ARLINGTON, Texas — Players like Bligh Madris only get so many opportunities to impress organizations.
That’s what the 27-year-old is trying to do with the Houston Astros as he plays through his first week with the team.
Madris was called up from Triple-A Sugar Land and played his first game for the Astros last Sunday in Los Angeles. Since then, he’s played four games and is batting .154.
But his game against St. Louis on Wednesday left an impression. He went 2-for-4 with a double and scored two runs as the Astros defeated the Cardinals, 10-7.
It’s a small sample size, but so far manager Dusty Baker likes what he sees.
“We liked him in Spring Training,” Baker said. “He’s gotten in really good shape. We’re just trying to play him enough, you know. He can be an extra outfielder, a first baseman. So I’m trying to play him and keep him sharp if we need him.”
The Astros had no experience with Madris when they acquired him in the offseason. The Astros traded cash to the Detroit Tigers to acquire him.
Before that, he was in the Pittsburgh organization, where he signed in 2017 as an international free agent. He worked his way through that organization before a call-up last season, where he played in 39 games and batted .177.
After that, Madris was with four teams in five months. The Pirates designated him for assignment. The Tampa Bay Rays picked him up in September, only to DFA him in November. The Tigers picked him up in November, only to DFA him and then trade him to the Astros.
With Sugar Land he batted .249 with 10 home runs and 36 RBI. He’s one home run away from tying his single-season minor-league career high, set in 2022.
Madris is hoping it will be a while before he takes a crack at tying it. Baker likes his make-up off the field, too.
“In talking to the folks down there (in Sugar Land) he’s an excellent teammate, which fits right into our team,” Baker said.
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