The Houston Astros shockingly missed the MLB postseason for the first time since 2016, and expectations are high in Houston for the club to return to the playoffs.
The Astros Key Bounce-back Player for 2026
How can the Astros get back to October baseball? The team must address several areas, especially pitching depth, heading into 2026. However, there is one player that will determine a lot of Houston’s success next season. He is the key bounce-back candidate for the Astros according to MLB.com. His name is Yordan Alvarez.
Air Yordan is the Key
For the Astros to win the American League West and make a deep postseason run, it is imperative that a healthy Alvarez is available. It is well known that Alvarez is one of the most dangerous hitters in the game when healthy. He remains the Astros’ most important offensive player and their key to success. When the Astros won the World Series in 2022, Alvarez hit arguably the greatest home run in franchise history with his monster 450-foot 3-run blast to center field in the sixth inning of Game 6.
It was a down year for the big man in 2025, as Alvarez missed 100 games with a nagging right hand injury that turned into a fracture. He played through the injury early, but he was clearly not himself. When Alvarez finally came back in August, he only played in 19 games before going down again with a freak left ankle injury sliding across home plate. He couldn’t participate in the final stretch of the season that was so important to Houston potentially sneaking into the postseason.
The Issues in 2025
Even though Alvarez is an imposing 6-foot-4, 237-lb slugger, the injuries unfortunately remain an issue for him throughout his career. Given all the incredible moments he has delivered in his career, Alvarez still is a bit underrated because he is not always available. If the Astros are going to turn things around in 2026, Alvarez’s health and staying in the lineup is a must.
Alvarez had the worst season of his career due to injuries and playing only 48 games. He hit for a .273 average and .797 OPS with only six home runs and 27 RBI. When Alvarez finally returned later in the year, he caught fire with a .392 AVG and 1.034 OPS over 12 games in September.
A Postseason Hero
The three-time All-Star from 2022-24 has been instrumental in clutch situations and was thoroughly missed when the Astros offense went quiet in key games last season. Alvarez delivered his best season in 2022, hitting .306 with a 1.019 OPS in 135 regular season games. He also hit multiple heroic homers in the postseason, such as the walk-off three-run blast against the Seattle Mariners in Game 1 of the ALDS.
The 2021 ALCS MVP is a career .294 playoff hitter with a .944 OPS. That includes 12 home runs and 41 RBI. Frequently compared to David Ortiz, the now 28-year-old burst onto the scene in 2019 and walked away with the AL Rookie of the Year Award. Alvarez hit 27 HRs and 78 RBI while remarkably putting up a .313 AVG and 1.067 OPS.
The Plan for Alvarez in 2026
Alvarez is such a powerful hitter, but has not crossed the 40 home run mark in a single season yet. That is partly due to injury issues. If the Las Tunas, Cuba native can stay healthy for close to a full season like he did in 2021 and 2024, it is bound to happen. Few hitters combine discipline and power like Alvarez.
Given the team’s and fans’ fears of him getting hurt, Astros manager Joe Espada plans to play Alvarez as the designated hitter the majority of the time in 2026. If he stays healthy, Alvarez will be a pitchers’ nightmare and the Astros will have a great chance to bounce-back and play October baseball for the ninth time in 10 seasons.
Main Photo Credits: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images