Houston Astros Position Review: Second Base
By Jimmy Price
Houston Astros Position Review: Second Base
We continue our review of the Houston Astros position this week with the second basemen. While some positions have huge questions marks, second base has a big exclamation point. The Astros have had a lot of success at the second base position with Craig Biggio where he played 20 seasons from 1988 – 2007. The position the Astros fans feel best about has got to be second base where we have a two-time All-Star and batting title champ already at the age of 24.
Click here for our review on the catcher’s position
Click here for our review on the first base position
Jose Altuve
With Jose Altuve, I honestly don’t know where to start. The 5’5″ second baseman did everything well this season and was definitely the Astros most valuable player. Back in July 2013, the Astros signed Altuve to a contract extension that could make him a Houston Astros through 2019. He didn’t disappoint this season putting together one of the best hitting seasons in Houston Astros history.
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On the season Altuve finished with a .341 BA, which was highest in the MLB. He also lead the MLB in hits with 225 which broke Craig Biggio‘s franchise record of 210 hits. 47 of those hits went for doubles, which was a career high for Altuve.
Jose also showed off his speed and base running ability swiping 56 bases, good for first in the American League. Altuve compiled a 6.6 offensive WAR on the season which was tied for 4th in the MLB this season. Maybe one of the most important stats was his drop in strikeout percentage which dropped from 12.6% in 2013 to 7.5% in 2014. He also posted a .112 ISO and 135 wRC+, both career highs.
Altuve has solidified the second base position for the Houston Astros for years to come. He has established himself as an All-Star second baseman and a force at the top of the Astros lineup. His hitting ability in front of sluggers like Springer and Carter should make for a good combination in the near future.
2014 Stats: 158 G, .341 BA/.377 OBP/.453 SLG, 85 R, 225 H, 47 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 59 RBI, 56 SB, 36 BB/53 SO
ON THE FARM (Minor Leagues)
Ronald Torreyes (AAA) – Torreyes was acquired in the summer of 2013 from the Chicago Cubs. The second baseman holds some traits similar to Altuve. Listed at 5’10” and only 150 lbs he is on the smaller side. The key for Torreyes is contact. He simply does not strikeout much. This season in AAA he hit .298 with 20 2B, 5 3B, 2 HR, 46 RBI, 12 SB, 25 BB/26 SO in 126 games. That equates to a 5.0% strikeout rate. He also appeared in games at SS, 3B, LF, and CF.
Joe Sclafani (AAA) – Sclafani is more of a utility man but he did play in 42 games at second base. Sclafani has continued to hit in every stop finishing with a .339 BA in 62 games in AAA. In those games he had 7 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 25 RBI, 26 BB/27 SO. He also appeared in games at SS and 3B.
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Tony Kemp (AA) – Kemp was one of the breakout players in the Houston Astros system this season. He played in 72 games at Lancaster hitting .336 with 19 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 28 SB before being promoted to AA, Corpus Christi. He continued his hot hitting in Corpus compiling a line of .292 with 11 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 13 SB in 59 games. He also displayed great plate discipline drawing 73 walks on the season. His final season line was .316 BA/.411 OBP, 121 R, 30 2B, 8 3B, 8 HR, 58 RBI, 41 SB. He also won the Minor League Gold Glove award at second.
Nolan Fontana (AA) – The Astros second round pick in 2012 had a somewhat shaky season. He only hit .262 prior to a season ending broken pinky. Fontana shows plus discipline at the plate with the ability to draw walks (61 walks in 66 games), though unfortunately this comes with strikeouts as well (76 SO in 66 games). In 219 minor league career games Fontana has drawn 228 BB to 220 SO.
While Altuve has solidified the second base position, the Astros still have plenty of talent at the position in the minors.
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