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Astros' Yordan Alvarez Puts Himself in Way Too Early AL Silver Slugger Talks

There were a lot of negatives surrounding the Houston Astros in 2025, but they are already off to a really hot start, and that is in part of their designated hitter's performance at the plate.
Maddy Dickens|
Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez.
Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez. | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

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Both Summer and Fall will come to a close before 2026 MLB accolades will be handed out, but that doesn't mean it isn't amusing to see which players are already stepping up for their teams.

One of the highest honors for someone swinging a bat to earn is the title of Silver Slugger. This goes to a player at each position in each of the American and National Leagues who is the best all-around offensive player that year.

The Houston Astros have a clear front runner at designated hitter — Yordan Alvarez.

Alvarez has won the award once in his career, back in 2022. Since then, he has been named an All-Star twice, but hasn't been back in this conversation until now.

Alvarez Rankings Amongst Other AL DH

Alvarez hits a baseball in a white Astros unifor
Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) hits a double against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Daikin Park | Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Three designated hitters in the AL have an OPS over 1.000, none of which are the 2025 winner, George Springer. Instead, it is Alvarez leading the charge (1.480), followed by Giancarlo Stanton (1.250, Yankees) and Yandy Diaz (1.127, Rays).

But, Alvarez's 1.480 OPS isn't the only reason that he is the way-too-early front-runner.

*Note* These rankings are only looking at qualified DH's in the AL

  • .417 Batting Average: 3rd (trails both Diaz and Stanton)
  • .563 On-Base Percentage: 1st
  • .917 Slugging Percentage: 1st (only percentage over .750)
  • Home Runs: 1st
  • Drawn Walks: 1st
  • Doubles: 1st
  • Total Hits: Tied for 2nd with Daz (both trail Stanton)
  • RBI: 2nd (trails Diaz)

Truly, it doesn't matter that the Astros have only played seven games, because any player that can step up to bat over 20 times and perform that well, then that player deserves some acknowledgement.

Right now, his team is on a five-game win streak after dropping the first two of the season. They lead the league as a whole in RBI, slugging percentage, OPS, doubles, and total hits. Alvarez is currently the headliner for Houston.

It is a week into the season, so it might seem silly to be predicting such early matters, but the Astros have the best offense in the league right now, which is led by Alvarez. His team is seeking redemption after missing the playoffs entirely in 2025, and clearly, their DH is a man on a mission to make a deep run in October.

Baseball is the longest season in professional sports, so seven games in doesn't mean the same as it does for football, but Alvarez has been impressive nonetheless.

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Maddy Dickens
MADDY DICKENS

Maddy Dickens resides in Loveland, Colorado. She grew up with two older brothers, where their lives revolved around sports. She earned a master's degree in business management from Tarleton State University while simultaneously playing basketball and competing in rodeo at the collegiate level. She successfully parlayed a reserve national championship into a professional rodeo career and now stays involved in upper-level athletics by writing for On SI on several different MLB teams' pages, along with some NCAA sites.

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