The Astros will name up Joey Loperfido previous to Tuesday’s recreation in opposition to the Guardians, KPRC 2’s Ari Alexander studies (by way of X). Loperfido isn’t on Houston’s 40-man roster, so the Astros must make at the very least one roster transfer to seek out room for the primary baseman/outfielder.
Rumors about Loperfido’s promotion have swirled ever since Spring Coaching, when the younger slugger drew consideration with an 1.076 OPS over 41 Grapefruit League plate appearances. He stored swinging a sizzling bat by way of the beginning of the Triple-A season, taking a .276/.376/.684 slash line by way of his first 117 PA of the minor league season. Loperfido has additionally gone yard 13 occasions, as he launched his thirteenth house run of the younger season in Triple-A Sugar Land’s 10-5 win as we speak over the Reno Aces.
Whereas such absurd numbers would make any prospect appear to be a candidate for his or her MLB debut, Loperfido’s manufacturing has significantly stood out given how little the Astros have obtained from the primary base place. Jose Abreu is hitting .099/.156/.113 over 77 PA this season, translating to an astonishing -21 wRC+. Although Abreu additionally struggled for a lot of the 2023 season, his rebound close to the tip of the 12 months and his good displaying within the playoffs led to some hope that the veteran had gotten on observe, but Abreu has limped out of the gates with the worst stretch of his profession.
MLBTR’s Anthony Franco not too long ago explored Abreu’s scenario, noting that Abreu’s contract (roughly $16.25MM remaining this season and $19.5MM in 2025) has actually made the Astros cautious about sitting him down, and even releasing Abreu totally. If Loperfido isn’t going to thoroughly supplant Abreu, nevertheless, Jon Singleton actually looks as if a possible reduce given how Singleton is batting solely .238/.319/.286 over 47 PA. Since Singleton and Loperfido are each left-handed hitters, having Loperfido take over because the complementary first possibility alongside the right-handed hitting Abreu looks as if a logical transfer for Houston. Trey Cabbage was additionally on the roster because the twenty seventh man for this weekend’s sequence with the Rockies in Mexico Metropolis, however Cabbage might be extra prone to head again to Triple-A.
A seventh-round choose for the Astros within the 2021 draft, Loperfido (who turns 25 in two weeks) didn’t precisely come out of nowhere, as he posted robust numbers in every of his first two minor league seasons. He moved up the ladder shortly sufficient to make his Triple-A debut in 2023, although his .235/.333/.403 slash line in 138 PA with Sugar Land final 12 months didn’t trace at his eye-popping breakout in retailer for 2024.
Each MLB Pipeline and Baseball America ranked Loperfido sixth on their preseason lists of Houston’s finest prospects, noting his uncooked energy potential but additionally highlighting his potential contributions as greater than only a slugging first baseman. Certainly, Loperfido has spent extra time as an outfielder than as a primary baseman, with the majority of his minor league innings coming in heart subject. Loperfido may subsequently discover himself getting some at-bats as a left fielder or heart fielder rather than Chas McCormick or Jake Meyers — each are right-handed hitters, and McCormick isn’t producing a lot on the plate. Loperfido additionally brings some good velocity to the desk, with 64 steals in 79 makes an attempt throughout his minor league profession.
Loperfido’s 30.8% strikeout fee at Triple-A is actually trigger for concern, plus some grain of salt should all the time be utilized to numbers posted within the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. It must also be famous that whereas Abreu has been a evident weak spot within the lineup, the Astros are hitting fairly effectively on the entire, as pitching (and accidents throughout the rotation) has been the a lot greater motive behind the workforce’s unexpectedly gradual begin. Houston subsequently doesn’t want Loperfido to be a direct star immediately, and admittedly, the bar has been set so low by Abreu and Singleton that even common manufacturing from Loperfido would characterize a pleasant improve.