Major League Baseball Houston Astros All-Stars: Building the Best Astros All-Time Lineup

The Houston Astros may have faced their share of controversies, but their achievements are undeniable: two World Series titles, four appearances in the Fall Classic, and an impressive stretch of eight consecutive playoff berths over a 12-year period. Coupled with a rich history, including the legendary “Killer Bs” and the iconic Astrodome, Houston boasts one of the most fascinating all-time lineups in baseball history.

Manager: AJ Hinch

While it might seem that AJ Hinch didn’t serve as the Astros’ manager for long, it’s all about perspective. In fact, only one manager, Bill Virdon, has been with the Astros longer than Hinch’s five years, and he’s the only one with more career wins. Hinch led the Astros to victory in the 2017 World Series and the 2019 pennant and ranks second in franchise history with 481 wins, along with 40 postseason victories compared to Virdon’s 10. Hinch’s .594 winning percentage during the regular season is the highest in Houston’s history, slightly ahead of his successor, fellow World Series champion Dusty Baker, who sits at .586. qrph logo
(Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Starting Pitcher: Roy Oswalt

Roy Oswalt may not have won a Cy Young Award, but his performance during his time with the Astros was impressive. He finished in the top five for the award on five occasions and led the National League in ERA (2.98) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.4) in 2006, yet narrowly missed out to Brandon Webb that year. In 2007, despite leading the majors in wins above replacement (WAR) for pitchers, he received no votes for the Cy Young. Had it not been for injuries, Oswalt may have very well been a Hall of Famer, but he remains a dominant figure in Houston’s all-time statistics.
(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Reliever/Closer: Billy Wagner

Among the 86 pitchers in Cooperstown, only nine are recognized as relievers, and Billy Wagner is one of them. Standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 180 pounds, Wagner’s statistics tell a different story. In 1997, he struck out an astounding 14.4 batters per nine innings at just 25 years old, while the league average was 6.7. Over the next two seasons, he maintained an even higher strikeout rate. ah88.con Even late in his career, Wagner was still striking batters out at impressive rates, achieving 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings while posting a 1.43 ERA in 71 games at the age of 38 with the Braves.
(MIKE FIALA/AFP via Getty Images)

Catcher: Brad Ausmus

It seemed inevitable that Brad Ausmus would become a manager after his playing days, given his exceptional skills as a defensive catcher and his aptitude for pitch calling. He had multiple stints with the Astros, playing from 1997-1998 and then again from 2001-2008. While his batting average was around the norm for catchers, his defensive contributions kept him in the lineup year after year, particularly given the quality of the pitching staff he worked with.
(Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

First Base: Jeff Bagwell

The 1994 strike disrupted many seasons, but one of its unfortunate side effects was that Jeff Bagwell’s potential for an all-time great offensive season was cut short. That year, he won the NL MVP award, finishing with a staggering .368/.451/.750 line and 39 home runs. His slugging percentage ranks 11th all-time and is only behind a few legendary seasons from the likes of Barry Bonds and Babe Ruth. Over his career, he hit 449 home runs despite enduring shoulder injuries and arthritis in his mid-30s, eventually being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.
(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Second Base: Craig Biggio

Craig Biggio played as a catcher and outfielder, but he truly found his calling at second base. Over his 20-year career—all with the Astros—he accumulated an impressive 3,060 hits, the most in franchise history, along with 1,160 walks and 414 stolen bases. Biggio ranks third in home runs with 291, trailing only Bagwell and Lance Berkman, while his records for doubles (668) and total bases (4,711) remain unchallenged. After years of being underrated, Biggio made his mark and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017 alongside his long-time teammate Bagwell.
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Third Base: Alex Bregman

Selected second overall by the Astros in the 2015 draft, Alex Bregman made his major league debut in 2016, having an impactful season with 2 Wins Above Replacement over just 49 games. During his nine-year tenure with the Astros, he was part of both World Series championship teams in 2017 and 2022, contributing a total of three home runs in postseason play. After leaving as a free agent following the 2024 season, Bregman amassed 191 home runs, 265 doubles, and a batting line of .272/.366/.483, marking nearly 40 Wins Above Replacement at just 31 years old.
(Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images)

Shortstop: Carlos Correa

The Astros selected Carlos Correa with the first overall pick in the 2012 draft when he was just 17 years old. He made his MLB debut as a 20-year-old and won the AL Rookie of the Year award in just 99 games, boasting a .512 slugging percentage and 45 extra-base hits, including 22 home runs, all while showcasing his stellar defensive skills at shortstop. While he maintained a high level of play throughout his career, his seven years of consistent excellence, capped off with a championship in 2017, solidified his legacy as the Astros’ all-time shortstop.
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Outfielder: Lance Berkman

While Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, and Derek Bell were known as the “Killer Bs,” the group truly flourished when Lance Berkman replaced Bell. As Biggio and Bagwell began to show signs of aging, Berkman emerged as a powerful hitter, finishing his rookie season with a .561 slugging percentage and following it up with 84 extra-base hits in his sophomore campaign. Over his career, he was selected to five All-Star teams and received MVP votes for six seasons, ranking first among Astros in on-base percentage (.410), fourth in offensive WAR, and second in home runs.
(Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)

Outfielder: Jose Cruz

Jose Cruz, father of Jose Cruz Jr., joined the Astros in 1975 and spent 13 seasons with the team, earning multiple All-Star selections, two Silver Slugger awards, and receiving MVP votes in five of those years—all while in his 30s. These seasons marked the peak of his career, as Cruz flourished in Houston, ultimately ranking fourth in Wins Above Replacement among position players, following only Bagwell, Biggio, and Altuve.
(Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)

Outfielder: Cesar Cedeno

Cesar Cedeno joined the Astros partway through their major league journey, and it took him 10 seasons before he made his first postseason appearance in 1980, which was also the franchise’s first. Cedeno played a crucial role that year as the Astros won the NL West, putting up a remarkable .309/.389/.465 slash line with 50 extra-base hits in 137 games, finishing that season with five Wins Above Replacement despite not playing the full slate. His final career line with the Astros was .289/.351/.454, at the time making him the top-rated player by WAR in franchise history; he still ranks fifth to this day.
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Designated Hitter: Jose Altuve

Although Jose Altuve is primarily known as an exceptional second baseman, he stepped into the role as a worthy successor to Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, who debuted two years before Altuve was born. jl7 casino register online Altuve has captured three batting titles, including two where he led the majors in batting average. He was also named AL MVP in 2017 when the Astros clinched their first World Series, achieving a phenomenal season with a .346/.410/.547 batting line and leading the league with 204 hits—marking his fourth consecutive year leading the stat. Altuve now ranks second in hits among Astros, trailing only Biggio. acejili
(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)