3 Astros MVP candidates, and 1 player who should be benched

3 Houston Astros MVP candidates, and 1 player who should be benched

HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 05: Hunter Brown #58 of the Houston Astros walks to the dugout for his mlb debut with Martin Maldonado #15 prior to the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Minute Maid Park on September 05, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

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Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Astros MVP candidate No. 1: Kyle Tucker, RF

For as good as Yordan Alvarez has been this season, though, Kyle Tucker has been even better and has been the truest MVP candidate on the Astros roster for the 2023 season in its infancy.

Tucker, who got his reps this spring playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, has been extremely hot with the lumber to start the year and has been making plays at ever turn. Through 19 games, which he’s played in all of, Tucker is tied with Alvarez for the team lead in home runs with four and, while he hasn’t matched him in the RBI department, he does have the second-most on the Astros with 15.

What’s been more impressive, though, is that Tucker has been consistently putting Houston in great position to make things happen amid the team’s overall slow start, even if the rest of the roster hasn’t totally delivered. He’s slashing an impressive .323/.438/.547 on the 2023 season, leads the team with 35 total bases, has the team lead in walks drawn (15) and is tied for second on the team with four stolen bases.

Tucker has truly been doing it all for the Astros to start this season. After smashing 30 home runs in each of the past two seasons, he’s looking to become a more complete overall player. Thus far, he looks the part, and it could very well vault him into the MVP discussion if he maintains this pace.

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