After experimenting with Jose Altuve in left field at spring training, the Houston Astros are flipping the switch.
The career infielder will play a “majority” of his games this season in left, manager Joe Espada said Monday.
“Right now the plan is for him to play the majority of his games in left field, and the days that he plays second base opens the door for Yordan (Alvarez) maybe getting a start in left field, someone getting a DH day,” Espada said, per the Houston Chronicle. “So this move allows us to be creative and do stuff like that.”
Altuve has played all but two games in his career at second, the other two coming at shortstop. But following the trade of All-Star Kyle Tucker, the Astros had an opening in the outfield, and Altuve has said he will play anywhere on the field that he’s needed.
Altuve, 34, is an Astros icon who has won two World Series with the franchise. A nine-time All-Star, three-time batting champion and the 2017 American League MVP, Altuve won one Gold Glove (2015) for his work at second base.
He’s played in left field since making his spring training debut last month.
Mauricio Dubon, Brendan Rodgers and Luis Guillorme are candidates to take over second base for the Astros.
“If he feels comfortable (in left field) and we check all the boxes and I think this is something that we all feel comfortable about, we’ll go that route,” Espada said. “But again, it’s really early in the process and I don’t want to commit to any of this without getting Altuve’s feedback and seeing how this continues to develop.”
