Astros to Promote Joey Loperfido from Triple-A Sugar Land in Response to José Abreú’s Struggles
HOUSTON — The Houston Astros are making a roster move to address ongoing issues at first base, announcing that they will be promoting Joey Loperfido from Triple-A Sugar Land. The decision comes as veteran first baseman José Abreú has struggled mightily at the plate, hitting just .099 so far this season.
Abreú’s poor performance at the plate has been a cause for concern for the Astros, who currently hold a 9-19 record, the second-worst in the American League. The 37-year-old slugger, who is in the second year of a lucrative contract, has only managed seven hits in 77 plate appearances, with one extra-base hit and three RBIs.
In contrast, Loperfido has been tearing it up in Triple-A, hitting .287 with 13 home runs and 27 RBIs in 25 games. The 24-year-old prospect, rated as Houston’s No. 6 prospect by MLB.com, has been a standout performer in the minor leagues and was named the Astros Minor League Player of the Year last season.
Loperfido, who is also an outfielder, was a seventh-round pick by Duke in the 2021 draft and has spent four seasons in the Houston minor league system. The Astros are hopeful that his strong performance in Triple-A will translate to success at the major league level.
The team is expected to make a corresponding roster move on Tuesday when Loperfido is activated for the series against the Cleveland Guardians. Astros fans will be eager to see if the young prospect can provide a much-needed boost to the struggling team.