Astros sign Alex Bregman to five-year contract extension
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - The Houston Astros have signed third baseman Alex Bregman to a five-year contract extension. The announcement was made today by Astros President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Jeff Luhnow. The extension, which begins in 2020, will keep Bregman in an Astros uniform for the next six seasons through 2024.
“Despite only being an Astro for a few years, Alex Bregman has created many special memories for our fans and our franchise both on and off the field,” said Luhnow. “We are thrilled to keep him here for at least the next six years and are eagerly anticipating many great moments in the future for him, for our team and for our city.”
Bregman, 24, is entering his fourth Major League season having just produced one of the best individual seasons in Astros franchise history in 2018.
In 157 games for the AL West Division Champion Astros, Bregman batted .286 with 105 runs scored, a Major League-best 51 doubles, 30 home runs, 103 RBI, 10 stolen bases and a .926 OPS (.394 OBP/.532 SLG). He became the first third baseman in MLB history to reach 50 doubles and 30 home runs in a single season, the youngest player in Astros franchise history to hit 30 home runs in a season, and the second player in MLB history to reach 50 doubles, 30 homers, 90 walks and 10 stolen bases in a season, joining Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig (1927).
Bregman reached career high marks in virtually every offensive category in 2018, and finished fifth in the American League MVP Award voting for his efforts. He was named an All-Star for the first time in his career, and emphatically made his mark on the 2018 All-Star Game festivities in Washington, D.C. In addition to becoming the fifth player in Astros history to participate in the Home Run Derby, Bregman was named the 2018 All-Star Game MVP after hitting a go-ahead home run in the 10th inning of the American League’s 8-6 win over the National League. Prior to Bregman, no Astros player had ever won the Ted Williams All-Star Game MVP Award.
The Albuquerque, New Mexico, native has helped the Astros win back-to-back AL West Division titles, and has been an offensive force and clutch performer in the postseason. In 26 career postseason games, Bregman has recorded six home runs with 15 RBI and an .822 OPS (.353 OBP/.469 SLG), with all six of his home runs coming against former All-Stars: Kenley Jansen, Clayton Kershaw, Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Chris Sale (2 HR).
Bregman played a key role in helping push the Astros to their first World Series Championship title in franchise history in 2017, as he was responsible for a number of clutch hits and defensive plays during the club’s title run. Among his memorable performances include a tone-setting solo homer off Chris Sale in Game 1 of the 2017 ALDS, a game-tying solo home run off Chris Sale in Game 4 of the 2017 ALDS, an acrobatic, run-saving throw to home plate in Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS vs. NYY, and a walkoff RBI-single in the 10th inning of Game 5 of the 2017 World Series. During the World Series against the Dodgers, Bregman became the second player in MLB history to record an RBI in each of his first five career games in the Fall Classic (also Amos Otis).
During the 2018 postseason, Bregman carried the Astros to a three-game sweep over the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS after batting .556 (5x9) with a double, two homers, four RBI and a .714 OBP.
Bregman was selected by the Astros with the second overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft out of Louisiana State University, and made a rapid ascent through Houston’s minor league system, reaching the Major League level in less than 14 months. He made his MLB debut on July 25, 2016, a year in which he was named the USA Today Minor League Player of the Year, Astros Minor League Player of the Year and the top overall prospect in baseball by ESPN.com.
Upon reaching the Major Leagues, Bregman has found success at a historically rapid pace. Only three players in MLB history reached 100 career doubles, 50 career home runs and 200 career RBI in fewer games than it took Bregman (342g), with all three of those players being Hall of Famers in Ted Williams (341g), Chuck Klein (317g) and Hank Greenberg (315g)