INFIELDERS

27 • Jose Altuve • 2B The best second baseman in baseball has even more talent around him this season. Can he repeat (or dare we say improve on) a career year in which he finished third in AL MVP voting?

1• Carlos Correa • SS This could be the monster season from Correa many expected last year, when he hit 20 home runs and had an .811 OPS. He should benefit as much as anyone from the addition of Carlos Beltran, a renowned clubhouse leader.

9• Marwin Gonzalez • UTIL Gonzalez is the Astros’ best defensive first baseman, so he should play there when Yuli Gurriel DHs or sits. Gonzalez can also spell Altuve, Bregman and Correa and play left field if needed.

10 • Yuli Gurriel • 1B The 32-year-old rookie will spend the spring getting accustomed to a mostly new position in first base. During the season, he also will have the ability to spell Bregman at third base if needed.

19 • Colin Moran • 3B/1B Barring injuries, Moran appears headed to an everyday role in Class AAA. If he hits, he could become a valuable lefthanded bench bat for the Astros at some point this season. 23 • A.J. Reed • 1B Once the Astros’ presumed first baseman of the future, Reed now has a much less certain path. It would be premature to write him off, but Reed will need to rebuild his stock while playing every day in Class AAA.

13 • Tyler White • 1B The darling of the Astros’ 2016 spring training figures to have a very difficult time making the team this year given the offseason acquisitions. Expect the slimmed-down White in Class AAA unless there’s an injury to Gonzalez or Gurriel.