The 2025 MLB All-Star break is finally here, giving the Houston Astros some much-needed rest after a productive first half to the season. The Astros are spending the break as one of the top squads in baseball, sitting 2.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers for the best record in the Majors, giving Joe Espada's club plenty of motivation to keep their foot on the gas pedal when the action resumes.
It won't be long until the MLB postseason is here, and the Astros would love to build up as much momentum as possible before fall arrives. That means certain Houston veterans need to find ways to be more consistent contributors in the second half, including one outfielder in dire need of a strong post-ASG performance.
Astros OF Cooper Hummel Needs Strong Post-ASG Performance to Get off Thin Ice
What was once old became new again when the Astros signed veteran outfielder Cooper Hummel to a minor-league contract in early June. The Portland, OR native was previously claimed by Houston in December 2023 after being waived by the New York Mets, and spent the 2024 campaign in the organization before being designated for assignment in March.
Hummel signed with the New York Yankees after electing free agency, but that stint didn't last long. He was released by the Yankees on May 24 before signing with the Baltimore Orioles one day later, only to be DFA'd by the AL East club on June 2.
Hummel was likely hoping that a reunion with his old team would reignite his bat, but that hasn't been the case. The 30-year-old OF is only slashing .183/.338/.283 in his first 25 games (60 at-bats) with the Astros, tallying two home runs, four RBIs, and 12 walks along the way. Although he's somehow drawn a walk in 16.0% of his plate appearances during that stretch, he's also recorded a strikeout 32.0% of the time.
It doesn't help that Hummel hasn't given fans many reasons to believe in him lately. In the lead-up to the All-Star festivities, the former University of Portland product went 0-of-13 with 10 strikeouts in his final five games, proving just how frustrating he's been to watch.
World Series titles can only be won with the most trustworthy lineups, and it's clear that it's too risky to put any amount of faith in Hummel at the moment. If he doesn't turn things around immediately when the regular season resumes, the Astros might have no choice but to replace him before the MLB trade deadline on July 31.