If you look around the majors, you will see so many players from diverse, international backgrounds. International free agency has become an integral part of team building in baseball’s modern era. Few teams excel at finding and developing international talent like the Houston Astros. In their run of six postseason appearances in seven seasons, international skill has been essential to the Astros success.
Key Astros International Signings
Arguably the most critical amateur free agent in Astros history is Jose Altuve. The veteran signed in 2007 as a 16-year-old out of Venezuela. Houston gave him just a $15,000 signing bonus, which turned out to be money well-spent. After making his MLB debut in 2011, the under-sized infielder has turned into one of the best players in franchise history. Altuve is undoubtedly the most critical player of the Astros past decade. At age 31, he remains a crucial cog in Houston’s daunting lineup.
Another international signing that helped bring a championship to Houston in 2017 was the signing of Yuli Gurriel. The Astros signed Gurriel as a 32-year-old out of Cuba in 2016, giving him a five-year, $47.5 million contract. Gurriel and the rest of his family are legends in Cuba, and he has undoubtedly made a name for himself in MLB. Despite being 37 years old, Gurriel continues to make an impact. The veteran won his first Gold Glove and Batting Title in 2021.
Marwin Gonzalez was another Venezuelan-born player who was instrumental to the Astros success in 2017. However, he was not initially signed by Houston. Signed out of Venezuela by the Chicago Cubs in 2005, Gonzalez was in the Cubs system until 2011, when the Boston Red Sox selected him in the Rule 5 draft. He was then traded to the Astros that same year. He made his MLB debut with Houston in 2012. Gonzalez had his best season in 2017, where he hit .303 with 23 home runs and 90 RBI.
Astros Loaded With Young Talent
Houston has had a lot of success in the recent past because of international players and their future rides on the diverse talent that lines their roster. Most of the Astros rotation options heading into 2022 were international signings. In particular, Houston’s 2015 international free agent class has set them up for success for years to come. This class contained Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, and José Urquidy. Valdez and Javier signed out of the Dominican Republic and made their MLB debuts in 2018 and 2020, respectively. Urquidy signed out of Mexico and made his MLB debut in 2019.
Luís Garcia signed out of Venezuela in the Astros 2017 international free agent class. He made his debut in 2020 and became a vital member of the rotation in 2021. The 25-year-old was the runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year this past season.
On the offensive side, Yordan Álvarez has proven to be a force. While the Los Angeles Dodgers signed the young man out of Cuba in 2016, the Astros traded for him that same year. Houston developed him, and he made his MLB debut with the team in 2019. Alvarez instantly made an impact, winning AL Rookie of the Year unanimously. With only two full seasons in the league, Alvarez is already a feared slugger.
The Astros are currently in the middle of their most successful era in franchise history. International players are primarily to thank for their recent success. If the Astros continue their success, they will do so with the arms and bats of their impressive international talent.
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Players Mentioned:
Jose Altuve, Yuli Gurriel, Marwin Gonzalez, Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, José Urquidy, Luís Garcia, Yordan Álvarez
