Astros defense improves with coach Tony Perezchica

HOUSTON – Astros infield coach Tony Perezchica calls Mauricio Dubon over to the right side of the infield, specifically toward foul territory along the grass near the first base coach’s box.

The Gold Glove utility man grabs his infield glove and gets down on both knees to start defensive drills with Perezchica about 3 1/2 hours before the first pitch.

Perezchica starts his infielders with knee drills. The infielders have both knees on the ground while Perezchica flips them ground balls. The most important objective Perezchica wants his infielders taking away from this specific drill is making sure their gloves are open.

“Fan out that glove,” Perezchica said. “I want to see the whole entire glove. I want to make sure the ball has enough room to go into that glove.”

Metrics tell impressive tale

The Astros’ defense in 2024 ranked 20th out of 30 teams in Defensive Runs Saved (1). They also ranked 19th in Outs Above Average (-4) and Fielding Run Value (-2), and 15th in Defense (1.9).

In addition, Houston’s defense hasn’t had multiple infield Gold Glove finalists (excluding utility man Mauricio Dubon) since two-time World Series champion Yuli Gurriel won a Gold Glove at first base, and three-time All-Star Carlos Correa won a Gold and Platinum Glove at shortstop in 2021.

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Coming into the 2025 season, the Houston Astros wanted to focus on improving their defense in the infield. An infield that was awarded the Rawlings Gold Glove Team Award in 2021 representing the American League.

Hiring Perezchica was one step in the right direction. The next step was the infielders buying into the culture.

“They like to work,” Perezchica said of the Astros’ infielders. “You can’t change anything unless the guys buy into it, and the guys have to work on it. I think that’s what they understood ever since spring training started. They knew, and I told them, ‘We’re going to work and we’re going to work on the things that help you.’

“They understood now that it does take work. Persistency in your work and trying to pay attention to the smallest details that we’re making. The biggest differences is when the game speeds up.”

Near the top

The work is paying off. According to Baseball Savant, the Astros’ infield defense ranks first in the American League with 11 Outs Above Average and eight runs prevented. Houston ranks third in the majors behind the St. Louis Cardinals with 18 OAA and 13 runs prevented, and the Atlanta Braves with 15 OAA and 11 runs prevented.

Dubon leads the Astros infielders with six OAA. Jose Altuve has three OAA. Jeremy Peña, Brendan Rodgers, and Christian Walker each have one OAA. Isaac Paredes currently has zero OAA.

“I think what jumps right now is the work ethic,” Walker said about the Astros infielders. “The consistency. Being out here and getting our reps in every day. I think those little things add up. We’re preparing for today, but you do that 160 times in a row, and by the end of the year you’re a much better team.”

Houston’s infield consists of four Gold Glovers with Peña, Rodgers, Dubon, and Walker. Paredes, 26, has yet to win the prestigious defensive award. The Astros traded two-time All-Star Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs this winter in exchange for Paredes, right-handed pitcher Hayden Wesneski and top prospect Cam Smith.

Houston knew what Paredes could do with his bat. The native of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico is hitting .288 with 23 hits, three doubles, seven home runs, 17 RBIs, and a .588 slugging percentage in May.

Isaac Paredes is more than powerful bat

He currently leads the team in home runs (11), RBIs (31), runs (28), walks (29), on-base percentage (.372), slugging percentage (.482), and OPS (.854).

Now, Houston is looking to develop Paredes into a better defender. In 2022, he finished with six OAA and only five errors while playing everywhere in the infield. The Astros lost Alex Bregman, who played the hot corner for 10 seasons, to free agency this offseason. Bregman, a two-time World Series champion, won his first Rawlings Gold Glove in 2024.

Perezchica and the Astros believe Paredes could take over third base and progress to an above average defender and become a vital part of the organization’s future.

“I think they all have done fantastic jobs in bettering their infield,” Perezchica said when asked which infielder improved defensively so far this season. “When we got Isaac (Paredes) they were saying he needs to do a few things to clean him up a little bit, but when I saw him in spring I said ‘There’s a few things you have to clean up, but we’re going to work on these things.’ 

“He was sold once he started feeling it. … But Isaac for sure.”