The Houston Astros have found themselves in quite the pickle this spring. The decision to trade Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs may have made sense on paper, but it’s left an undeniable gap in their outfield that’s proving hard to fill.

With Tucker gone, the Astros have been scrambling to find a replacement, and their solution so far has been less than ideal—shifting Jose Altuve from his familiar territory on the infield dirt to the unfamiliar terrain of the outfield grass. It’s a bold move, and the results have been a mixed bag.

Amidst the swirl of attention on Altuve’s transition, Chas McCormick’s spring performance is starting to raise eyebrows. In the 12 games he’s played, McCormick has managed only four hits in 24 at-bats, which leaves him with a Grapefruit League batting average sitting at an uncomfortable .167. On the bright side, his plate discipline has been impressive, earning him a .429 on-base percentage, largely thanks to nine walks.

Astros manager Joe Espada, however, isn’t hitting the panic button just yet. Speaking to The Athletic, Espada displayed a calm demeanor despite McCormick’s struggles.

“I’m looking beyond the stats when it comes to Mac,” he noted. “He’s swinging at strikes.

He’s walking. He’s hit some balls hard.

That counts for me because if you do that through the course of the season, the results will be there. I’m pleased with the quality of his at-bats.”

While Espada’s words might suggest patience, McCormick’s track record doesn’t exactly instill confidence. Last year, after a mid-May return from a hamstring injury, McCormick’s numbers plummeted to a .170 batting average over 66 games, and eventually, he was sent down to the minors in late August. It was a decision that perhaps should have come earlier, given his struggles.

His descent began after the All-Star break with a .174/.208/.326 line, and it spiraled further post-Midsummer Classic to a meager .164/.235/.262 until the Astros finally optioned him to Triple-A. Although he returned to the majors, an injury quickly sidelined him.

So, as we look towards 2025, McCormick’s less than stellar spring stats aren’t exactly reassuring. It’s just spring training, but for a player like McCormick, delivering these types of numbers isn’t a luxury he can afford. With Cam Smith getting a look in right field, the Astros are clearly surveying their options to address this outfield conundrum.