Jose Altuve’s move to the outfield was supposed to give the Houston Astros more flexibility, but instead, it has created uncertainty. His arm strength has become a clear liability, and each game he plays in left field puts the team at risk.
With Opening Day approaching, how much longer can Houston hold off on making a decision?
Jose Altuve’s Defensive Limitations Are Too Big To Ignore
The Astros’ experiment of shifting Altuve from second base to left field has run into issues, largely due to his arm strength. At second base, his quick reflexes and baseball IQ made up for his weaker throws. But in the outfield, he needs to make longer, stronger throws to prevent runners from advancing.
Analysts and fans alike expect Altuve’s arm strength won’t be enough for this role, as early observations suggest. Among them, Houston sports radio host Patrick Creighton weighed in on X, stating, “I think it’s fair to say the Altuve in LF experiment isn’t going as the #Astros hoped. It’s clear his arm is a major liability.
“At some point they will need to scrap the plan, at least for this year…”
I think it’s fair to say the Altuve in LF experiment isn’t going as the #Astros hoped. It’s clear his arm is a major liability.
At some point they will need to scrap the plan, at least for this year
Could see them with ZDZ and Cam in the corners, Altuve back to 2B
Would…— Patrick Creighton (@PCreighton1) March 19, 2025
His defensive struggles are too costly for the team, and the Astros cannot afford to overlook them as the season gets underway.
Jose Altuve still getting comfortable in the outfieldpic.twitter.com/Tm0CO4kvKb
— Underdog MLB (@Underdog__MLB) March 18, 2025
A Baseball Savant report states that Altuve has one of the lowest average throw velocities among infielders, raising concerns about whether he can handle the demands of outfield play.
“He has [Jose Altuve] done enough for me to feel good about playing left field,” Astros manager Joe Espada said.
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Perhaps the Altuve outfield trial is an experiment that needs to be abandoned in favor of returning him to second base. This move would solidify the Astros’ infield while giving younger players like Zach Dezenzo and Cam Smith more playing time at the corners.
A possible adjustment would shift Smith to third base and Isaac Paredes to second, while keeping Dezenzo in the outfield, improving both the team’s defensive stability and offensive production.
The Astros have options, but as long as Altuve remains in left field, opponents will continue to take advantage of his defensive struggles.
Altuve’s play in left field has drawn a lot of attention. However, as spring training continued, it became clear that hoping for improvement wouldn’t solve the issues. In a game on March 13, he misjudged fly balls and struggled with throws that should be routine for an outfielder.
Espada acknowledged that Altuve playing 150 games in left field may be difficult, but he expects him to appear in over 81 due to the Astros’ depth in the outfield.
If left field remains a defensive weakness, it could put extra pressure on the entire team, especially with lingering concerns about throwing ability in the outfield around Jake Meyers and Chas McCormick.
With Opening Day fast approaching, Houston needs to act quickly. The sooner they address the problem, the better their chances of making a deep playoff run in 2025.
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
