A Whataburger at Daikin Park Will Cost You. A Lot.
When the Astros announced that a Whataburger was coming to Daikin Park, Houston fans reacted the way you’d expect. Finally. A little piece of Texas inside the ballpark. Something familiar, something affordable, something that felt like home. Then…
Cam Smith Has Something to Prove. His Swing Is Starting to Show It.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The first half of Cam Smith’s rookie season looked like the beginning of something special. The second half looked like a warning. Smith hit .277 with seven home runs and a .765 OPS through 82 games before the All-Star break, the…
Ryan Weiss Is Making Himself Impossible to Ignore
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Nobody outside of Houston paid much attention when the Astros signed Ryan Weiss in December. A $2.6 million deal for a 29 year old who had never thrown a pitch in the major leagues, coming off two seasons in Korea, barely…
Astros Outlast Orioles 7–6 in Wild Spring Finish
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — It wasn’t pretty, but the Astros will take it. Houston survived a four-run Baltimore fifth inning, answered with a three-run rally of its own in the sixth, held off a late Orioles push, and walked off 7–6 Tuesday at CACTI…
Astros Closer Josh Hader Begins Bullpen Work with Opening Day in Doubt
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Josh Hader threw his first bullpen session of the spring Tuesday, a modest but meaningful step in his recovery from biceps inflammation. Whether he’ll be ready when the Astros open the season March 26 against the Angels remains an…
Janek, Spence Reassigned After Strong Springs in Astros Camp
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Walker Janek and Lucas Spence made the most of their final day in big league camp. Hours after both prospects contributed to a seven-run eighth inning in the Astros’ 10–3 split-squad win over the Cardinals—Janek doubling home a…
From Hermosillo to Houston: César Salazar’s Long Climb to the Astros
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — César Salazar was 15 years old when he left Hermosillo. He moved to Tucson on the advice of a mentor, a travel ball coach named Luis Valenzuela who had watched Salazar for years and reached a conclusion the kid hadn’t…
Astros Rally Past Cardinals 10–3 in Split-Squad Win
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Houston Astros offense erupted Monday afternoon, rallying from an early deficit to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 10–3 in Grapefruit League split-squad play at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Joey Loperfido helped spark the…
The Paredes Problem Isn’t Going Away
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — The trade market for Isaac Paredes has cooled. The Astros’ infield logjam has not. As spring training enters its third week, the two-time All-Star third baseman remains in an Astros uniform, taking reps at second base while…
Four Catchers, One Spot: Breaking Down the Astros’ Backup Catcher Battle
Yainer Diaz has emerged as one of the better catchers in the American League, and the Houston Astros are counting on him to anchor their battery for the foreseeable future. He inherited the job from MartÃn Maldonado, a defensive specialist who became…