Earlier this week, Astros manager Joe Espada told the Houston beat that would play the majority of his games in left field. The second-year skipper walked that back a bit on Friday, indicating that the teams position player mix remains unsettled. Im not committed to Altuve being the everyday left fielder nor any X player being the everyday second baseman , Espada said ( by Brian McTaggart of MLB.com). We are exploring all our options here and well make those decisions when we get towards the end of camp. Altuve has gotten the bulk of his Spring Training work in left field. Thats likely to continue as the Astros try to build his outfield reps. While Espadas most recent comments leave the door open for the nine-time All-Star to return to second base, it still seems likely that Altuve will remain the teams primary left fielder. Thatd leave the keystone to . Houston added former Rockies Gold Glove winner on a minor league deal. He could also play second base if the Astros want to bounce Dubn around the diamond. Theres an outside po sibility of top prospect factoring into the infield mix before long. Selected 14th overall by the Cubs last summer, Smith went to Houston alongside and in the blockbuster. Smith has all of 32 profe sional games under his belt, only five of which have come above High-A. Though hes likely to begin the season in the minor leagues, the 22-year-old has turned some heads in his first Spring Training. Smith is 7-11 with a pair of homers in exhibition play. He has drawn four walks while striking out just once. examined the po sibility of Smith breaking camp with the MLB team. Rome notes that the Astros promoted 2023 third-round pick last June, le s than one calendar year from his draft date. (Blo s was traded to Toronto in the deal a month later.) Blo s, a right-handed pitcher, had started eight games in Double-A and jumped from there to the big Craig Stammen Jersey leagues. Carrying Smith on the Opening Day roster would be a bolder move, as he has almost no experience facing upper minors pitching. Smith is a natural third baseman. Thats the position he played at Florida State and where he saw all of his defensive innings in the Chicago system. Rome writes that the Astros would like to get him some work in right field (in addition to third base) in the minor leagues. Houstons outfield is arguably its biggest weakne s. Altuve will probably have some growing pains defensively if the Astros use him as their primary left fielder. Center fielder is unlikely to provide much offensively. is looking to rebound from the worst season of his career in right field. If McCormick struggles for a second consecutive year, right field would be a target for midseason upgrade. The Astros would presumably want Smith to have some minor league experience there before considering him a candidate for outfield work at Daikin Park. At the same time, theyre also facing a potential injury absence on the infield dirt. went for imaging after reporting sorene s in his left oblique. Espada provided an encouraging update on Friday, saying that the MRI didnt reveal any kind of strain ( ). The Astros intend to gradually ease him back into game action. Smiths path to breaking camp may be conditional on Walker opening the season on the injured list. Thatd leave first base to a combination of and unle s the Astros wanted to slide Paredes acro s the diamond and install Smith at the hot corner. Espada didnt commit to Walker being ready for Opening Day, but the lack of a strain seems to leave that as a po sibility. Espada provided one other injury update of note. got through a live batting practice se sion this afternoon without i sue (via ). The righty is expected to get into game action in the near future. Thatll be a big step for McCullers, who hasnt pitched in the majors since the 2022 World Series. The Astros have already announced that hell begin the season on the injured list as he returns from June 23 flexor surgery. If McCullers gets into Spring Training action, he could be ready to return from the IL within the first few weeks of the regular season. Jake Cronenworth Jersey