Houston Astros Offseason Pickups: Early Progress Report

Through the first twenty games of the young season, it would seem these Astros have really clicked in the early going.

While the hitting hasn’t hit its full stride, the Astros offseason pickups have proven that they mesh well with our young core.

With the offseason hitting additions of Nori Aoki, Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran and Josh Reddick, the Astros are everyone’s darling pick to make it deep into October this year.

In the early going, our new additions have thus proven themselves – each in their own way. Let’s see who’s made the biggest impact so far:

Sizing up the Newbies

An early fan favorite has been Aoki, who has been a timely hitting machine since joining the club. Not known for his power stroke, he’s been very solid at the bottom of the lineup, posting a .325 average with one home run and 13 hits. For the young 2017 season, it seems Aoki always seems to come through in the clutch – a welcome sight after so many close games last year.

Mr. Reliable, McCann, has been another veteran who has not only given the Astros a veritable hitting presence at the catcher position, but has also served as Evan Gattis’ older twin with uncanny resemblance.

McCann was brought in to provide more leadership and stability to a position most known for its defense in Astro-land and has proven himself with the bat as well with timely hitting. His stats through twenty games are a .313 AVG with two home runs and nine RBI.

Scrappy Josh Reddick has started to grow on the Astros fan base with his left handed bat and some absolutely incredible defense.

https://twitter.com/neontaster/status/857043705081065472

Reddick has provided more outfield stability, moving leadoff hitter George Springer to center field. His veteran leadership has also provided a sparkplug to the bottom of a lineup that was once easy outs. Reddick is sitting at a .298 AVG with 15 hits in the young season.

Old Man River

Easily the most anticipated of our hitting arrivals, Carlos Beltran was brought over to provide veteran leadership with playoff prowess. Of course Astros fans remember him from his memorable 2004 playoff campaign, when he scorched NL hitting for eight homeruns.

This time around, Beltran will serve as an outfielder, designated hitter and elder statesman for our young ‘Stros. So far, so good as his bat has provided a .257 AVG with two homeruns and 18 hits.

https://twitter.com/All_SportNews/status/856644016309501952

Hitting can only go so far

The Astros are expecting some great things from this squad – and so far, the hitting has come through. Surprisingly enough though, the Astros’ starting pitching has been our greatest asset through the first 20 games.

Next: Astros Have Been Lucky and Unlucky In Terms Of Injuries

Although it’s only been one-eighth of a season, there’s a lot to be excited about. One thing we do know is the Houston Astros’ offseason pickups have been welcome sight to our young lineup and we’re expecting some great things!

**Statistics courtesy of Baseball Reference**