With the MLB All-Star break coming to an end, the Houston Astros will open the second half of the regular season on Friday, hoping to win the AL West and make a deep run in the playoffs.
The Astros have defied expectations this season after parting ways with stars Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman this offseason. And not to mention, Houston has been without Yordan Alvarez for parts of the 2025 campaign.
However, the Astros have seen several players step up on the mound and at the plate, such as Hunter Brown, Jose Altuve, Isaac Paredes, Jeremy Pena, and rookie Cam Smith. If those guys can keep it up, Houston will be in a good spot by the time October rolls around.
Astros Veteran Infielder’s Future is Clouded After Recent Minor League Call-Up
At the same time, a few Astros have struggled mightily during the first half of the season and need to play better. One of those Stros facing challenges at the plate is journeyman infielder Luis Guillorme.
Guillorme was called up to the big leagues mid-way last month after he signed a minor league deal with Houston in February. The left-handed hitting infielder was slashing .248/.377/.317 with two home runs and 22 RBI in 57 games at Triple-A Sugar Land.
The Astros called up the 30-year-old Guillorme from the minor leagues on June 14 and made his first start the next day against the Minnesota Twins. The veteran infielder went 0-for-3 at the plate with two strikeouts.
Guillorme hasn’t done much at the plate in his short time with the Astros, which doesn’t bode well for his future with the club. The veteran infielder is only hitting .150 at the plate and was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain on July 2.
For a struggling player who has bounced around the majors, an injury is the last thing they want to happen. The Astros likely hope Guillorme is ready to come back in the near future, as it gives them someone who can play multiple positions.
However, he might not rejoin the big league club, as his replacement, Zack Short, has played well over the last couple of weeks. Short is slashing .286/.348/.524 with a home run and five RBI, while possessing an OPS of .872 in 10 games.
If Short continues to play well after the All-Star break, Guillorme will have a tough time making it back to the majors with the Astros and will certainly be looking for a new opportunity when the winter rolls around.