Analyzing Four Potential Breakout Candidates for the Astros in 2023

Looking at four Astros players that could break out in a big way in 2023

The Astros had a dominant season in 2022, capping off a 106-win season with a World Series title. The dynasty freight train keeps rolling along. A staple of the Astros dynasty has been the unheralded players that have come on strong and emerged from seemingly out of nowhere to become key pieces.

From Jeremy Peña to Collin McHugh, Will Smith to Cristian Javier and everybody in between, the unheralded sleeper is synonymous with Houston. Let's take a look at the four players most likely to break out in 2023.

Disclaimer: Hunter Brown and Forrest Whitley are not on this list, due to their status as highly touted prospects.

4) Chas McCormick

Chazzy Fizz has spent the better part of two seasons as the Astros' primary center fielder. He's actually provided above average production, posting a .250 career batting average with a .751 OPS. Even still, he was actually briefly demoted in the 2022 season before getting called back up and making the catch of his life to preserve the World Series.

He's a great option batting eighth in the order, but he still hasn't locked down the starting spot in center. Jake Meyers is back healthy, and according to Dusty Baker, the two are in a competition for the starting role.

Chas has done more than enough to have the spot. He is a fantastic defender and has proven himself in the postseason. Look for the fact that McCormick is still being asked to prove himself to stoke his motivational fire.

Chas may never become what George Springer was for the Astros in center field, but don't be surprised if Chas goes on to hit 20+ home runs with an OPS of around .780 in his first full season in the bigs.

Even if Meyers rebounds with full health, Chas can play left with questions around Yordan's hand and Michael Brantley's shoulder. If Chas stays healthy, he should play 130 games. If that's the consistency he receives, look for a big step forward from Chas.

3) Matt Gage

As the saying goes, "There are three certainties in life: death, taxes and the Astros turning reclamation projects into dominant relievers. Look for Gage to be the next in a long line.

Dusty Baker's newest weapon out of the bullpen, the Astros claimed Gage off waivers out of Toronto. Gage made 11 appearances with the Blue Jays last year and was dominant. In 13 innings of work, Gage posted a 1.38 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP.

Before his callup, he had made 41 appearances in AAA and 2.76 ERA. Gage struggled early in his professional career, but really seems to have found it coming out of the pandemic delay and has been an entirely different pitcher the last two seasons.

Unlike most of the Astros relievers, he's not a flame-thrower. His pitch profile is similar to what Will Harris and Brooks Raley deployed. Look for the Astros to push Gage to throw more sliders in 2023. If Gage can dial in the slider, the Astros may very well have their next dominant reliever.

If that's the case, opposing fanbases will be left doing their best Jesse Pinkman.

1) Luis Garcia

Three years into his big league career, Luis Garcia has largely been overshadowed by the rest of the Astros rotation. He's most known throughout the league for his now banned "rock the baby" wind-up.

With the side-shuffle windup out of the way, look for this to be the year Garcia distinguishes himself not for his footwork on the mound, but just his work in general.

Luis was really solid in 2021, playing a big piece for an Astros staff without Justin Verlander. He finished with a 3.48 ERA and made some big playoff starts. A case can be made that 2022 was a bit of a letdown for Garcia. His ERA jumped to 3.78 and he was incredibly erratic month-to-month.

The regular season letdown can be forgiven for his ALDS Game 3 heroics. Garcia entered the game in the bottom of the 13th and didn't give the ball back until he had closed it out in the 18th. He threw five scoreless innings, yielding only two hits. He basically made a full-blown start without having any idea he'd be entering the game.

Look for that to be the Garcia that carries over into 2023. The Astros will begin the season without Lance McCullers Jr. Justin Verlander is in New York. Houston is in need of a pitcher to step up and go six innings every time out, preserving their dominant bullpen.

Don't be surprised if Garcia blows past his career high of 157.1 innings and earns his first AL all-star nod. Luis Garcia will be the next dominant Astros arm to make his presence felt on a national stage.