Top star is among the top hitters in baseball, fresh off his third consecutive All-Star season. In 2024, he appeared in a career-high 147 games, a critical mark for the Houston Astros given his prior injury history. In 2023, he played just 114 games due to injuries, compared to 135 in 2022 and 144 in 2021, his first full season.
Astros manager Joe Espada has emphasized the importance of keeping him on the field and is exploring ways to manage his workload in 2025. Speaking to MLB.com, Espada acknowledged Alvarez’s willingness to play but stressed the need to prioritize his health. “He never says no, but I need to be more mindful of the more he plays out there, the more I’m asking of him, and I need to try to keep him healthy,” Espada said.
Alvarez’s career slash line of .298/.390/.583/.973 and his 162-game averages of 42 home runs and 120 RBIs highlight his immense offensive value. In 2024, he slashed .308/.392/.567/.959 with 35 home runs and 86 RBIs, while in his injury-shortened 2023 season, he posted similar numbers: .293/.407/.583/.990 with 31 home runs and 97 RBIs.
Espada plans to limit Alvarez’s time in the outfield, where he’s played 200 career games, in favor of designated hitter (DH) duties, where he’s appeared in 418 games. Last season, Alvarez split his time between 94 games as DH and 53 games in left field, the widest disparity since 2021. “I would like to kind of cut back on the amount of reps that he gets in left field,” Espada said. “Hopefully, we can get that done and not ask Yordan to play that many innings in left.”
However, managing Alvarez’s role at DH isn’t straightforward. The Astros are seeking to replace Kyle Tucker, who was traded earlier this offseason, in right field. Houston’s depth chart includes Jake Meyers, Chas McCormick, Mauricio Dubón, Taylor Trammell, and Zach Dezenzo as outfield options alongside Alvarez. McCormick is the likely candidate for right field, with Trammell offering versatility at both corner spots. Still, replicating Tucker’s offensive output remains a challenge.
For Alvarez, offensive consistency has been a hallmark of his career. As long as the Astros can manage his workload and keep him healthy, they can continue to rely on his elite production.
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