Want some heat? Here’s your top 5 in EV and HR distance for the Astros in 2020

It’s that time of the year when there’s no baseball (except for winter ball) and the market, at least for the Astros, is slow as heck. So why not take a look back at how 2020 was for the Astros in terms of HEAT? And by HEAT, I mean velocity and power, just in case.

To say goodbye to a surprisingly good year for the Astros despite injuries and absences, enjoy these tops 5 with the helping hand of our beloved Baseball Savant leaderboard...

Exit Velocity Top 5

Note: This list only includes hitters with a minimum of 50 plate appearances.

• OF Kyle Tucker: The promising young outfielder was one of the best things for the Astros in 2020. Leading the team with a 91.1 MPH exit velo was one of his achievements in 20’. That number ranked 41st in baseball, though.
• 1B Yuli Gurriel: Here’s our first surprise of this group. Despite having a woeful season, the veteran Cuban had an 89.3 MPH EV that not only was above the MLB average but also the same number he’s put since 2018.
• 3B Alex Bregman: Bregman had a down year, but he ended up third among all Astros’ hitters in exit velocity: 88.9 MPH. He may have been a victim of bad luck, taking his career-worst BABIP (.254) into account.
• OFs George Springer and Michael Brantley: Two of the biggest Astros’ free agents round up this list, with an 88.7 MPH EV. Both were impressive for the team in 20’ and remain unsigned. Hopefully, at least one of two will come back to H-Town.

HR Distance Top 5

• SS Carlos Correa: On September 9, against the Angels, Correa launched a 461-foot rocket to left-center field in Angels Stadium, the Astros’ longgest home run in 2020. The victim was Dominican righty Félix Peña.

• CF George Springer: Just days later, on September 15, Springer belted his 10th home run of the season, which traveled almost as far as Correa’s: 455 feet. It came facing Kyle Cody and the Rangers. Another leadoff shot for George.

• CF George Springer: It’s Springer again. On 24/09, also against the Rangers, the center-fielder hit a 3-run shot off Lance Lynn all the way to CF. How far it went? 445 feet.

• IF Abraham Toro: The Canadian infielder registered only three homers in 2020, but one of those —his second— was the fourth farthest for the Astros this year, as it traveled 438 feet. It happened on August 20, against Germán Márquez and the Rockies.

• 2B José Altuve: The beloved second baseman couldn’t miss this list. Even though he had a rough regular season at the plate, his second home run of the campaign had a 437-foot distance off Madison Bumgarner and the Giants (August 4).

Fun fact: The Astros won all these games, except for the one of Correa’s home run.