WEST PALM BEACH, FL (SportsRadio 610)- Jose Altuve will make his left field debut on Friday when the Astros take on the St. Louis Cardinals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, Joe Espada said Wednesday.
“I would like to give him 4-5 innings of defense,” Espada said. “I think that would be a good first day. Hopefully it's a nice, sunny day.”
Friday will be the next step in Altuve’s transition from second base, where he has played all but six of his 15,225.1 career innings, into an outfielder.
Altuve has done a little work at second base on the side since arriving in West Palm Beach for spring training, but his main focus has been getting accustomed to left field, which he started preparing for last month at Daikin Park.
“He’s actually been pretty good out there,” Espada said. “It’s practice and we can control the environment and the volume, but once the game starts he’ll be tested and we’ll get a better read of where he’s at.”
The Astros have not fully committed to starting Altuve in left field on Opening Day, but he told Astros field reporter Julia Morales that he’s officially an outfielder after giving his outfield glove to a kid.