Astros’ lineup set with Alex Bregman batting second

There are questions on who will get more playing time in left field, first base, and designated hitter and where they will fit in the lineup for the Houston Astros. But the question of who will bat second in the lineup has been answered.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch said on Wednesday at second-year third baseman Alex Bregman will bat between George Springer and Jose Altuve, reported Astros.com writer Brian McTaggart.

Bregman, 23, hit the cover off the ball in the minors in 2016, batting .306 (96x314) with 20 home runs and 61 RBIs in 80 games with Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Fresno. He was promoted to the Astros on July 24, where he struggled mightily.

Bregman wouldn’t get a hit in his first six games and he was 2-for-38 in his first 10 games. But the rookie figured it out by season’s end. He batted .323 (20x62) with three home runs and 14 RBIs during the month of September.

Bregman was third on the team last season during September in on-base percentage (.344) between Springer and Carlos Correa.

The Astros third baseman was able to show off his skills with Team USA during the World Baseball Classic, went 2-for-4 with a strikeout. He returned to the Astros and went 5-for-23 with two doubles, a walk, and a RBI.