The Houston Astros have overcome their slow start to grab a two-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the AL West. What’s made that turnaround possible? A combination of solid offense and one player’s ability to fill gaps wherever they pop up.
Houston’s hitting .253 as a team, good for sixth in MLB. That’s pretty impressive considering all the injuries they’ve dealt with this season.
Enter Mauricio Dubon.
While other teams might struggle when key players hit the IL, the Astros have Dubon bouncing around the diamond like a Swiss Army knife. His versatility caught the attention of The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, who named him Houston’s most underrated player.
“The versatile Dubon has been indispensable for the Astros, who have dealt with injuries all over the field. This season, he’s played 34 games at second base, 22 at shortstop, 22 at third base, 13 in left field, six in center field, two in right field, and three at first base.”
Seven different positions. That’s the kind of flexibility that keeps a lineup intact when bodies start dropping.
But Dubon isn’t just a defensive placeholder batting toward the bottom of the order. He’s producing at the plate too.
Through 103 games, he’s slashing .258/.302/.390 with 18 doubles, seven homers, and 28 RBIs. He’s just four home runs away from breaking his single-season record of 11, set back in 2023.
For a team that’s had to shuffle players in and out of the lineup all season, having someone who can play anywhere and contribute offensively has been huge. It’s the kind of under-the-radar value that often separates contenders from pretenders down the stretch.
