Astros Slugger Proving To Be Team's Quiet Leader
There is no question that second baseman Jose Altuve is the leader of the Houston Astros. It’s one of the many reasons why the Astros extended him for five more seasons through 2029.
But, one player cannot lead a baseball team. Others must contribute. In many cases those leaders are players like Altuve, ones who are built to last and connected to the team for the long term.
Yordan Alvarez may not speak as often as Altuve, at least not in public, but there is no question in his teammates’ minds that when he talks, they listen, according to a recent feature on Alvarez by The Athletic’s Chandler Rome.
Alvarez is already cemented in Astros lore for his performance in the 2022 World Series. He nearly duplicated that in the 2023 AL Championship Series, though the Astros lost to the Texas Rangers in seven games.
Last year he fought injuries and only played in 114 games. No worries. He still produced. He had 31 home runs and 97 RBI, along with a slash line of .293/.407/.583/.990.
At least one set of projections sees Alvarez having the kind of season that underscores Altuve’s belief that Alvarez is the “best hitter in baseball,” something Alvarez has said on many occasions.
FanGraphs projects that Alvarez will finish the season with the sixth-highest WAR in baseball, 5.7. Behind that projection is a prediction of 39 home runs, 113 RBI and a slash line of .299/.399/.591/.414.
In other words, typical Alvarez.
What isn’t typical is a loquacious Alvarez. He doesn’t speak much, at least publicly. When Altuve and the Astros announced his contract extension the city of Houston declared Feb. 7 Jose Altuve Day. That day, Altuve repeated his “best hitter in baseball” quote and all Alvarez could do was smile and then hide his head between his legs.
But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t lead. Alvarez is under contract through 2028 and one has to believe that Alvarez, perhaps above any other player besides Altuve, would get a long-term extension in the next year or two.
In the clubhouse, Alvarez talks, and players like Mauricio Dubón say they listen every time.
“When he says something everybody listens,” Dubón said. “Sometimes he seems quiet, but he knows what he’s saying. Everybody here respects him and it’s not off what he does on the field, it’s what type of person he is and his character he brings to the table. The kind of person he is, that’s why everybody respects him so much. The baseball stuff, yeah, it’s good, but the type of person he is, that’s what makes him a good leader.”
Altuve may be the face of the franchise, but the Astros will follow wherever Alvarez takes them.
