Houston Astros send Jake Meyers to Triple-A amid outfield shakeup. 'Trying to get some production'

The Houston Astros shook up their outfield mix Saturday with a series of moves that included optioning Jake Meyers, their opening day centerfielder, to Triple-A Sugar Land.

Joey Loperfido, the team's opening day left fielder, was also optioned to Triple-A before Saturday’s game against the Rays. Houston activated LaMonte Wade Jr. from the injured list and recalled Zach Dezenzo in corresponding moves.

“We’re just trying to improve our club,” manager Joe Espada said. “Trying to get some production from the outfield.”

Offensively, Houston’s outfield ranks among the least productive in the majors this season. The Astros, who entered Saturday with a 43-47 record, had extracted a .673 OPS from their outfield group, fourth-lowest ahead of only the Marlins, Padres and Guardians.

That issue extends beyond Meyers and Loperfido, though both have endured their offensive struggles. Meyers had a .192/.238/.293 slash line in 40 games since returning from an oblique strain in mid-May. Loperfido had a .136/.269/.295 slash line in 19 games since being recalled from Triple-A in early June.

Loperfido was recalled when Wade landed on the injured list with a right hamstring strain, which Wade sustained in his fourth game after signing a major-league deal with Houston. Dezenzo was optioned to Triple-A in early June when the Astros cleared a spot for Jose Altuve to return from an oblique injury.

Espada described Saturday’s moves as an effort “to change things up, just trying to get some quality at-bats. Also trying to get those guys (Meyers and Loperfido) some at-bats in Triple-A and hopefully they can get that going. There’s still a lot of season left so hopefully these moves make us better and we can get some more offensive production.”

Meyers has been Houston’s primary center fielder for several seasons, starting a career-high 126 games there in 2024. Long viewed as a defense-first player, Meyers made modest offensive improvements last season, posting a .292/.354/.373 slash line and a 104 OPS-plus while playing in 104 games.

This season, Meyers played in just 12 games before sustaining a Grade 2 right oblique strain on April 8. He returned to the Astros lineup May 19 and entered Saturday with a .580 OPS on the season, sharing playing time in center field recently with Brice Matthews and Taylor Trammell.

“Last year we saw a lot more line drives, he used the middle of the field more,” Espada said of Meyers. “I think his swing decisions are still good. I think the injury kind of stopped his progression and his production. I think you can say the same thing about Joey. Both were swinging the bat really well before they got hurt and they couldn’t get going again.”

Players who have accrued more than five years of MLB service time must consent to being optioned to the minors. Meyers, who began this season with more than four years of service time, remains short of that threshold. Espada said his conversation with Meyers about the move was “not easy” but that “he understood.”

“He’s part of this organization’s success,” Espada said. “And we’re going to help him. We’ve pinpointed some things that he’s going to be working on in Triple-A.”

Matthews’ emergence as a viable defender in the outfield may have allayed concerns about losing the defense of Meyers, a Gold Glove finalist in 2024. Matthews has accrued the most defensive runs saved (3) among Astros center fielders this season, per Sports Info Solutions. Meyers is at plus-1.

Matthews, the Astros’ first-round draft pick in 2023, has also factored into their lack of outfield offense, however, carrying a .564 OPS into Saturday. Espada indicated that Matthews’ ability to back up several infield positions, when needed, factored into his remaining on the major-league roster.

Trammell, who entered Saturday with a .740 OPS and 106 OPS-plus, started in center field against Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen. Trammell or Matthews had started seven of the Astros’ last 10 games in center field before Saturday, even with Meyers on the roster, a platoon that could continue.

Left field remains the likeliest place for Wade, signed to provide a veteran left-handed bat in the outfield or on the bench. That Loperfido was initially optioned to Triple-A upon the signing of Wade, following an IL stint for a quad strain, indicated Houston preferred Wade in the role of left-handed platoon outfielder.

The Astros remain committed to limiting Yordan Alvarez’s time in left field. Alvarez has started 14 of their 91 games this season in the outfield. He made back-to-back starts there for the first time June 21 and 22 but has since started just one of 11 games in left.

Espada said he will continue trying to keep all the outfielders on his roster involved. Dezenzo is an option in both corner outfield spots, though Cam Smith remains entrenched in right field. Dezenzo owns a .595 OPS in 21 major-league games this season and a .780 OPS in 26 games at Triple-A Sugar Land.

“We’ve seen what Jake can do when he’s swinging the bat well, Joey the same thing,” Espada said. “We’re just trying to help those guys out, see if having Wade and Dezenzo can spark something up, and see if we can just get something going.”