Jose Altuve has the most starts on the second base of any active MLB player, but that count may have stopped as Houston Astros plans to play all mostly in the left field this season, manager Joe Espada told journalists on Monday.

“Right now, the plan is for him to play most of his games in the left field,” Espada said, adding that moving Altuve “back and forth is something I want to avoid.”

It will take some to get used to Astros fans who have seen Altuve Man Keystone since his Rookie season in 2011. He won Gold Glove in 2015 and led in 2020 all with the fewest errors on the second base. He also helped Astros win the 2022 World Series over Philadelphia Phillies and the World Series 2017 over Los Angeles Dodgers, in the year he won AL MVP.

Altuve’s bats may not be at the level it was during his MVP campaign – he hit .295 in 2024 – but his fielding has not taken a hit. In 2024 he made only five errors over 146 starts at and led all the other base with a field percentage of .989.

It is an interesting feature as Astros did not go out and received an obvious replacement at the second base. The idea of ​​moving Altuve to the left was first brought when the team was looking to keep third Baseman Alex Bregman. If Bregman had returned to Houston, it might have forced the newly acquired Isaac paredes to switch to the second base and Altuve to Outfield, but with Bregman joining Red Sox, will remain paredes on the third.

[Related: 2025 MLB free-agent signing tracker, trades]

When he talked about Bregman at the team’s fan party in January, Altuve said, “Whatever I have to do for him to stay, I’m willing to do so.” When asked how difficult it would be to switch to Outfield after never playing there before, he said with a smile, “For Alex, nothing will be difficult.”

Even after Bregman signed with Boston, moving Altuve to Outfield was still meaning to the team.

Mauricio Dubon and Brendan Rodgers have swapped starting tasks on the second base through spring training. Dubon is a toolman who has played any position on the diamond across two seasons in Houston, while Rodgers came to Houston from Colorado Rockies in free agency.

A nine-time all-star and three-time battingmaster, Altuve has played all except two of its 1,767 major league starter at the second base.

Want good stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or Sign in to your FOX SPORT’s account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personal newsletter daily!