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Houston Astros Christian Walker (8) fields a ground ball during Spring Training at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026.

Observations from Astros spring training as games begin

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Houston Astros camp has settled into a rhythm after the flurry of arrivals. Ten days since Dana Brown declared them "not done yet" have been calm on the transaction front. Position battles in the outfield, rotation and bullpen are in their early stages.

Grapefruit League play is underway, but most veterans have yet to appear in games. Hunter Brown will make his spring debut Wednesday. Tatsuya Imai's is still TBD, though he impressed in his recent live BP. Here are other observations from a mostly quiet (so far) camp:

An impending ABS scenario — and a reminder

The ABS challenge system is here, and the Astros' second Grapefruit League game offered a glimpse of how it might alter a critical moment.

Bottom of the ninth. Houston trailing 6-5. Men on second and third. Two outs. Full count. Astros minor-league Justin Thomas takes a borderline pitch — and a game-ending called third strike.

MLB's pitch tracking appeared to show the location as high. In the past, the Astros would have had no recourse but futile argument. Their opponent (the Cardinals, in this case) would proceed to their high-five line. The result would be final. Last year, one loss separated Houston from a playoff spot.

Now, the batter can challenge that called strike (presuming his team has one of its two challenges left). An overturn would yield a walk, loading the bases instead of ending the game. A pitcher would have to regroup after short-lived relief, with the tying run still 90 feet from home.

Thomas did not challenge — at least, not in time. He first turned to his dugout, where the Astros were reacting to the call. Thomas then tapped his helmet but too late. A player must challenge a call within about two seconds, and without any input from the dugout.

It was a reminder of that rule — and of the presence of mind players (and dugouts) will need to have to follow it in high-pressure situations. More broadly, will a hitter now have any reason not to challenge a game-ending called third strike? That figures to become a regular sight.

Nor will high-leverage moments always be so obvious. On Saturday, the Astros' Zach Dezenzo, up with the bases loaded in the third inning, took a borderline 3-1 pitch for a called strike.

Manager Joe Espada later told the team's TV broadcast it was a spot that "could really swing the game" and invite a challenge. It will be one more thing for hitters to think about.

A glance at Christian Walker's defensive numbers

First baseman Christian Walker said he shed 10 to 12 pounds in the offseason, wanting to be more agile after a defensive year below his standards. Public metrics agreed on the latter, assessing Walker a sharp drop-off from his Gold Glove seasons in Arizona.

Metrics were especially critical of Walker on plays to his right, or backhand. Sports Info Solutions rated Walker at minus-8 runs saved on plays to his right. Statcast had him at minus-1 outs above average on such plays, compared to plus-25 over the previous three seasons.

Walker said he wanted to improve his range this winter. Houston infielders coach Tony Perezchica, who also worked with Walker in Arizona, suggested other factors may have showed up in the metrics.

Walker dealt with an oblique injury in spring training, Perezchica noted, which possibly carried into the first half. Perezchica also cited Walker's playing alongside and learning a series of new second basemen. Houston had five second basemen make at least 10 starts last season.

A plan to make Jose Altuve the primary second baseman again could calm the turnover. Perezchica said Walker intends regardless to be more "aggressive" on plays to his right.

"He said, 'I know I've got to go get that ball … and then whatever happens, happens after that. Whoever is playing out there, it doesn't really matter, I've still got to be aggressive to my backhand,' " Perezchica said. "Because that was his strong suit in the past. The Gold Gloves came because of the range to his backhand. And he's aware of that. He's working on that right now."

The (somewhat) flexible plan for Yordan Alvarez

Yordan Alvarez raised some outside eyebrows with his comments early in camp about playing DH, where the Astros plan to use him primarily, versus left field, which he noted he has "never gotten hurt" playing. Asked about them, Espada noted he plans to use Alvarez in left field on occasion.

Alvarez still projects to mostly DH, with no indication Espada has altered his preference to get Alvarez a "majority" of his starts there. Alvarez has never played more than 56 games in a season in left, and the need to keep him in the lineup on an everyday basis is paramount.

Still, Espada said he is not targeting a specific number of games for Alvarez at either spot, creating some leeway. That's partly a response to the roster issues Houston endured last season, he said.

"(Last year), I wanted (Jose) Altuve to play the majority of his games in left field — that wasn't the case because things on the battlefield change. So you adjust to that," Espada said. "(Alvarez) is going to play left field. I've said that from the very beginning. But going into the season with a hard number, this is how many games I'm looking for, no, because I've learned things can change once you go into battle."

The bullpen situation, and who could emerge

Josh Hader is playing catch but still not throwing from a mound, following a bout of biceps inflammation, reinforcing the question of whether he'll be ready for opening day. Enyel De Los Santos is further behind due to a knee strain, also putting his opening day status in question.

De Los Santos projects as one of Houston's few right-handed options to reach Hader, a group that would be further thinned if setup man Bryan Abreu must assume closer duties in Hader's stead. That may focus some attention on other right-handed relief options in camp.

Roddery Muñoz, a Rule 5 draft pick who must make the Astros' opening-day roster or be offered back to the Reds, had a rough Grapefruit League debut Sunday but will have more opportunities. Kai-Wei Teng, another offseason addition, is making a strong early impression, meanwhile.

Teng will build up as a starter but has pitched in a swing role and could reprise it, especially if the Astros need long relievers while using a six-man rotation. Dana Brown said on the team's TV broadcast Sunday that Teng could also become a middle-relief option.

Espada, after watching Teng throw a live batting practice, noted "he was punching, creating swing-and-miss. He's another guy that can start, but I can also envision him being a great reliever."

AJ Blubaugh, who shone in long relief for the Astros last September, could also pivot to that role. Right-handers Ryan Weiss and Nate Pearson might become bullpen options if they do not crack the rotation. Pearson is on a measured build-up this spring after an elbow cleanout procedure in the offseason.

Matt Kawahara, Astros Beat Writer

matt.kawahara@houstonchronicle.com

Quote of the Week

"As soon as I started facing Jose (Altuve), I was like, 'Oh shoot, I'm actually in the big leagues."

— Pitcher Tatsuya Imai, through an interpreter, after facing hitters in live batting practice for the first time in Astros camp.

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Q: Is Brice Matthews being groomed to be the super-utility player the Astros had in (Mauricio) Dubón, (Aledmys) Díaz and (Marwin) González? Seems like a great candidate for the role. — Alex Johnson

A: Manager Joe Espada was insistent last week that he believes Matthews, the Astros' 2023 first-round draft pick, can become an everyday major-league player. But with Houston's current infield surplus, it's difficult to see an immediate path for Matthews to regular playing time at second base.

"Right now, for him to crack into our lineup based on our personnel, he's going to have to play multiple positions," Espada said.

To that end, Matthews is getting reps in center field as well this spring, continuing work that began late last season at Triple-A. On Saturday, Matthews started the Astros' Grapefruit League opener at second base and moved to center mid-game, simulating a scenario that could arise this season.

Whether Houston would actually carry Matthews in a bench role is a question. Espada believes young prospects need everyday at-bats for their development. The Astros have utility infielder Nick Allen on their roster and a group of (largely inexperienced) candidates for their outfield.

As of now, Matthews' best chance to make the major-league team appears to be as a utilityman, barring roster changes. But the Astros probably still have a different long-term outlook for him.