Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity.  As such, we are very happy to present our pre-2022 revision of our top 50 Houston Astros.

As for all of our top 50 players in baseball we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National/American League. 

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

The Astros have been one of the best teams in the American League over the last five years, and last year they won the Pennant, only to fall to Atlanta in the World Series.  The strong 2021 has yielded three rank increases and two new entries.

As always, we present the top five, which has one of the changes, with Jose Altuve surpassing Lance Berkman for the #3 spot.

The top five are:

1. Jeff Bagwell

2. Craig Biggio

3. Jose Altuve

4. Lance Berkman

5. Cesar Cedeno

You can find the entire list here.

Alex Bregman, who plays at Third Base and Shortstop, moved up three spots to #16.

Carlos Correa, who went to his second All-Star Game last year, climbed to #24 from #17.

Last year’s Batting Champion, Yuli Gurriel, makes his first appearance on this list at #37.

Michael Brantley, comes in at #50.  He has been an All-Star two of the last three years.

Gurriel and Brantley knock off Luis Gonzalez and Moises Alou from the list.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

Michael Brantley arrived in Houston as a high-profile free agent prior to the 2019 season, a veteran left-handed hitter widely regarded as having one of the most technically sound swings in the sport.

In his debut season in Houston, he demonstrated a specialized ability to manipulate the strike zone, recording a career-high 22 home runs while maintaining a .311 batting average. He showed the organization he was a foundational superstar by earning his fourth career All-Star selection and recording 179 hits, helping propel the club to a franchise-record 107 wins and an American League pennant.

The period between 2020 and 2021 was defined by unwavering offensive consistency. During the shortened 2020 campaign, he maintained an even .300 average, and he followed that with another All-Star performance in 2021, once again batting .311 and finishing second in the American League batting race.  He showed the organization he was a foundational winner by delivering in high-leverage postseason moments, particularly during the 2021 run to the World Series. While significant shoulder injuries eventually limited his availability in 2022 and 2023, his presence in the clubhouse and his technical mastery remained a standard for the younger players on the roster.

Everything culminated in his retirement following the 2023 season, marking the end of a 15-year career.  Wth the Astros, Brantley batted .305 with 411 hits.

The acquisition of Michael Brantley in 2008 remains one of the most lopsided "player to be named later" transactions in baseball history. Originally a secondary piece in the blockbuster trade that sent C.C. Sabathia to Milwaukee, Brantley arrived on the North Coast with a quiet confidence and a left-handed stroke that would eventually become the gold standard for contact hitters in the American League. Known as "Dr. Smooth" for his effortless mechanics and professional approach, he evolved from a "throw-in" prospect into the steady heart of a Cleveland lineup that returned to postseason prominence in the mid-2010s.

After a foundational debut in 2009, he established himself as a reliable fixture in left field by 2011, posting back-to-back seasons with over 150 hits and a .280 average. However, the true breakout arrived during a historic 2014 campaign. That summer, Brantley orchestrated a masterclass in all-around production, reaching the 200-hit plateau and recording career highs in nearly every statistical category. His .327 average, 20 home runs, and 97 RBIs earned him a Silver Slugger and a third-place finish in the MVP voting, proving he was the most efficient offensive force on a roster chasing a division title.

The hallmark of his game was a disciplined approach that prioritized gap-to-gap power and elite contact. Even as he shifted from a high-average hitter to a more complete middle-of-the-order threat, he remained a model of high-frequency output, leading the American League with 45 doubles in 2015. He possessed a rare ability to stay within himself regardless of the game situation, serving as the primary stabilizer for the Cleveland offense. While a significant shoulder injury limited him to just 11 games during the club's 2016 World Series run, he showed a remarkable resilience by returning to All-Star form in 2017 and 2018, batting over .300 and providing the veteran poise required to keep the Tribe atop the AL Central.

After the 2018 season, he signed with Houston as a free agent. With Cleveland, Brantley compiled 1,195 hits, 87 home runs, and 528 RBIs while securing a Silver Slugger and three All-Star selections.