Houston Astros Star Slugger Dealing With Knee Issue
There's a big chance that the Houston Astros, who were top-seven in runs scored, homers, and RBI last year, will have an even better offense during the upcoming season.
New manager Joe Espada is bringing some changes to the offensive philosophy, wanting them to be more aggressive on the basepaths, and will shift around their batting order.
Superstar Yordan Alvarez should get more at-bats this year, increasing the chances that their lineup can become even more prolific.
They should also get a natural bump with former AL MVP Jose Abreu returning to form.
After signing a three-year, $58.5 million contract with the Astros in free agency ahead of the 2023 season, the slugger put together the worst year of his career with a slash line of .237/.296/.383 and OPS+ of 87, the first time he's ever been below the league average of 100.
Abreu dealt with a back injury last year before being placed on the injured list that sidelined him for over under two weeks.
His hot hitting towards the end of the regular season and into the playoffs gives some confidence that he'll return to being one of the most feared hitters in the game, even at 37 years old.
Unfortunately, an injury popped up for the slugger during a Spring Training game that saw him limping after he slid for a foul ball.
Houston announced that he'll be sideline for a few days with "knee soreness," but they don't think it will be an issue moving forward.
"Right now it's just sore. No concerns. We just want to make sure that he's back to full health before we get him back on the field," Espada told Matt Kawahara of The Houston Chronicle.
It's certainly a positive that nothing structurally is wrong, but it's also concerning that a routine slide might cause Abreu to potentially miss games if that happens during the year.
Abreu was expected to be a huge part of the team, both offensively and at first base.
If he can return to form, he'll make the Astros a team that is hard to beat in the regular season and playoffs.
