Who is Houston’s Next Superstar?

The city of Houston has been treated to stardom in the last year. The Texans drafted J.J. Watt just two years ago, and he has already become the Defensive Player of the Year in the NFL. Watt has been a superstar for Houston both on and off the field, and has arguably become the face of the franchise for the Texans. The Rockets made a big move just before the season tipped off, bringing in James Harden who has quickly become a superstar in the NBA. Both Watt and Harden have become stars in their respective sports and have brought excitement to the city of Houston.

Since the Rockets and Texans both have a superstar on their squad (or in the Texans case they have several), it made me wonder which Astros player can become a superstar? Here is my list of potential superstars for the Astros:

Jose Altuve – Altuve has quickly become a fan favorite in Houston. In his first full season, the 22 year old batted .290 with 7 HR, 34 2B, and 33 SB, and represented the Astros in the All-Star-Game. Altuve is known for his height (or lack thereof), standing at 5’5″ and there is even a website which measures distances in Altuves. Altuve has the potential to be the Astros starting second baseman for the next 15 years, and should be batting towards the top of the order for a long time. If Altuve can consistently bat around .300, hit upwards of 10 HR’s, and steal around 40 bases, the Astros may have found themselves their next superstar.

Jordan Lyles – Lyles was regarded as one of the best pitching prospects in baseball just a few years ago. However, his major league career hasn’t gotten off to a great start. In over 235 IP, Lyles has registered a 5.20 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, and .281 BAA. Last year, Lyles seemed to get better, often pitching a strong first four or five innings before getting roughed up as his pitch count went up. Lyles has the tools to become a top pitcher in the Astros organization, and this season will be a big one for the 22 year old. It is tough for a pitcher to become a superstar, but if Lyles can improve his numbers, Houston may have its best pitcher since Roy Oswalt.

Jonathan Singleton – The prize prospect from the Hunter Pence trade, Singleton enters the season as a unanimous top 35 prospect in baseball. Singleton hit 21 HR, with a .893 OPS for Corpus Christi last year. Singleton was expected to compete for the first baseman gig this year, but will be suspended the first 50 games of the season. Once he comes back he will likely be sent to Oklahoma City, and may possibly be called up in September for his debut. Singleton will likely be in Houston for most of the 2014 season, and can become the Astros next superstar.

The Astros have several more players who can reach superstar status. From their past draft class alone, players such as Carlos Correa and Lance McCullers Jr. can become Houston’s next superstars in a few years. It is easier for an everyday player to reach superstar status, because they play almost every game. A pitcher only hits the field every fifth day, but if he’s a Cy Young talent, then it’s possible for him to become Houston’s next superstar.