2023 regular-season review: Houston Astros

With one Silver Slugger award under his belt, Alvarez will look to add a second this offseason when winners are announced.  

In the first season of a six-year, $115M contract extension signed last season the Astros have to be ecstatic with his continued production. On what is one of the most team-friendly contracts for a superstar player in the league, he will look to continue adding to his resume in 2024. 

Pitcher of the Year: Framber Valdez

2023 stats: 12-11, 3.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 200 strikeouts in 198 innings pitched

In a season full of ups and downs, Valdez was still able to give the Astros ace-like performances, including the Astros first no-hitter thrown by a left-handed pitcher. 

Virtually lights out the first half of the season, Valdez ran into trouble in July, allowing 17 runs in 21 innings pitched (7.29 ERA).

Despite his struggles, Valdez was still able to put up the seventh-best ERA and strikeout total in the AL this season.

Entering his third season of arbitration, the 30-year-old Valdez will likely get a contract extension or could even traded this offseason if the Astros felt the time was right. 

Valdez will look to bounce back to that dominance in 2024 and continue to show why he is the ace of the Astros pitching staff like he has in years past.

Minor League Player of the Year: Joey Loperfido

2023 stats: .278/.370/.510, 55 XBH, 78 RBI, 27 stolen bases in 124 games played

A seventh-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, Loperfido made a huge leap in production from last year and has turned himself into one of the best young talents in the Astros system. 

After slugging only 12 home runs in 108 games last season, Loperfido more than doubled that total in 2023 with 25 home runs in 124 games played across three minor league levels. 

Not only was his power on display, his ability on the base paths was improved as well. After getting thrown out 11 times in 2022, he was only caught four times this season while adding 27 stolen bases.

While only 24 years old, Loperfido is currently blocked by franchise legend Jose Altuve at second base but he should get the opportunity to learn from the veteran during spring training.

Play of the Year: Jose Altuve joins 2,000 hit club

It's not every day that you get to watch a piece of Astros history, but on August 19 Altuve gave everyone a reason to cheer for baseball's villains. 

Leading off the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners, Altuve laced a single into left field to become only the third Astros player to reach 2,000 hits.

Only 33 years old, it's not unreasonable to think that Altuve will continue to chase down hit number 3,000 after proving he has plenty left in the tank.