Jose Altuve is adjusting to his new position in left field for the Houston Astros, where he’s been performing well overall. However, in the final game of the series against the New York Mets, he struggled to jump high enough to catch a Juan Soto double off the wall.
It’s worth noting that Altuve stands at just 5’6″ (168 cm), which could occasionally make playing that part of the outfield challenging due to his height. However, despite the play involving Juan Soto’s ball, he and the Astros went on to win their Opening Day Weekend series against the Mets, 2-1.
The final game of the series was a tight one, ending 2-1 in favor of the home team. At the plate, Soto was slightly more productive than Altuve. The shortstop posted a .455 average, .500 OBP, and recorded two hits, while the Dominican managed a .333 average, .538 OBP, with one hit, one RBI, and a walk.
Altuve will have time to make some adjustments before starting the upcoming series against the Giants, which will also be played at home. On the other hand, his first game as a left fielder on the road will be in Minnesota, where the left field wall isn’t particularly high.
When will Altuve and Soto play against each other again?
Unfortunately, this Opening Day series will be the only one between them during the 2025 MLB regular season. They won’t face off again unless they meet in the postseason en route to the World Series, with both teams showing strong potential to reach that stage.
Altuve’s projection for 2025
According to Baseball Reference, Altuve is projected to have 582 plate appearances in 2025, with 150 hits and at least 87 runs, including 21 home runs. The Venezuelan is expected to bat .287, a figure close to his .295 average from 2024. Additionally, projections suggest he will play 150+ games with the Astros again this year.
SURVEY Will Altuve face more challenges in the outfield because of his height?
Will Altuve face more challenges in the outfield because of his height?
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