Jose Altuve is learning on the fly in left field.
The former Astros second baseman had another learning moment Thursday in Spring Training when Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera crushed a ball toward the left-field wall. Altuve tracked back and attempted a leaping catch, but couldn’t secure the baseball. The ball ricocheted back into the field of play, and Herrera wound up with a triple.
“I feel like every ball I get is going to be a new thing, something I’m going to learn and I’ll make the adjustments for the future,” Altuve told MLB.com. “We’ve just got to make adjustments quick and go from there.”
Jose Altuve with a “that’s why we have spring training” moment in left field pic.twitter.com/6k8YKvNvGE
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 13, 2025
Why Altuve is moving to the outfield
The Astros’ decision to shift the 5-foot-6 All-Star to left field stems primarily from their desire to keep Yordan Alvarez healthy. Alvarez, one of baseball’s most dangerous hitters, started 53 games in left field last season.
Houston also wants to get Mauricio Dubon’s bat in the lineup more consistently. Dubon is expected to see significant time at second base with Altuve patrolling left field.
This position change represents uncharted territory for the 34-year-old Altuve. All 1,749 of his MLB starts have come at second base, with just two appearances as a defensive replacement at shortstop. He hasn’t played outfield in the minor leagues or winter ball either, having only dabbled at third base outside his primary position.
The transition is still a work in progress, but the Astros are betting on Altuve’s athleticism and baseball instincts to help him adapt. Spring Training provides the perfect laboratory for these experiments, giving him time to work through the awkward moments before games count.
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