Brantley feels good about rate of progress
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Michael Brantley is “right where I need to be” and on schedule during his recovery from shoulder surgery, but it is still unclear whether he will be ready for opening day on March 30.
On the eve of Houston’s first full squad spring training workout, Brantley is taking batting practice in the batting cages and participating in defensive drills. His offseason home is in Port St. Lucie, allowing him to easily report early to Houston’s spring training facility and gauge his progress.
“Everything is right on schedule,” Brantley said on Monday. “Everything is going well. I’ve been here for over a week now, so just putting in the reps and obviously getting back into baseball shape. But at the same time, I’m right where I need to be.”
Though Brantley has swung without issue inside the batting cages, he has not yet faced live pitching, which he said would be determined “by how the next few days go.” Brantley said he will be “eased” into Grapefruit League play, which starts on Saturday against the New York Mets at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
Brantley said he is able to field ground balls and throw without any hindrance. Most of his defensive work early in spring has been at first base, but manager Dusty Baker said the team is not seriously considering playing Brantley there during the regular season. Brantley has never played a major league inning at first base.
The Astros brought Brantley back on an incentive-laden, one-year contract worth $12 million. If he takes 525 plate appearances in 2023, the deal can reach $16 million. Baker and general manager Dana Brown are cautiously optimistic Brantley will be ready for opening day, but Brown acknowledged
his rehab could be “cutting it close.”
“I kind of like where my swing is at right now,” Brantley said. “I think I’m a little too ahead of schedule with my swing, but I feel good and I’m happy where it is. Now we’re just making adjustments with timing and contact points, so it’s all been good and trending in the right direction.”
“I just really like my direction to the baseball right now. The timing aspect is always last when it comes to hitting, but my solid foundation and the way I’m working in the cages, I’m happy how all that feels right now.”
Dubón bulks up for better season
After an offensive season unacceptable by his standards,
Mauricio Dubón met with members of the Astros’ front office to find a solution. Team officials showed Dubón his average exit velocities from the season and how the baseball could carry more with “one percent more strength.”
“There’s some balls that I hit that either should go out or should pass through, but they weren’t going because I didn’t have that extra strength,” Dubón said. “I’m trying to be a good ballplayer. I’m a good ballplayer, so I wanted to put that in the numbers.”
Dubón averaged an 84.7 mph exit velocity last season. He slashed .208/.254/.294 in 216 plate appearances after joining the Astros, playing sporadically as the team’s backup utilityman to Aledmys Díaz. Díaz departed for the Oakland A’s this winter, leaving a more prominent
role available for Dubón to seize.
At the Astros’ urging, Dubón spent his winter scarfing down everything in sight. He consumed 5,000 calories a day, dedicated himself to the weight room and reported to spring training ready to hit the ball harder.
“A lot of forcing myself to eat and a lot of eating the right way, too,” Dubón said. “There (were) times I didn’t want to see food, smell anything. I spent a lot of time in the gym, too.”
When Houston acquired him from the San Francisco Giants last May, Dubón weighed 165 lbs. He finished the World Series at 180 and said he reported to spring training this week at 190. Perhaps no Astros have transformed their bodies more than Dubón and Martín Maldonado, who shed 17 pounds this winter.
Díaz’s absence leaves Dubón and rookie David Hensley as the team’s two most experienced utilitymen. Baker played Dubón primarily in center field last season, but he is also able to play both middle infield spots. Dubón worked at third base this winter, too, “just to have in my back pocket” if needed.
“I talked to Aledmys a lot last year, just (about) how to go about the business, how to go about everything,” Dubón said. “He helped me out a lot, picking his mind. Now, having this position and this role, I have a chance to make an impact on the team, which is pretty cool. I’m a good player. I always hit my whole life, it’s a matter of going out there and doing what I always do.”