While there are plenty of players on the Houston Astros who have made major contributions this season, like Hunter Brown and Jeremy Pena, there’s another player who has a huge impact on the team despite missing significant time.
After roughly 100 games, the Astros finally got Yordan Alvarez back in the lineup. The All-Star slugger, who’s hit at least 31 home runs in four straight seasons with an average OPS of .988, is back in the lineup for Houston.
Astros manager Joe Espada, in a piece from Chandler Rome of The Athletic, revealed what kind of impact Alvarez’s return to the lineup brings. He revealed not just the impact on the lineup, but on the team as a whole.
Alvarez’s Return to Houston is ‘Huge’
Not only is the 6-4, 237-pound left-handed slugger a massive presence in the batter’s box, but his return is a huge boost for the Astros in the middle of a tight, contested postseason hunt.
“(This is) huge, not only what he means to our team and our offense, but what he means as a competitor,” Espada said. “Our team just got that much better today by adding one of the best hitters in the big leagues.”
The Astros have stayed afloat in his absence, sitting atop the AL West by 1.5 games. But Alvarez’s return comes at a great time, and he’s poised to have a major impact on the team amid their postseason push.
While his debut back with the Astros was quiet, going 0-2 with two walks, Alvarez’s presence in the heart of the order is something that should massively benefit the Astros down the stretch run of this season.
MORE: Astros get Yordan Alvarez back in lineup for first time in 100 games
The 28-year-old slugger has been one of the most clutch hitters in baseball and is highly regarded by the baseball world, as evidenced by his numerous accolades, including three All-Star appearances.
While he’s a huge addition to the lineup, the Astros slugger has struggled a bit this season. Before hitting the injured list in May, he was hitting 210 with career-worst offensive metrics in most statistics.
He can still become a deadly hitter in the final month or so of the 2025 season, and once the Astros make the postseason, he could once again help carry the club to the World Series.
The $115 million slugger is a huge part of the team, and Espada acknowledged how much he’s impacting the team upon his return. Not only did the Astros get better as a team, but they also added a player who could boost them to top World Series contention.
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