When it comes to the Houston Astros' prospects for the 2026 season, Yordan Alvarez is a name that stands out. Last season might have ended on a sour note, but it's hard not to wonder if things would have been different had Alvarez not been limited to just 48 games. His presence could have been the ticket to the playoffs.
Alvarez has established himself as a top-tier hitter over the years. While Aaron Judge might be in a league of his own, Alvarez shares elite company with the likes of Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani. Since his debut in 2019, only Judge has surpassed Alvarez's impressive 163 wRC+.
So, when MLB.com released its top-10 hitters list (which technically included 11 due to a tie), it was surprising not to see Alvarez in the mix. Instead, he found himself in the "others receiving votes" category, which seems like a glaring oversight.
There are only a couple of reasons one might leave Alvarez off such a list, and neither holds much weight. Perhaps his injury-riddled 2025 season was a factor, or maybe it was his slow start before a hand injury sidelined him. Yet, Alvarez has consistently shown he's not prone to injuries when playing the field, as he himself has noted.
Once his hand healed, Alvarez came back strong, posting a 185 wRC+ before a sprained ankle in mid-September cut his season short. His dominance at the plate was clear.
Now, let's take a look at some of the players who ranked ahead of him. Ronald Acuña Jr. is undeniably talented, but if Alvarez is penalized for a freak hand injury, how does Acuña, with two ACL tears, rank higher?
Consider division rival Cal Raleigh, who had a standout season with 60 homers. Yet, his 161 wRC+ still falls short of four different seasons Alvarez has posted. Alvarez's ability to hit for both power and average is what sets him apart, boasting a career .297 batting average compared to Raleigh's .226.
And if we're talking about track records, it's puzzling to see youngsters like Nick Kurtz or Junior Caminero included with only a single season of elite production under their belts.
Alvarez, who turns 29 on June 27, is in the prime of his career and shows no signs of slowing down. He's a well-rounded hitter, combining power with a knack for hitting for average. Astros insider Chandler Rome even predicts he’ll hit 40 homers this year.
With his proven track record, production, and potential, Alvarez deserves to be recognized as one of the best hitters in the game. His omission from the top-10 list is nothing short of baffling.