The Houston Astros have a guy who hits missiles. Yordan Alvarez, the 6-foot-5 designated hitter, is putting together a season that forces even casual fans to stop scrolling. He’s got 29 home runs, 67 RBIs, and a .310 batting average. That’s not just good. That’s the kind of line that gets you into MVP conversations.
But here’s the thing about the MVP conversation for a designated hitter. Only one DH has ever won it — Shohei Ohtani. And when Ohtani won in 2024, he didn’t pitch that year. That opened a door Alvarez knows he’s walking through.
“Ohtani already opened the doors for winning the MVP award being a DH and not playing the field,” Alvarez told The Athletic.
He said it matter-of-factly. No ego. Just a nod to the guy who made it possible for non-fielders to get serious consideration.
Alvarez isn’t exactly campaigning either. He sounds like a guy who’s been around long enough to know seasons go sideways.
“I don’t think about that type of stuff,” Alvarez said. “It’s a long season, so I don’t want to think about that stuff.”
He’s right to be cautious. The Astros sit at 46-49, third in the AL West. That’s going to matter when voters fill out their ballots. MVP awards usually go to guys on playoff teams. But Alvarez isn’t letting the record dictate his approach.
The Competition Is Real
The current frontrunner according to ESPN? Bobby Witt Jr. The Royals shortstop is hitting .289 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs. He plays up the middle, runs the bases like a cheat code, and he’s 24 years old. If the award went to the best all-around player today, Witt might get the nod. But Alvarez’s raw power numbers are starting to look like they belong in a video game.
His teammates have noticed. Astros closer Josh Hader didn’t hold back when asked about Alvarez.
“He’s the best player I’ve ever seen in my life,” Hader said.
That’s a pretty strong statement from a guy who’s faced some of the best hitters in baseball over the last few years. But Hader sees Alvarez every day. He knows what the guy can do to a fastball.
What’s Working for Alvarez
He’s not just mashing home runs. His on-base percentage sits around .400. He walks. He hits for average. And when the Astros need a big hit, he usually delivers. That’s the kind of thing voters notice — the clutch factor, the way opposing managers start pacing in the dugout when Alvarez steps to the plate with runners on.
But the DH thing is still real. Some voters still dock points for guys who don’t play the field. Ohtani’s win changed the conversation, but it didn’t erase the bias completely. Alvarez will need to keep raking. Maybe hit 50 homers. Maybe carry the Astros into the playoffs. Then it becomes a real argument.
For now, he’s not sweating it. He says the pressure he puts on himself is about getting better, not winning awards. “If I just go out there and play, the numbers are going to come by themselves,” he said.
They already are.
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