28. Glenn Davis

Glenn Davis joined the Houston organization as a first-round selection in the 1981 secondary draft out of Manatee Junior College, a powerful right-handed hitter who had already turned heads in the Cape Cod League. After a prolific minor-league apprenticeship in which he clubbed 71 home runs, he debuted in late 1984 and quickly became the definitive "Big Bopper" of the Astrodome.

He spent the first half of 1985 in the Pacific Coast League before receiving a permanent call-up in June to replace an injured Terry Puhl. He demonstrated a specialized ability to conquer the "dead air" of the Astrodome, clouting 20 home runs in just 100 games, a franchise rookie record at the time. This period of rapid growth served as the essential lead-in to his most dominant years, during which he finished fifth in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting.

Davis’ journey reached a historic peak of individual and team success during the 1986 campaign. That summer, he evolved into one of the most feared hitters in the National League, recording a career-high 31 home runs and driving in 101 runs. He demonstrated a specialized ability to deliver in the clutch, famously hitting a solo home run in his first-ever postseason at-bat to provide the only run in a Game 1 victory over the Mets in the NLCS. He showed the organization that he was a foundational star, winning the Silver Slugger Award and finishing as the runner-up in the NL MVP voting. He possessed a focused intensity that saw him lead the club to a division title, providing the power production required to balance out the team’s elite pitching staff.

Between 1985 and 1990, Davis was a statistical standout, becoming the first Astro to record six consecutive seasons with at least 20 home runs. He reached a peak for raw power in 1989, clouting a career-high 34 home runs and earning his second All-Star selection. He possessed a specialized ability to drive the ball out of the expansive Astrodome, a feat that earned him top-ten MVP finishes in three separate seasons.

In a blockbuster trade following the 1990 season, the Astros sent their franchise slugger to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Steve Finley, Pete Harnisch, and Curt Schilling.  Davis compiled 166 home runs and 544 RBIs as an Astro.