Jose Altuve is expected to move up a spot in the batting order and become the Astros' leadoff hitter.
While Astros manager Dusty Baker is still making his decision, he told reporters this week Altuve is pretty damn good in the leadoff spot.
Baker is leaning toward Altuve replacing George Springer in the batting order.
"When I start to see his comfort-level reach a point where it looks like he’s comfortable, (and) he appears that he’s getting there,” Baker said of knowing whether Altuve's the right one for leadoff. “We knew that we were gonna have this obstacle when we got started. It’s not easy to replace George.”
Altuve's hit leadoff in every Grapefruit League game he's played since March 14. Baker has also mixed in Myles Straw, who projects to replace Springer in center field, and shortstop Carlos Correa.
The Astros are hoping he bounces back from a disappointing 2020 season, in which Altuve hit just .219 with a .286 OBP, compared to his career averages of .311 and .361, respectively.