Year (2022), 4× AL wins leader (2009, 2011, 2019, 2022), 2× AL ERA leader (2011, 2022), 5× AL strikeout leader (2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018), Pitched three no-hitters (2007, 2011, 2019)
Justin Verlander is a starting pitcher for the Houston Astros. Justin Verlander has been with the Tigers since he made his MLB debut in 2005 and has won 244 games including 133 this season.
His ERA of 3.24 this year is his lowest but he still ranks first in strikeouts (3,198) and second in earned run average (behind only Max Scherzer).
Justin Verleran was born February 20th 1983 in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia and has played 13 seasons in the majors with Detroit, HOUSTON ASTROS and NY METS Justin Verlander is one of the best pitchers in baseball and has won several awards, including two World Series titles.
He was born in 1984 and started playing baseball at a young age. Justin Verlander debuted with the Detroit Tigers in 2005 and quickly became one of their stars. He led the American League in strikeouts each year from 2009 to 2012 and also won three Cy Young Awards during that time period.
In 2017, he helped lead the Houston Astros to their first world championship title ever. Justin Verlander retired after the 2017 season but will return for the 2022 season as part of an agreement between both teams.
Also Played For: detroit tigers
10. Larry Dierker
Career
- 2× All-Star (1969, 1971), Pitched a no-hitter on July 9, 1976, NL Manager of the Year (1998), Houston Astros No. 49 retired, Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Larry Dierker was a pitcher and manager in MLB for over 20 years. He had a successful career, winning 139 games while losing 123. Dierker is best known for his time with the Houston Colt .45s and St.
Louis Cardinals, where he won three Cy Young Awards (the most prestigious award in baseball). After retiring from playing, Dierker spent several years as a pitching coach with the Atlanta Braves before moving on to manage teams in Japan and Mexico City.
In 2013, Larry Dierker was honored with the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum's 40th Anniversary Gala Ball. Larry Dierker was a talented pitcher who won over 1,500 games as a player and managed the Astros to two championships.
He is most well-known for pitching a no-hitter in 1976 and winning Manager of the Year honors that year. In 2001, he retired after spending nine years with the Astros organization. Larry Dierker is now an inductee into both the Baseball Hall of Fame and Houston Astros Hall of Fame.
11. Alex Bregman
Third baseman
Career
- 2× All-Star (2018, 2019), 2× World Series champion (2017, 2022), All-MLB Second Team (2019), Silver Slugger Award (2019)
Alex Bregman made his MLB debut in 2016 with the Houston Astros and has since become one of the best hitters in baseball. His 140 home runs are second all-time among third baseman, trailing only Barry Bonds.
He is also a proficient defender at third base, having won Gold Glove Awards in both 2017 and 2018.
Alex Bregman is scheduled to be a free agent after the 2022 season but is widely expected to re-sign with the Houston Astros on a long-term deal this off-season Alex Bregman is a two-time All-Star and world champion with the Houston Astros.
Alex Bregman won his first Silver Slugger Award in 2019. Alex Bregman was drafted by the Astros in 2013 and has since developed into one of their key players, batting .290 with 490 runs batted in over 564 games played.
Alex Bregman is married to actress Anna Faris and they have two children together - sonCharlie (born 2017) and daughter Jacklyn (born 2020).
In December 2018, it was announced that Bregman had been diagnosed with leukaemia, but he has since recovered fully and continues to play baseball for the Astros as well as representing his country at World Baseball Classic tournaments.
Alex often supports various charity events such as Pitch For Paws which helps rescue dogs from shelters across America, or The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Houston where he visits regularly to give back to younger members of society who are looking for an outlet other than drugs or crime.
12. Yordan Álvarez
Infielder
Career
- All-Star (2022), World Series champion (2022), ALCS MVP (2021), All-MLB First Team (2022), 2× All-MLB Second Team (2019, 2021), Silver Slugger Award (2022), AL Rookie of the Year (2019)
Yordan Álvarez was born in Cuba on June 27, 1997. He signed with the Houston Astros as a free agent in 2019 and made his MLB debut that season. Astros so far this season.
RBIs in 463 career MLB innings. In 2019 he won the Silver Slugger Award as the best hitter in baseball (batting average, home runs, slugging percentage).
Yordan Alvárez is considered one of the top young hitters in baseball and should continue to improve over time. Yordan Alvarez was born on October 2, 1997 in Havana, Cuba. He is a right-handed pitcher and outfielder for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB).
In 2019, Alvarez made his MLB debut with the Astros and had a successful season as he led all American League rookies in batting average (.290) and home runs (24).
He also won AL Rookie of the Year honors after being one of only two players to have at least 20 home runs and 10 stolen bases in their inaugural season with an organization. Cuba at 15U Baseball World Championship where they finished 3rd overall behind Japan and Canada.
Also Played For: corpus christi hooks, mlb under 25
13. Billy Wagner
Career
- 7× All-Star (1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010), NL Rolaids Relief Man Award (1999), Pitched a combined no-hitter on June 11, 2003, Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Wagner made his MLB debut for the Houston Astros in 1995. He went on to win 47 games over 4 seasons with the Astros before joining the Braves in 2000. Wagner was a key player for Atlanta during their run to the 2001 World Series championship game, but lost out to eventual champions Arizona Diamondbacks.
In 2010, Wagner signed with the Mets and enjoyed a successful season as they reached the playoffs - only to lose in 5 games to St Louis Cardinals.
Wagner is now retired from professional baseball after spending 11 seasons between Atlanta and New York; he currently works as an analyst for Fox Sports Midwest broadcasts of Major League Baseball games.
Wagner was a dominant relief pitcher in the 1990s and early 2000s. He pitched for six different teams over his career, earning seven All-Star selections and winning two NL Rolaids Relief Man Awards.
Wagner's no-hitter was one of the most impressive performances in baseball history. He struck out 11 batters without allowing an earned run on June 11, 2003. Wagner is currently a member of the Houston Astros Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 2017.
14. Framber Valdez
Pitcher
Career
- All-Star (2022), World Series champion (2022), All-MLB First Team (2022)
Framber Valdez is a 29-year old pitcher for the Houston Astros. Framber was born in Palenque, Dominican Republic on November 19th, 1993. He made his MLB debut with the Astros on August 21st of this year against the Seattle Mariners and finished up his debut outing with 3 innings pitched and no runs allowed while striking out one batter.
Valdez has spent most of his career playing in the minors, but he did make some appearances for the Astros during their 2017 season as well as 2018 thus far.
Framber throws from a left-handed perspective and bats right handed which gives him an advantage against southpaws that he's faced so far in his career. Framber Valdez was an All-Star pitcher in 2022 and won the World Series that year.
Framber Valdez had a 3.38 ERA and 497 strikeouts in his career. Framber Valdez played for the Houston Astros from 2018 to 2022, winning two championships with them during that time period.
15. Carlos Correa
Shortstop
Career
- 2× All-Star (2017, 2021), World Series champion (2017), AL Rookie of the Year (2015), Gold Glove Award (2021), Platinum Glove Award (2021), Fielding Bible Award (2021), All-World Baseball Classic Team (2017)
Carlos Correa is a shortstop for the Houston Astros. He was drafted by the team in 2013 and has since become one of its most important players. Correa has had some impressive stats, including batting average (.279), home runs (155) and runs batted in (553).
He's been an All-Star twice and won a Silver Slugger Award in 2018. Carlos Correa plays with energy and intensity on the field, which makes him difficult to beat. Fans love his enthusiasm as he competes each game.
There are rumors that he could be traded this offseason due to contract disputes, but fans should keep an eye out because no matter what happens, he'll always be remembered as one of the best shortstops in baseball history.
Carlos Correa is a superstar first baseman for the Houston Astros and was one of the most highly-touted prospects in baseball. He won 2 All-Star games as well as the 2017 World Series champion with his team, making him arguably one of the greatest players to ever play in Major League Baseball.
Carlos' defence has been praised by many experts and he's won numerous awards including being voted AL Rookie of the Year in 2015, Fielding Bible Award winner in 2021 and All-World Baseball Classic Team member this year.
Carlos will be an important part of Houston's future, but may also want to test himself on other big stages such as playing at The MLB Japan Series or The Olympics Games down the line.
Also Played For: minnesota twins
16. J. R. Richard
Career
- All-Star (1980), NL ERA leader (1979), 2× NL strikeout leader (1978, 1979), Houston Astros Hall of Fame
J. R. Richard was a pitcher in the MLB for many years, most notably with the Houston Astros from 1976 to 1981. He had a successful career, winning over 200 games and finishing in the top 10 in Cy Young voting on three occasions (1977-1979).
However, his life was cut short by an illness at age 71. J. R. Richard was a dominant pitcher in the 1970s and 1980s, winning 107 games during that span while posting an ERA of 3.15 and 1,493 strikeouts. He made two All-Star appearances and led the NL in ERA twice during his career while also leading the league in strikeouts once each.
J. R. Richard is one of only five pitchers to win three Cy Young Awards (1976–1978), joining Sandy Koufax, Roger Clemens, Walter Johnson and Greg Maddux as all-time greats at the top of their game who achieved this feat within a four year period as well).
He was elected to the Houston Astros Hall of Fame in 1994 after spending 18 years with that team between 1971 and 1980 - being inducted into Cooperstown on July 14th, 2010 as part of its first class.
17. Mike Scott
Pitcher
Career
- 3× All-Star (1986, 1987, 1989), NL Cy Young Award (1986), NLCS MVP (1986), NL wins leader (1989), MLB ERA leader (1986), MLB strikeout leader (1986), Pitched a no-hitter on September 25, 1986, Houston Astros No. 33 retired, Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Mike Scott was a right-handed pitcher in the MLB for over 20 years. He played with the Mets and Astros, winning 124 games and losing 108. His ERA was 3.54 but he struck out 1,469 batters in his career - an impressive feat.
Mike Scott is now 67 years old and retired from baseball after playing for the Houston Astros in 1991 Scott was a very successful pitcher with the Houston Astros from 1983-1991. He won 3 All Star games and led the NL in wins twice.
Scott also had an impressive record against opponents from other countries, posting a .937 winning percentage while playing for the US Pan American team. Scott is one of only six players to achieve 3000 strikeouts and 300 wins in their career, and he is now enshrined in the Houston Astros Hall of Fame.
18. George Springer
Outfielder
Career
- 4× All-Star (2017–2019, 2022), World Series champion (2017), World Series MVP (2017), 2× Silver Slugger Award (2017, 2019)
Springer was drafted in the first round of the 2009 MLB draft by the Houston Astros. Springer has a batting average of .285 and is one of only four players in MLB history to hit for an average over .
300 with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in three consecutive seasons (along with Alex Rodriguez, Giancarlo Stanton, and Mike Trout).
Springer led all major leagues with 47 triples during the 2017 season. He also ranked second in slugging percentage (.595) behind only Bryce Harper among outfielders who had at least 150 plate appearances that year.
In 2018, Springer batted .306 with 32 home runs and 113 RBIs en route to being named MVP of the American League playoffs; this earned him his first career championship ring as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays George Springer is a three-time all-star and 2017 world series champion with the Houston Astros.
George Springer has been very consistent in his career, hitting a batting average of .269 with 221 home runs and 584 RBIs over the course of nine seasons. In addition to being an all-around hitter, Springer also possesses elite speed which helps him steal bases and score runs on defense.
As one of only six players in MLB history with at least 300 doubles, triples, and homers before turning 25 years old, there's no doubt that George Springer is one of the most talented hitters in baseball today. With another five or more seasons left in his prime, fans can expect continued dominance from this superstar slugger.
19. César Cedeño
Career
- 4× All-Star (1972–1974, 1976), 5× Gold Glove Award (1972–1976), Houston Astros Hall of Fame
César Cedeño was a center fielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1970 to 1986. He spent most of his career with the Houston Astros, but also had stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers.
In total, he compiled a batting average of .285 over his MLB career. Cedeño is best known for making a spectacular catch in game 6 of the Astrodome's 1978 World Series against the New York Yankees which led to Don Drysdale's save attempt being successful, as well as for hitting two home runs during that series (one off Tommy John, one-off Luis Tiant).
After retiring from baseball, Cedeño worked as a television commentator and later served as general manager of the Dominican Republic national team before stepping down in 2012 due to health concerns related to diabetes mellitus type II.
20. Joe Morgan
Second baseman
Career
- 10× All-Star (1966, 1970, 1972–1979), 2× World Series champion (1975, 1976), 2× NL MVP (1975, 1976), 5× Gold Glove Award (1973–1977), Silver Slugger Award (1982), Cincinnati Reds No. 8 retired, Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Joe Morgan was one of the best second basemen in baseball history. He won five Gold Gloves, and finished with a .271 batting average over his 16-year career.
Joe Morgan made his MLB debut with the Houston Colt 45s in 1963, and spent most of his career with the Cincinnati Reds (1964-1984). In 1984, Morgan led off an inning against Oakland A's pitcher Rick Langford with a home run to win the game 7-6 in 14 innings.
It remains Cincinnati's only victory in an ALDS matchup against their divisional rivals since 1970. After retiring from baseball, Morgan began working as a color commentator for Fox Sports Midwest and served as radio analyst for Major League Baseball on TBS from 2006 to 2010.
On October 11th 2020, at 77 years old, Joe Morgan passed away after suffering a heart attack while playing golf near Danville California.
21. Martín Maldonado
Catcher
Career
- World Series champion (2022), Gold Glove Award (2017)
Maldonado was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers as an amateur free agent in 2011. He made his MLB debut with the team in September of that year and spent four seasons with them before being traded to Houston midway through the 2016 season.
Maldonado has played for five teams during his ML career, batting a respectable .209 with 96 home runs and 325 RBIs across 461 games. In 2017, he had a breakout season for Houston, hitting 33 home runs and driving in 110 runs while posting a 2.9 WAR figure – both marks led all catchers in baseball that year.
The 2018 campaign saw him produce at an even higher level, as Maldonada hit 37 homers (second-most behind only Bryce Harper) along with 97 RBIs en route to winning his first Silver Slugger award nomination and second All-Star berth of his career.
22. Don Wilson
Pitcher
Career
- All-Star (1971), Pitched two no-hitters, Houston Astros No. 40 retired, Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Wilson was a promising pitcher in the early days of baseball, but he died tragically young. He enjoyed success with the Houston Astros and was named an All-Star in 1971.
Wilson's death led to increased safety measures for players on the field. Wilson was a pitcher for the Houston Astros from 1966-1974, winning 104 games and losing 92. He pitched two no-hitters with the Astros, including one in 1971 which remains the team's only no-hitter.
Wilson is also in the Houston Astros Hall of Fame and was named to an All Star game in 1971. Wilson retired after 1974 due to arm problems but continued to work as a broadcaster for ESPN for many years afterwards until his death at age 80 on October 27th, 2010.
23. Kyle Tucker
Outfielder
Career
- All-Star (2022), World Series champion (2022), 2× All-MLB Second Team (2021, 2022), Gold Glove Award (2022), AL triples leader (2020)
Kyle Tucker was a top prospect in the Astros organization before he made his MLB debut in 2018. Tucker has had some struggles at the plate, but is still a quality player who can hit for average and power.
He's also an above-average fielder with good speed and range. The Astros hope that Tucker will continue to improve as he becomes more experienced in the big leagues. Kyle Tucker is a 24-year old second baseman for the Houston Astros.
He was drafted in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft and has had a very successful career thus far, playing on both sides of the ball. Tucker has been one of the most consistent players in baseball over his short career and is considered to be among its best young talents.
Along with being an outstanding hitter and fielder, he also throws out plenty of baserunners - something that sets him apart from other players at his position. In 2020, Kyle Tucker became just the third player in MLB history to hit three triples in a single season, joining Billy Hamilton ( Reds ) and Jose Altuve ( Astros ).
His achievements have made him one of Baseball's most exciting young stars and he looks set to continue developing into one of professional sports' biggest legends.
24. Jason Castro
Catcher
Career
- All-Star (2013)
Castro is a catcher who was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2010. He made his MLB debut with the team in 2010 and has since had success, including 97 home runs and 325 RBIs.
Castro announced his retirement from baseball on June 29, 2022 after 12 seasons with the Astros. Castro is a two-time All-Star and won a Silver Slugger Award in 2015 while playing for the Washington Nationals.
Jason Castro was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2010 and made his Major League debut with them in 2012. In 2013, Jason Castro became an All-Star for the Houston Astros and won a Silver Slugger award as one of the best offensive catchers in baseball that season.
Jason Castro played for the Astros until 2016 when he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels. He has since continued playing with them and is currently their starting catcher. Jason Castro also represented Team USA at Baseball World Cup in 2009 where they reached the final but lost to Cuba.
25. Ryan Pressly
Pitcher
Career
- 2× All-Star (2019, 2021), World Series champion (2022), All-MLB Second Team (2022), Pitched a combined no-hitter vs. the New York Yankees on June 25, 2022, Pitched a combined no-hitter vs. the Philadelphia Phillies on November 2, 2022 in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series, , MLB records, , Most consecutive scoreless appearances (40)
Ryan Pressly made his MLB debut with the Minnesota Twins in 2013. Since then, he has gone on to win 29 games and lose 28. However, his ERA is 3.20 which shows that he can be inconsistent at times.
He bats right-handed and throws from the right side of the plate, both of which are average skills for a pitcher. Ryan Pressly was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2009 but did not sign until 2011 due to injury concerns after playing college baseball for Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.
In 2013 with Houston, he made 14 starts and finished with a record of 4-6 before being traded to Minnesota where he has been since then. Pressly is a standout pitcher in the MLB and has been consistently performing well for over a decade. He was named to the All-Star team twice and won a World Series with the Astros in 2022.
His pitch count usually stays low, which is an attribute that many pitchers wish they had. Pressly is known for his command of all his pitches, including his slider and changeup, making him difficult to hit even if he's not getting strikeouts or saves on any given night/series.
26. Cristian Javier
Pitcher
Career
- World Series champion (2022), Pitched a combined no-hitter vs. the New York Yankees on June 25, 2022, Pitched a combined no-hitter vs. the Philadelphia Phillies on November 2, 2022 in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series
Cristian Javier is a 25-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Houston Astros. He made his MLB debut in 2020 and has since appeared in 5 games, all of which he started.
His statistics include a 0-1 record, 2 strikeouts, and 1 walk in 3 innings pitched. Cristian Javier was born on March 26th 1997 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He attended college at Florida State University before being drafted by the Astros in the 2017 amateur draft Javier, 25, is a pitcher for the Houston Astros.
He has had a successful career in which he's won two World Series titles and recorded 378 strikeouts. Javier was born in the Dominican Republic and played college baseball at Louisiana State University before signing with the Astros as a free agent in 2020.
Javier made his major league debut on May 4, 2020 against the Seattle Mariners and went on to finish his first season with an 18-7 record and 3.05 ERA.
In 2021, Javier led all American League pitchers with 19 wins despite posting a 3-5 record and 178 strikeouts over 177 innings pitched as part of an injury plagued season for him (he missed time due to biceps surgery).
The following year saw Javier post another stellar campaign statistically: 21 victories while pitching to a 2-3 record but only 319 1/3 innings because of injuries once again (a torn ACL ended up costing him most of September).
And finally, in 2022 it was all come together for Cristian Javier; winning 20 games en route to back-to-back World Series championships alongside teammate Justin Verlander - who also contributed significantly throughout this run of success (winning 11 games during these playoffs.).
27. Jeremy Peña
Shortstop
Career
- World Series champion (2022), World Series MVP (2022), ALCS MVP (2022), Babe Ruth Award (2022), Gold Glove Award (2022)
Jeremy Peña is a 25-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic. He was drafted by the Houston Astros in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft. Jeremy made his debut with the Astros on April 7, 2022.
In 54 career games (52 starts), he has a batting average of .253 and 10 home runs. Jeremy is known for his strong defensive play at short stop, earning him several awards including 2017 Rawlings Gold Glove Award Winner and 2017 .
All-Star Game selection as well as being named to both Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects list in 2019 and The Sporting News' Best Minor League Team in 2020.
Jeremy will likely be one of Houston's starting shortstops moving forward and looks to continue developing into an elite player in Major League Baseball Jeremy Peña is a 22-year old third baseman for the Houston Astros.
He has had a very successful career, winning awards and accolades along the way. In 2020, Jeremy won his first championship with the Houston Astros in their World Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He was named MVP of that series after batting .421 with two home runs and six RBIs in seven games played. Jeremy also enjoyed success in other seasons during his time with the Astros; he was named ALCS MVP in 2020 and won a Gold Glove Award at third base that year as well (his fourth consecutive award).
Jeremy is often considered one of the best young players in baseball, and there are high expectations for him going forward as he continues to develop his skills on the field.
28. Bryan Abreu
Pitcher
Career
- World Series champion (2022), Pitched a combined no-hitter vs. the Philadelphia Phillies on November 2, 2022 in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series
Bryan Abreu is a 25-year-old pitcher for the Houston Astros. He made his MLB debut on July 31st and has yet to disappoint. Bryan was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic but moved to the United States when he was just 2 years old.
As a youngling, Bryan showed great promise both on the mound and at the plate – something that has continued into adulthood. In 2017, he won MVP honors with Team USA during their victory over Cuba in the Pan American Games.
Bryan's skill set includes a powerful arm coupled with devastating slider mechanics which have led many analysts to believe that he could be one of the top pitchers in baseball within 3 or 4 years time.
While there are still hurdles left for him to clear (namely consistency), Bryan Abreu is already making an impact on Major League Baseball and we look forward to seeing more from him in future seasons.
29. Chas McCormick
Outfielder
Career
- World Series champion (2022)
McCormick was born on April 19, 1995 in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He played for the Astros' minor league affiliate, the Lancaster JetHawks, from 2016-2018 before making his MLB debut with the team in 2021.
McCormick is a right-handed outfielder who throws left-handed. Injuries have been an issue for McCormick throughout his career; he has missed time due to various injuries including a torn ACL and surgery to repair that injury.
Despite this hiccup, he has still managed to play in over 100 games each season since debuting with Houston. McCormick's greatest strength may be his hit tool; as of 2018 he had a .284 batting average across all levels of baseball which ranked him eighth among American League players (minors included).
With enough plate appearances and good health luck, McCormick projects as an above-average hitter given his ability to make consistent contact at any level of play.
His speed also plays well into his game; while not elite by any means, it is respectable enough that teams might feel comfortable playing him in center field or even occasionally pinch running if needed down the stretch or during extra innings games (McCormick stole 31 bases across three seasons between High-A and AA).
Finally,, Cormick's defensive abilities are solid but unspectacular given how often he misses time due to injury - according to Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), only four outfielders rated worse than him out of 111 qualified players heading into 2019 season.
Though some scouts believe that part of what allows him keep playing despite these issues is just how fundamentally sound defensive he seems overall despite occasional lapses judgementally speaking (.988 fielding percentage combined between Low-A+/AA).
Overall then Chas McCormick presents himself as someone whose skillset likely translates fairly well at least offensively & potentially defensively too should healthy scratch marks become less common considering numerous talented young outfielders coming through baseball annually nowadays.
Though there will certainly always remain room for improvement especially when it comes up against tougher competition more regularly going forward.
30. Lance McCullers Jr.
Pitcher
Career
- All-Star (2017), 2× World Series champion (2017, 2022)
Lance McCullers Jr. was born on October 2, 1993 in Tampa, Florida. He made his MLB debut with the Houston Astros in 2017 and has been pitching for them ever since.
Lance McCullers Jr.'s main focus is on throwing strikes and keeping the ball down deep in the strike zone to help his team win games. In 2018, Lance McCullers Jr led all American League pitchers with an ERA of 3.51 which was good for third place overall in the league behind Max Scherzer and Corey Kluber.
His stats also show that he's one of the most successful starting pitchers when it comes to winning games - he boasts a record of 104-60 (.659).
Lance McCullers Jr.'s success has earned him many awards including being named a finalist for both The AL MVP award (which went to Mookie Betts) and The Cy Young award (which went to Patrick Corbin ).
31. Joe Niekro
Career
- All-Star (1979), World Series champion (1987), NL wins leader (1979), Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Joe Niekro was a Hall of Fame pitcher who won three World Series championships with the Chicago Cubs and one with the Minnesota Twins. He is best known for his unique pitching style, which relied on a high-speed delivery combined with an overpowering curveball.
Niekro had a record of 333 wins and 302 losses in his MLB career, making him one of the most successful pitchers in history. In 2006, he died at age 61 after suffering from heart problems for several years.
Joe Niekro was one of the most accomplished pitchers in baseball history, amassing a record of 221-204 with 3.59 ERA and 1,747 strikeouts over an 18-year career.
Joe Niekro was known for his hard slider and groundball tendencies which helped him rack up wins despite poor run support from his teams.
After being traded to the Houston Astros midway through the 1985 season, Joe Niekro led them to their first-ever World Series victory against the New York Yankees in seven straight games. He also won three Cy Young Awards (1976, 1979, 1981) and was named All-Star MVP twice (1979, 1987).
In 2002 he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class alongside such legends as Willie Mays and Roger Maris.
32. Hector Neris
Pitcher
Career
- Pitched a combined no-hitter on June 25, 2022, World Series champion (2022)
Hector Neris is a right-handed pitcher who made his MLB debut for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2014. He has had success in the major leagues, posting a 3.29 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over parts of three seasons with the Astros and Phillies.
Neris was traded to Houston ahead of the 2019 season, where he will likely be given more starting opportunities due to Dallas Keuchel's injury problems Neris is a talented pitcher who has been very successful in the past.
He was recently traded to the Houston Astros, and he is looking forward to competing in one of the best leagues in baseball.
Neris is known for his consistent pitching and strong defense behind the plate. He will be an important part of the Astros' future, and he could lead them to more success in years to come.
33. Ryne Stanek
Pitcher
Career
- Win–loss record: 7–13
- Earned run average: 3.34
- Strikeouts: 355
- World Series champion (2022)
Stanek was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 6th round of 2009 MLB Draft, but did not sign with them. He opted to attend college at Texas A&M University before being traded to Tampa Bay in 2017.
Stanek made his debut for the Rays on May 14, 2017 and finished the season with a 3-3 record and 2.92 ERA in 43 games (42 starts). His success led him to be named AL Rookie of The Month for May.
In 2018, Stanek pitched for Houston where he had a 4-9 record with an ERA of 5.11 in 26 starts Stanek was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth round of the 2017 MLB draft.
He made his big league debut with the Rays in 2018 and posted a 3.34 ERA over 36 appearances (26 starts). In 2019, Stanek moved to Miami where he registered a 7–13 record with 355 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.99 over 33 appearances (27 starts).
The right-hander joined the Houston Astros for the 2020 season and has posted an 8–10 record with 260 strikeouts and a 3.75 ERA so far this year.(through 6/5).
Also Played For: durham bulls
34. Yuli Gurriel
Designated hitter
Career
- 2x World Series champion (2017, 2022), Gold Glove Award (2021), AL batting champion (2021), All-World Baseball Classic Team (2006)
Yuli Gurriel was born in Cuba on June 9th, 1984. He started playing baseball at a very young age and quickly became one of the top prospects in his country.
In 2006, Gurriel defected to Japan and joined the Yokohama DeNA BayStars as their first baseman. After two seasons with the BayStars, he was traded to the Houston Astros for pitcher Lucas Harrell in August of 2016.
In 27 MLB games played so far this season, Gurriel has hit .305 with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs (he also has 4 stolen bases). Yuli is now considered one of the best free agent bats available this year and is expected to sign with a team soon.
Gurriel, who was born in the Dominican Republic and played for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball league before joining the Houston Astros in 2016, is a two-time World Series champion (2017, 2022).
He has won numerous awards during his career including a Gold Glove Award (2021), AL batting champion (2021) and All-World Baseball Classic Team selection (2006).
35. Michael Brantley
Outfielder
Career
- 5× All-Star (2014, 2017–2019, 2021), Silver Slugger Award (2014)
Brantley was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the third round of the 2007 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Indians in 2009 and has since played for Houston, Kansas City, Boston, Oakland, and Tampa Bay.
In 2019 he returned to Cleveland as a free agent. Brantley is known for his speed on both offense and defense, as well as his powerful bat hitting left-handed.
He set career highs in home runs (35), batting average (.284), and slugging percentage (1128) in 2018 while also playing outstanding defense as a left fielder for the Astros.
Brantley was named an All-Star twice (2013, 2017). Additionally, he won two Gold Gloves (2011, 2016). Michael Brantley is a 5x All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner with the Cleveland Indians.
He was one of the most consistent hitters in baseball during his time there, batting over .300 each season from 2009 to 2018. In 2019, he joined the Houston Astros where he has continued his excellent hitting play, averaging over .298 with 127 home runs and 713 RBIs in just two seasons thus far.
Also Played For: cleveland indians
36. José Urquidy
Pitcher
Career
- World Series champion (2022)
José Urquidy is a 27-year old pitcher for the Astros. He was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2018 MLB Draft by Houston and made his debut with them earlier this year.
José has spent most of his career pitching in Mexico, but he's now getting some exposure in the United States with Houston. He throws right-handed and bats left-handed, so he'll be facing opposite batters on most occasions.
José is known for having a strong fastball that can reach speeds up to 102 mph, as well as an effective slider and changeup combination José Urquidy is a talented pitcher with 24 wins and 13 losses in his MLB career.
He has pitched for the Houston Astros since 2019, where he has had success by maintaining an earned run average of 3.74 and striking out 281 batters over 173 innings pitched.
José Urquidy is a world champion who won the 2022 World Series title with the Houston Astros..
37. Luis Garcia
Pitcher
Career
- World Series champion (2022)
Luis Garcia made his MLB debut for the Houston Astros on September 4th 2020. Luis is a Venezuelan pitcher who has a fastball that can reach speeds of up to 97 mph.
He was originally signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent in 2017, but he was traded to the Astros in February 2019. Luis spent most of 2018 with Triple-A Fresno, where he posted a 2-0 record with a 1.27 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched overall.
In 2019, Luis had a breakout season with the Astros' major league team, posting an 8-7 record and 3.01 ERA across 31 appearances (30 starts).
His best performance came during July when he went 5-1 with a 1:1 K/BB ratio over six starts - helping ensure Houston's playoff berth despite having one of baseball's lowest winning percentages (.516) at that point in the season.
Also Played For: san diego padres
38. Roger Clemens
Pitcher
Career
- 11× All-Star (1986, 1988, 1990–1992, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003–2005)
- 2× World Series champion (1999, 2000)
- 7× Cy Young Award (1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004)
- AL MVP (1986)
- 2× Triple Crown (1997, 1998)
- 4× MLB wins leader (1986, 1987, 1997, 1998)
- 7× ERA leader (1986, 1990–1992, 1997, 1998, 2005)
- 5× AL strikeout leader (1988, 1991, 1996–1998)
- MLB record 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game (twice)
- Major League Baseball All-Century Team
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
Roger Clemens enjoyed a Hall of Fame career as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, and his number 21 has been retired by both the Red Sox and Yankees.
Clemens is known for his powerful fastball, which he used to win 25 Cy Young Awards during his illustrious career. He also had an impressive strikeout rate, recording 4,672 strikeouts over 18 seasons.
After leaving Boston following the 2003 season, Clemens spent time with the New York Yankees before retiring after the 2007 campaign.
In those final years on earth, he battled cancer but ultimately overcame it to die at age 55 in October 2015 from complications related to pneumonia. In 2004, Roger Clemens was elected to the Hall of Fame. Clemens is an 11-time All-Star and 2x World Series champion.
He holds several MLB records, including 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game and 7 Cy Young Awards.
In 2007 he joined the New York Yankees as their new pitcher.
39. Hunter Brown
Pitcher
Career
- World Series champion (2022)
Hunter Brown made his MLB debut for the Houston Astros on September 5, 2022. Brown is a starting pitcher and has had success in the minors. He was drafted by the Astros in the second round of the 2018 MLB draft.
Brown is 24 years old and stands 6'1''. He bats right-handed and throws right-handed. Hunter Brown is a 22-year-old right-hander who has emerged as one of the best young pitchers in baseball.
He was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 5th round of the 2018 MLB draft and quickly showed his potential, posting a 2-0 record with an ERA of 0.89 and 22 strikeouts over 21 innings pitched during rookie ball this season.
Brown made his major league debut on July 14th against the Los Angeles Angels, pitching six scoreless innings to help lead Houston to a 4-1 victory. Hunter Brown is expected to be part of Houston’s rotation for years to come and could develop into one of the game’s top pitchers down the line.
40. Dave Smith
Career
- 2× All-Star (1986, 1990)
Dave Smith was a pitcher in the MLB for over 20 years. He had a successful career, winning 201 games and losing 111. Dave Smith also won five Cy Young Awards, which is the highest honor that can be given to a pitcher in baseball.
Dave Smith passed away due to injuries he sustained while playing winter ball with his team in Venezuela on December 17th of 2008 at the age of 53. Dave Smith was a long-time pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros.
He had a 53-53 record over three seasons with the Cubs, but his best years came as part of Houston's run to the World Series in 1992.
Dave was known for his strong pitching skills and ability to get strikeouts, which helped him win two All-Star games during his career. After leaving baseball, he went on to have a successful career in insurance sales before retiring in 2009 at age 50.
41. Blake Taylor
Career
- World Series champion (2022)
Blake Taylor was born on August 17, 1995 in Orange, California. He is a left-handed pitcher for the Houston Astros and made his MLB debut on July 24th of 2020.
Blake has worked to improve his control since making his debut and has shown glimpses of brilliance throughout his career thus far. Blake is still young and there's plenty of room for him to grow as an MLB player moving forward - he could very well be one of the best pitchers in the league sooner rather than later.
Blake Taylor became the first pitcher in Astros franchise history to win 20 games in a season. Blake Taylor was named co- starter for the American League All Star team, going 1–1 with an ERA of 2.53 and 8 strikeouts over 9 innings pitched.
Blake Taylor is one of just four pitchers (joining Clayton Kershaw, Felix Hernandez, and Madison Bumgarner) to reach at least 200 strikeouts during each of their first seven seasons in the major leagues...along with Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, and Stephen Strasburg.
42. Rafael Montero
Pitcher
Career
- World Series champion (2022), Pitched a combined no-hitter vs. the Philadelphia Phillies on November 2, 2022 in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series
Rafael Montero is a right-handed pitcher who made his MLB debut with the New York Mets in 2014. In 2016, he was traded to the Houston Astros and finished the season as their fifth starter.
Montero has a 3-4 record with 4 saves and a 4.37 ERA in 10 starts for Houston this season. He was born in Higuerito, Bánica, Dominican Republic on October 17th 1990 and is currently 32 years old Montero is a 29-year old lefty who has spent the last four seasons with the Mets.
He was drafted by Seattle in the first round of the 2011 MLB draft, but did not sign and went to play for his native Venezuela for two years. Montero signed with New York as an international free agent in 2014 and made his major league debut that season.
In 2018, he led all NL relievers with 57 saves and a 3.02 ERA while pitching to a 18-23 record, earning him American League All-Star selection honors along the way.
43. Dickie Thon
Career
- All-Star (1983), Silver Slugger Award (1983)
Dickie Thon played shortstop for the California Angels from 1979 to 1993. He was a consistent hitter over his 15-year MLB career, batting .264 with 141 home runs and 621 RBIs.
Dickie Thon is best known for hitting a walk-off home run in Game 5 of the 1988 World Series against the Atlanta Braves, which gave the Angels their first championship in franchise history.
After retiring as an active player, Dickie Thon became a broadcaster for both television and radio outlets around baseball until he retired in 2006 after suffering two strokes Thankfully he has since made a full recovery.
Dickie Thon's story is one of resilience and determination – even after hanging up his spikes he continued to contribute to baseball through broadcasting until his retirement in 2006 at age 50 Dickie Thon was a very talented player in his day.
He finished with over 3,000 hits and 350 home runs during his career. Dickie also won several awards, including the Silver Slugger Award and All-Star selection three times each.
Unfortunately for Dickie, he had some trouble maintaining control of his anger on the field at times which caused him to get into various fights with opponents or teammates.
In spite of this though, Dickie will always be remembered as one of the most successful hitters in history - even if he never managed to win an MVP award like many other greats have done.
44. Hunter Pence
Outfielder
Career
- 4× All-Star (2009, 2011, 2014, 2019), 2× World Series champion (2012, 2014), San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame
Hunter Pence is a right fielder for the San Francisco Giants. He was drafted by the Astros in the first round of the 2003 MLB Draft and has spent his entire career with Houston.
In 2015, he led all NL outfielders in home runs (28) and RBIs (106). Hunter Pence also played briefly for the Indianapolis Indians of Major League Baseball's Independent Professional Baseball League in 2009 before returning to Houston.
On August 21, 2020, Hunter Pence will finish his 10-year career with the San Francisco Giants after appearing in 609 games over that time period including 549 as a member of SFG. In those contests, he batted .269 with 151 home runs and 771 RBIs.
As an outfielder, Hunter Pence is not afraid to take risks on balls in play; according to Fangraphs' Defensive Runs Saved metric, he ranks third among active players behind only Mike Trout and Yoenis Cespedes when measuring.
How many runs his defense has saved above league average relative to where each player would have been playing had they remained at their respective positions throughout their careers instead of switching between them due to injury or other factors like that which happened during the 2017 playoffs?
When Prince Fielder replaced injured Gregor Blanco at second base for Texas Rangers against Los Angeles Dodgers who went on win the series 4-1 Despite this willingness tp gamble defensively.
However, there are few defensive specialists who can truly compare favorably offensively either hitting or fielding wise such as Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, or Cal Ripken Jr whose records stand today unbroken.
Overall while some may argue that being slightly less than perfect defending diminishes what little offensive value Harper/Trout/CESPEDES etc possess compared to say Bonds & Rodriguez etc.
It cannot be understated just how dominant these particular seasons were offensively even if one falls short defensively from year to year due mainly.
If injuries rather than poor decision-making around ball placement - again something often overlooked given our love affair with counting stats A three-sport athlete originally attended Arlington Martin HS before attending college at Oklahoma State University.
where he lettered twice both times competing as part of Cowboy Nation baseball teams coached by Dusty Baker – a father figure later credited with helping turn around troubled personal life leading up to achieving success on the diamond.
Team captain 2000 season acquiring a reputation off the field as well as earning First Team Academic All-American honors ’99 graduating Magna Cum Laude majoring in business management.
Also Played For: sacramento river cats
45. Brad Ausmus
Career
- All Star (1999), 3× Gold Glove Award (2001, 2002, 2006)
Ausmus was a catcher and manager in the MLB for over 20 years, most notably with the Dodgers and Angels. Ausmus is well-known for his aggressive style of play behind the plate, which at times led to him getting into trouble with umpires.
Ausmus has been praised by many as one of the best managers in baseball history; he won three National League pennants (with LA) during his tenure there, as well as two World Series championships (Dodgers in 2009 & 2011).
After leaving LA following the 2010 season, Ausmus took on a front office role with Detroit Tigers before being named Astros' manager prior to the 2018 campaign.
In 2019, Houston finished second place in their division behind Los Angeles - their first losing record since 2008 - prompting rumours that Ausmus would be fired at season's end however this did not eventuate and he continues to manage Houston into 2020.
46. Ken Caminiti
Career
- 3× All-Star (1994, 1996, 1997), NL MVP (1996), 3× Gold Glove Award (1995–1997), Silver Slugger Award (1996), San Diego Padres Hall of Fame
Ken Caminiti was born on April 21, 1963 in Hanford, California. He made his MLB debut with the Houston Astros in 1987 and played for the Atlanta Braves until 2001.
In a 10-year career, Ken batted .272 with 134 home runs and 571 RBIs. Ken died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on October 10, 2004 at the age of 41 years old.
Ken Caminiti is one of the most accomplished hitters in Major League Baseball history, with a career batting average of .319 and 2,160 hits. He was a three-time All-Star and NL MVP, as well as being named to seven consecutive Gold Glove teams.
Ken also holds several Padres franchise records for batting average (first), runs scored (second), doubles (third), home runs (fourth) and walks (fifth). After playing his entire MLB career with the San Diego Padres, he retired after the 2001 season at the age of 36.
In 2003, Ken was inducted into the San Diego Padres Hall of Fame alongside such luminaries as Dick Williams and Tony Gwynn.
47. Brad Lidge
Career
- 2× All-Star (2005, 2008), World Series champion (2008), NL Rolaids Relief Man Award (2008), Delivery Man of the Year (2008), NL Comeback Player of the Year (2008), Pitched a combined no-hitter on June 11, 2003
Brad Lidge was a very consistent pitcher during his 11-year MLB career. He won 26 of 32 games he pitched in, and never had an ERA over 3.00.
Brad Lidge also had some high-profile wins throughout his career, including a no-hitter against the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2006 and a complete game shutout against the New York Yankees in 2009.
However, Brad Lidge's tenure with the Houston Astros was not as successful as his other seasons with other teams - mainly because they were unable to contend for playoff spots.
After playing for Washington from 2012 to 2014, Brad Lidge retired at the age of 36 after failing to recover from Tommy John surgery that he underwent earlier that year.
Brad Lidge is a five-time all-star and three-time world series champion. Brad Lidge was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2002 and spent his entire career with them, winning two NL Rolaids Relief Man Awards along the way.
After being traded to Philadelphia in 2008, he helped lead them to their first world series victory since 1975. In 2012, Brad Lidge signed with Washington as a free agent and went on to pitch a no-hitter for them against the New York Mets that year as well.
48. Bob Watson
Career
- 2× All-Star (1973, 1975), Houston Astros Hall of Fame
Bob Watson was born on April 10, 1946 in Los Angeles, California. He played his first MLB game for the Houston Astros on September 9, 1966 and last appeared in a game on May 14, 2020.
Watson spent most of his career with the Astros but also played for the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox. In total he had 2256 hits in 8162 at bats with an average of .261 batting average over that time span.
He won three Gold Glove Awards during his career as well as being named to seven All-Star teams and winning one Silver Slugger Award (which is given to the best offensive player at each position).
Bob Watson passed away on May 14th 2020 after a long battle with cancer at 74 years old Bob Watson was one of the most successful hitters in Atlanta Braves history.
He hit for a .295 batting average and 184 home runs over his career. Bob Watson played his entire MLB career with the Braves, from 1982 to 1984.
Bob Watson was elected to both the Astros and Braves Hall of Fames in their respective Halls of Fame ceremonies. In addition, he received numerous other accolades including two All-Star selections and three Gold Glove Awards as a first baseman/outfielder with Houston (1973–1975) and Atlanta (1982–1984).
Bob Watson passed away on September 30th, 1984 at the age of 43 due to complications from AIDS therapy.
49. Jose Siri
Outfielder
Jose Siri was born in the Dominican Republic and signed with the Rays as a free agent in 2017. He made his MLB debut that season and hit .228/.341/.362 in 116 games played.
In 2018, he slashed .264/.333/.457 with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs over 136 games played for Tampa Bay. The 27-year old outfielder is coming off of a successful 2018 campaign where he was one of the team's most consistent hitters both at the plate and on defense.
Jose Siri will be an important part of manager Kevin Cash's plans moving forward, especially considering his ability to play all three outfield positions well. Jose Siri was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 20th round of the 2021 MLB draft. Jose Siri made his debut for the Astros on September 3, 2021.
In 22 games with the Astros, he hit .225 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs. Jose Siri played with Tampa Bay from 2022 to the present day.
50. Jake Odorizzi
Pitcher
Career
- All-Star (2019), World Series champion (2022)
Jake Odorizzi is a right-handed pitcher who has played for the Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers in his career. In 2012, he made his MLB debut with the Royals and had an impressive win-loss record of 74–69 in 5 seasons.
His ERA was 3.99 but he struckout 1,172 batters over that span which is great production at any level of baseball. Odorizzi has spent most of the past four seasons with the Braves where he's had a bit more success although his ERA isn't as low as it was with Kansas City (3.68).
He'll be 32 years old when next season starts and will likely enter into free agency after this one if things go well; however, given how consistent he's been throughout his career there's no doubt teams would love to have him on their roster either now or down the line.
51. Dallas Keuchel
Pitcher
Career
- 2× All-Star (2015, 2017), World Series champion (2017), AL Cy Young Award (2015), 5× Gold Glove Award (2014–2016, 2018, 2021), AL wins leader (2015)
Dallas Keuchel is a 35-year-old pitcher who has been with the Houston Astros since 2012. He has had a decent career, but he really came into his own in 2017 when he led the American League in wins and strikeouts.
Keuchel will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, so there's no telling what team he'll sign with next year. Dallas Keuchel is a talented pitcher who has won multiple awards and accolades during his career.
He was born in Houston, Texas, in 1988 and played college baseball at the University of Arkansas. After spending time with the Astros organization as a minor leaguer, he made his big league debut in 2012 and quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in the game.
In 2015, he became only the second player ever to win both an AL Cy Young Award and World Series MVP award (the other being Roger Clemens).
Keuchel has been incredibly durable over his career – missing just 10 starts since making his MLB debut – which has led to him becoming one of baseball’s most consistent starters over the past few years.
Final Words
. . Houston Astros have had many great players throughout their history, but some of the best players in team’s history include: Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Lance Berkman and Ken Griffey Jr.
These five individuals are all members of the Hall of Fame and they helped lead Houston to multiple championships.
