Astros Countdown: Top Five Players to Watch in July

Josh Reddick

After signing a four-year $52 million dollar contract in the offseason, Reddick has fit right into the Astros outfield. When the Astros signed him, fans knew what they were going to get; a contact-heavy, good fielding right fielder with a good personality. The Astros got much more.

This season, Reddick has a career high in both batting average (.308) and OPS (.862). Part of that is his increased power. Even though his home run numbers are not anything crazy, hitting eight through 68 games, he does have a career high slugging percentage of .504.

Reason for the turnaround?

Part of that has to do with his increased extra-base power. He has 17 doubles this season, matching his 17 doubles from  a year ago, with three triples. Usually batting near the top of the lineup, Reddick’s run production has increased drastically as well, scoring himself 49 times in 240 at bats compared to 53 times in 398 at bats in 2016.

Reddick had a breakout month of June for the Astros. In only 72 at-bats, the 30-year-old right fielder hit .389 with a 1.035 OPS. He hit nine of his 17 doubles this season in 19 games while hitting two home runs and driving in 10 RBIs.

The main thing to watch with Reddick is to see whether he can keep this up in July. His success at the top of the lineup makes the Astros offensive attack that much deeper.