Quick rise to the majors: A highly anticipated Bregman beginning
The Astros have been the best team in baseball over the last two months. Their 13-3 win against the Angels on Sunday was their 37th in their last 53 games and pushed them to a season-high 10 games above .500.
Now, they are adding one of the sport’s best prospects.
Alex Bregman was expected to make his highly anticipated major league debut Monday night against the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park. His arrival from Class AAA Fresno comes on the heels of an incredible season in the minor leagues and just 13 months after the Astros made him the second overall pick in the draft.
“I think he’s going to be a superstar,” Astros star second baseman Jose Altuve said. “I think everybody thinks the same way. He’s a very smart kid. He plays the game the right way. I feel really happy to have him here on our team.”
Bregman, 22, played just 18 games in Class AAA, six fewer than shortstop Carlos Correa accumulated before his call-up last year. Bregman batted .333 with six home runs, six doubles and 15 RBIs in 78 at-bats in the Pacific Coast League, sandwiched around starring in the July 10 All-Star Futures Game in San Diego.
A July 25 debut for Bregman is considered ahead of schedule compared to what the Astros envisioned entering his first big league spring training. He opened his first full professional season in Class AA Corpus Christi, dominating Texas League pitching to the tune of a .975 OPS. His 20 home runs between Class AA and Class AAA are one fewer than he hit in his three years combined at LSU.
Infielder Danny Worth was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the 25- and 40-man rosters for Bregman.
“We feel like this is a good time to add him to a good team,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “We’re rolling along pretty well. He doesn’t have to come up here and be anything but himself and contribute at a couple different positions.”
Bregman will move around the diamond, especially once recently signed Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel joins the fold next month. The Astros began testing Bregman at third base in mid-May and left field just last week, and the natural shortstop will likely garner most of his starts at those two positions. He could also see time at designated hitter and occasionally in the middle infield when Correa and Altuve take their turns at DH.
Bregman flew from California to Houston Sunday night.
“He’s a great addition to the team,” Correa said. “Obviously he’s a great player. He’s been raking in the minor leagues and I feel like he’s going to contribute in a big way to this team. He’s going to be a star in the years to come and he’s obviously going to help this team a lot. If we’re good right now, when he comes in the team’s going to get a lot better.”
Bregman will join the Astros having logged 13 games at third base and just three in left field. He will be the first position player from his draft class to debut in the majors and the third player overall after starting pitcher Carson Fulmer of the White Sox and reliever Koda Glover of the Nationals.
“We feel like his time is now to come up and add whatever he can to a good clubhouse, a good team and not have to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders as a young player,” Hinch said.
“We don’t need him to be Superman,” the manager added. “We need him to be Alex Bregman.”