World Champs: Ranking the Eight Astros Most Deserving of their Rings

The 2022 Houston Astros have solidified their place in history, following a 106-win regular season with their second World Series championship in franchise history.

The noise surrounding the team has at least temporarily been quieted, as the ‘Stros have proven to be an elite franchise built for success in October.

With every player that suited up for the Astros this season and their coaching staff each receiving rings, who are the most deserving recipients?

8) Hector Neris

Hector Neris signed with the Astros as a free agent coming into the 2022 season. Over the course of Neris’ first eight seasons, he had never tasted playoff baseball. Suffice to say, he loved his first experience.

Neris followed up a terrific regular season (6-4, 3.72 era, 1.01 WHIP, 10.9 K/9) with a lights out postseason. The first-year Astro was 2-0 this postseason with a 1.50 ERA. In six innings, he yielded only two hits, striking out 9 of the 20 batters he faced. Neris posted a 9.9% championship win probability added.

Hector was also a massive asset to the team with his personality, bringing a massive boost with both his on-field energy and his enthusiasm celebrating with the team after each round.

Neris was a key piece of a bullpen that was lights out all year. His first year in Houston brought him a ring, ironically at the expense of his former employer. Here’s to the energetic reliever picking up a second in 2023.

7) Jason Castro

Jason Castro signed with the Astros for a second stint leading into the 2021 season. “Castro the Astro” had previously played with the franchise from 2010-2016, stabilizing the team through its darkest days. The catcher was the lone all-star on the 2013 team that finished 51-11.

After five seasons away, Castro returned in pursuit of a ring.

Although Houston came up just short in the 2021 World Series, their Game 6 victory over Philadelphia made Castro’s mission a success. Unfortunately for Castro, he was unable to contribute on-field in October, after suffering a season-ending injury having appeared in only 34 games.

In his final at-bat of the season, Castro went deep, giving the Astros a 2-0 victory over the Mets way back in June.

Questions loom about Castro’s future, but if his time with the Astros is done, he went out on top. A game-winning home run in his final AB and a World Series championship in his final appearance in the dugout–what a way to go out.

5) Michael Brantley

Michael Brantley signed a two-year deal with the Astros before the 2019 season, immediately slotting into the 2-hole and becoming a key cog in a historic offense. After the Astros went down in the 2019 World Series, news broke of their now infamous sign-stealing scandal.

Nobody would have blamed Brantley if he played out the duration of his contract in the empty stadiums in the 2020 season and then left for greener pastures. Why face the vitriol for something he had no part in?

Instead, Brantley resigned heading into 2021, continuing to play a massive role for the team with his bat and steady defense in left. After playing in only 64 games this season, Brantley was lost for the year with a shoulder injury. He remained a consistent presence in the Astros clubhouse, helping to mentor the younger players.

A soft-spoken veteran, when Brantley does speak up, those around him listen. Speak up he did.

After the Astros demolition at the hands of the Phillies in Game 3, Brantley spoke up, telling the team in a player’s only meeting to stop being complacent no more losing, and uttering the now legendary line:

“I’m sick of sad hugs.”

The Astros responded, ripping off three straight wins. Brantley had lost the World Series as a member of the 2016 Cleveland Indians. Since signing with the Astros, he had gone down in both 2019 and 2021. While he wasn’t able to contribute on the field, Uncle Mike’s off the field contributions helped ensure his record in the Fall Classic didn’t fall to 0-4.

“The professional hitter” has more than lived up to his name during his time as an Astro, slashing .306/.368/.464 in his four seasons in Houston. Now a free agent, if his time in Houston has come to an end, Brantley goes out on top, a champion at last.

4) Ryan Pressly

Since being acquired at the 2018 trade deadline, Ryan Pressly has become an elite reliever. Over five years in Houston, Pressly has thrived as a leverage arm, a setup man and as a closer, posting a 12-12 record with a 2.39 ERA, 76 saves, a 0.929 WHIP and 11.9 K/9.

Like Brantley, Pressly arrived after the 2017 World Series team, but has heard more than his fair share of boos. He signed a two-year extension leading into the season, remaining loyal to the team that has made him elite.

Without him, the Astros don’t hoist the trophy this year. Pressly was untouchable in October, throwing 11 innings without yielding an earned run. He converted all six save opportunities, holding opponents to a .108 batting average against, while striking out 13 and walking only three. Pressly also got the final three outs of the combined no-hitter in Game 4.

If the Astros had the lead when Pressly set foot on the mound, the game was effectively over. He’s been lights out for years (and now has a lights out entrance to show for it) and more than earned both his ring and his place in Astros’ lore.

3) Martín Maldonado

For five years, Martín Maldonado has been the primary backstop for the Golden Era of Astros baseball. In his five years in Houston, “Machete” has hit only .191 with a .628 OPS. His struggles at the plate persisted this season, hitting only .186 with a .600 OPS.

When it comes to Maldy’s importance, offensive numbers don’t tell even 10% of the story.

Maldonado has quarterbacked both the best rotations and bullpens in Astros history, with unrivaled prep work and brilliant pitch calling. Additionally, his pitchers love him for his ability to steal strikes with elite pitch framing and an arm that completely neutralizes the opposing running game on the base paths.

Maldonado was acquired at the trade deadlines in both 2018 and 2019, and has since been targeted by opposing fanbases. He was the subject of scorn after using a bat deemed illegal by the MLB in Game 1, though nothing nefarious occurred and no advantage was gained. Though Maldy had no role in the events of 2017, he’s received his fair share of disdain from opposing fanbases.

In response, he’s defended the team against unfounded conspiracies and defended his pitchers, acting as a leader both in the clubhouse and behind the plate.

Heading into Game 6, news broke that Maldonado was playing with both a broken hand and a sports hernia during the second half of the season.

Catchers are known for their toughness, but Machete took this to another level, explaining:

“It’s about winning. The team needed me. The pitchers needed me.”

The Astros rode their elite pitching staff to a World Series title. The staff wouldn’t be nearly as dominant without Maldy behind the plate. He’s stared adversity in the face from opposing fanbases, led young pitchers through October and endured multiple injuries dealt his way, but Maldonado has never wavered, and he now gets to call himself a champion as a result.

2) Jose Altuve

Jose Altuve’s place in Astros’ history has long been secured. He’s an MVP, 8x All-Star, Gold Glove winner, 5x Silver Slugger, has won three batting titles and has hit 23 playoff home runs during the Astros’ reign of terror over the last six years.

Across baseball, his place in history has been much more complicated. As the most famous Astro of this era, he has become the face of a scandal in which he was not an active participant. He has faced ludicrous debates about his “usage” of a buzzer, claims that have been long since debunked.

Altuve has done his part, apologizing for something he had no part in, but when dealing with passionate fanbases, facts and reason can go out the window.

Each road trip, Altuve digs into the box, and is met with a chorus of boss (and often much worse), but has handled it with class and grace.

Altuve even remained calm in the ALCS when a fan rushed the field and tried to take a selfie with him in the middle of the game.

His philanthropy is legendary, he fulfills promises in the community and his teammates and coaches rave about the quality human being that is Jose Altuve. On top of that, he’s a future Hall-of-Famer.

Altuve came up with the Astros during the 100-loss seasons, but won over a city with his on-field performance, heart, humility, and the exuberance with which he played the game. He’s beloved here, and while the hatred elsewhere may not dwindle, he can now point to his two rings, one without any tarnish, and check off another box on his way to Cooperstown.

1) Dusty Baker

Speaking of Cooperstown, Dusty Baker can now book his reservation for the Hall of Fame for five years from when he decides to retire.

When news of the Astros’ scandal broke, owner Jim Crane took swift action, firing AJ Hinch and Jeff Luhnow. The franchise needed stability. Enter Baker.

The three-time Manager of the Year was one of the most widely respected men in the game, known for his character and the outlandish, too crazy to be true stories (subscription required) that surround the self-professed “second most interesting man in the world.”

Entering the World Series, Baker had a resume most could only dream of: 2,093 wins as a manager (9th all-time), division titles with five franchises, three pennants, an NLCS MVP, two All-Star appearances, a World Series championship as a player, two Silver Sluggers and the invention of the high-five.

Only one thing was missing from Baker’s resume: a World Series championship as a manager. Baker had his chances, losing the 2002 World Series with the Giants and last season with Houston.

At 73-years-old, Baker can finally cross the last thing off the list. 25 seasons and nearly 4,000 games later, one of the true good guys in the game has his ring. Whether or not Baker returns next year remains in question. What is no longer up for debate is Baker’s place in history. He has reached the status of baseball immortals.

“Do it for Dusty” became the team’s rally cry this postseason. After defeating the Phillies 4-2 in the World Series, the Astros can now say they “Did it for Dusty.”