MLB power rankings: Best player on each team

Houston Astros: 2B Jose Altuve

When Altuve steps into the batter’s box, listed a 5-foot-6 and 165 pounds, he looks like an overmatched kid. But opposing pitchers have quickly found out otherwise, with two batting titles in the last three seasons, three straight seasons with 200-plus hits and an upward trend in power (24 home runs and 96 RBI last year). A downward trend in stolen bases is there, with just seven steals in 14 attempts post All-Star break in 2016, but Altuve’s lower lineup position or a nagging unannounced injury could have combined to bring that last season.

Altuve has measured at least a 4.5 WAR in three straight seasons, as anointed by both Baseball Reference and FanGraphs, including a 7.6 WAR (third best among American League position players) by Baseball Reference. Even though advanced metrics like Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) and Defensive Runs Saved aren’t necessarily complementary of his fielding, or at least neutral on the matter, the eye test generally says Altuve is an above average defensive second baseman.

Altuve’s hold on the Astros’ spot on a list like this is tenuous, with shortstop Carlos Correa, center fielder George Springer and maybe even third baseman Alex Bregman eventually coming to take it. But Altuve is clearly one of the best players at his position, and the best player to currently call Minute Maid Park home.