Astros Call Up Slugger With Eye-Popping Numbers

Finally tiring of the .099 average and insanely bad .269 OPS of veteran first baseman Jose Abreu, the Houston Astros have added (they hope) some serious thump to the roster, calling up the minor leagues' hottest hitter, Joey Loperfido. The 24-year-old had put up some monstrous numbers at AAA thus far this year, and he'll hope to continue his hot hand straight into The Show.

Astros have made Loperfido’s promotion official.

Trey Cabbage, the 27th man in Mexico, has been sent back down to Triple-A.

No corresponding roster move yet for Loperfido.
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) April 29, 2024

Loperfido, who turns 25 next month, had slugged 13 homers to go with 27 RBIs in just 25 games at Sugar Land. He's also scored 31 runs, batted .287, slugged a ridiculous .713 with a .393 on-base and a 1.106 OPS.

The former 7th-round draft pick (2021) was the Astros' No. 6 prospect, with this year's breakout following a nice run at Double-A last year, launching 25 homers with an .880 OPS.

He showed out in spring training with the Astros as well, posting a 1.076 OPS with a .382 average in 18 games.

As a left-handed hitting first sacker, Loperfido could be given a chance to at the very least slot in on the strong-side platoon with the righty-hitting Abreu, the 37-year-old veteran, whose play seemed to fall off a cliff as soon as he signed a three year, $58 million free agent deal with the Astros prior to the 2023 season. The 2020 MVP batted just .237 last year with an 87 OPS+, his first time under the break-even mark of 100.