The Houston Astros have been the surprise of the 2015 season, building the best record in the AL and a five-game lead in their division. As we approach the All-Star break, the big question hovering over this team is whether or not they’re “for real,” can maintain this level of performance and get to their first postseason in 10 years.
A significant reason for the Astros’ success has been outfielder George Springer. The 25-year-old leads the team with a .365 on-base percentage (and 42 walks) and .457 slugging mark, to go with 14 doubles, 13 home runs, 29 RBI and 14 stolen bases. So it’s glaringly obvious that Springer suffering a fractured right wrist that’s expected to keep him out for six weeks is a huge loss for Houston.
Springer sustained the injury on Wednesday against the Royals when a 95 mph fastball from Edinson Volquez hit him. Here’s video of the play.
Springer stayed in the game during the fifth inning, running the bases and eventually scoring a run. He also played defense at the top of the next inning, but came out once the Astros went to bat and underwent X-rays. The Astros placed their young star on the 15-day disabled list Thursday.
Though Springer’s injury will obviously test Houston’s roster depth, general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch have been impressed with how the team stepped up after shortstop Jed Lowrie’s injury. Marwin Gonzalez and Jonathan Villar played reliably in Lowrie’s absence, allowing more time for the team to become comfortable with calling up top prospect Carlos Correa.
That “next man up” philosophy has applied to the pitching staff as well. Since Scott Feldman went on the DL with a torn right meniscus, pitchers Lance McCullers and Vincent Velasquez have come up from the minors to fill holes in the starting rotation. McCullers, in particular, has been excellent in replacing Feldman, compiling a 2.19 ERA in nine starts with 58 strikeouts in 53.1 innings.
So who steps in for Springer? The Astros were already down a man in the outfield, with center fielder Jake Marisnick on the DL with a strained left hamstring. Marisnick began a minor league rehab assignment on Wednesday, and is expected to be activated next week. That still leaves a hole in right field until Springer returns. But this is where the organizational depth that Luhnow built while the major league product was languishing yields dividends.
Preston Tucker was already on the major league roster, getting called up when Springer went on the seven-day concussion DL earlier this season. The 24-year-old hit so well filling in for Springer that the Astros kept him with the big league club, and Hinch has been able to provide regular playing time due to injuries and giving players rest. Tucker struggled in June (batting .189 with a .597 OPS), but likely isn’t going anywhere with Houston needing help in the outfield.
HOUSTON, TX – MAY 03: Evan Gattis #11 of the Houston Astros receives a high five from Chris Carter #23 after hittinga home run in the eighth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Minute Maid Park on May 3, 2015 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Domingo Santana got the call in June, to fill in when Colby Rasmus went on the bereavement list. Like Tucker, Santana was thriving at Triple-A (batting .320 with a 1.098 OPS), so the call-up was based on merit as well as necessity. Playing mostly right field, the 22-year-old hasn’t been terribly impressive at the plate with a .243 average and 17 strikeouts in 40 plate appearances.
But what looked like a potential problem early in the season for the Astros could end up being what helps them through Springer’s absence.
With Evan Gattis and Chris Carter, Houston had two players best suited for first base or designated hitter who could also make occasional appearances in left field. Yet the roster had true outfielders who could play defense and needed to be on the field as well. That logjam kept Jon Singleton in the minors to begin the year, though his performance last season (.168 average, .620 OPS) and during spring training showed that maybe he needed more time in Triple-A.
Carter and Gattis have been what we thought they’d be. The two sluggers strike out too much and don’t hit for a high average, but their sheer power warrant regular spots in the lineup. The Astros’ ability to launch the ball out of the park — leading MLB with 116 home runs — is a big reason for their success. And there was no need to put either player in the outfield with Rasmus, Marisnick and Springer manning those positions capably, and Tucker available to fill in.
So it was a bit of a head-scratcher when the Astros called up Singleton last week as reliever Chad Qualls went on the DL. The first baseman’s performance with Triple-A Fresno certainly warranted a promotion. In 313 plate apperances, he batted .280 with a .940 OPS, 17 doubles, 17 homers and 66 RBI. Clearly, Singleton had conquered that level and needed to be in the majors.
ARLINGTON, TX – JULY 07: Jon Singleton #28 of the Houston Astros celebrates with George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros after hitting a three run home run against the Texas Rangers in the top of the fourth inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 7, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
But where would he play? Luhnow liked the idea of a left-handed power bat in the lineup and said Singleton would probably cut into Carter’s playing time. Carter had 15 homers, but was still hitting under .200.
Though Springer getting injured surely isn’t how the Astros wanted to get all of their bats into the lineup, there’s now room for three first baseman-DH types. That’s essentially how Hinch worked it out for Houston’s first game without Springer, Friday night versus the Red Sox. Gattis started in left field, Carter played at first base and Singleton was the DH. Alex Presley — called up when Springer went on the DL, and can provide some contact and speed — played center, while Tucker was in right.
Every player in the Houston lineup got at least one hit in a 12-8, 10-inning win over Boston. Gattis, Tucker and Presley each notched two hits, while Singleton drove in three runs. For at least one game, the Astros didn’t miss a beat, putting up two explosive innings against a vulnerable Red Sox pitching staff. That figures to continue, though Houston’s all-or-nothing approach will result in some thin nights on the scoreboard.
Springer is a star in the making, if he hasn’t already reached such status with a combination of power, speed and defense seen among a rare few. The Astros can’t replace him, per se. But several players can chip in to help match his production, especially during a finite period like the six weeks Springer figures to be sidelined. It’s the proverbial nice problem to have for Hinch and Luhnow, trying to make these various pieces fit on the roster.
Yet the important thing is that the Astros have those pieces to utilize. Suddenly, what looked to be a surplus is now a luxury that other contenders in the AL don’t enjoy. And that could be a key difference in the second half of this season.
