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 post 2022 revision of our top Houston Astros.

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

1.  Advanced Statistics.

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

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

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

Last year, Houston won their second World Series, and they are blessed with young talent, two of which make their first appearance on this list.

As always, we present our top five, which was not impacted by last season:

1. Jeff Bagwell

2. Craig Biggio                        

3. Jose Altuve

4. Lance Berkman

5. Cesar Cedeno

You can find the entire list here.

Despite his good year, Altuve was unable to pass Biggio for #2.

Justin Verlander, who won the Cy Young, and is now with the New York Mets, jumped from #19 to #11; an impressive feat considering the relative brevity of his Astros career.

Infielder, Alex Bregman, moved up two spots to #14.

Yuli Gurriel also moved up by two, with a new rank of #35.

Designated Hitter, Yordan Alvarez, makes his debut at #37 and Outfielder, Kyle Tucker, comes in at #45.

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

The Fifth Overall Pick in 2015, Kyle Tucker worked his way in three years to the make it to the Astros, but he only batted .141 in his brief stay.  2019 was a little better, batting .269 in 67 At Bats, but the shortened 2020 season was when Tucker was there to stay.

In 58 Games in that COVID-plagued year, Tucker led the AL in Triples (6), batted .268 with 9 Home Runs.  The Astros made it to the World Series, albeit in a losing effort, but it looked like Tucker was on the verge of a breakout; and he was.

The Astros won the Pennant again (though again lost) and Tucker was a much bigger contributor.  Powering 30 Home Runs, with a .294 Batting Average, Tucker was 20^th in MVP voting, was named an All-MLB Team 2 Selection, and had an even better 2022.  Tucker matched his 30 Home Runs, but had more RBIs (107), won a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger, and again was named to the All-MLB Team 2 squad.  The Astros and Tucker won the World Series in 2022, but there was so much more for teh RIghtfielder to accomplish in Houston.

In 2023, Tucker had his best season to date, finishing fifth in MVP voting, smacking 29 Home Runs and leading the AL in RBIs (112).  Tucker also added his third All-MLB Team 2, second All-Star and first Silver Slugger.  After another strong year in 2024 that was cut short by injury, he still added his third straight All-Star, but that is where his productive stay in Houston ended, as he was traded to the Cubs after the season.

With the Astros, Tucker had 615 Hits with 125 Home Runs.

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 post 2021 revision of our top Texas Rangers.

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

1.  Advanced Statistics.

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

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

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

Last year, Texas signed some talent, but was not able to do much in regards to the standings and were basement dwellers.  There was a returnee, that allowed a new entrant to the Top 50, but that did not impact the upper tier.

As always, we present our top five, which was not impacted by last season:

1. Ivan Rodriguez

2. Rafael Palmeiro

3. Juan Gonzalez

4. Adrian Beltre

5. Frank Howard

You can find the entire list here.

The only new entrant on the list is All-Star and Starting Pitcher, Martin Perez, who debuts at #45.

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

Signed as an Amateur Free Agent by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 following his defection from Cuba, Yordan Alvarez was traded only 45 days later to Houston in a move that Dodgers management would come to regret.

“Air Yordan” did not need a long time to make it to the Majors, breaking the roster in June, 2019, and despite missing playing less than other rookies, he was the unanimous American League Rookie of the Year, belting 27 Home Runs in only 369 Plate Appearances with a Slash Line of .313/.412/.655.  Alvarez was outstanding in that year’s World Series, batting .412 in their loss to Washington.

Alvarez only played in two Games in 2020 due to injury, but there were no side effects for Alvarez moving forward.  Playing more at DH than in Outfield, Alvarez’s hitting skills were proven to remain upper-tier.  Smacking 33 Home Runs with 104 RBIs, Alvarez had a .877 Slugging Percentage, and matched his Second Team All-MLB honor from his rookie year.  The Astros went to the World Series, though lost to Atlanta, but Alvarez batted over .500 in the NLCS, winning the NLCS MVP.  

In 2022, Alvarez continued his ascension, with 37 Home Runs, a .306 Batting Average and an OPS of 1.019.  He won MLB 1 honors, went to his first All-Star Game, won the Silver Slugger and was third in MVP voting.  Alvarez would this time be on the winning side of a World Series.  Alvarez had another good 2023, adding his second All-Star, a third All-MLB 2, and his third straight 30 HR year.  Last year, Alvarez continued his strong offensive game with 35 Home Runs, and begins 2025 on a streak of three All-Stars and four 30-plus Home Run years

While Alvarez's defense and speed are not strong, his bat is the most potent on a great club going into 2025.