JUPITER, Fla. -- Chas McCormick turned on a 2-0 changeup from Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray and launched the ball a Statcast-projected 397 feet over the left-field wall for a three-run homer. It was the second inning of the Astros’ third-from-last Grapefruit League game of the year, but the swing was a big one for the veteran outfielder.
McCormick can only hope his first homer of the spring, which came in a 5-3 win over St. Louis at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Friday, will propel him into the season with some momentum. He’s already put his rocky 2024 season in the rearview mirror and is eyeing a bounceback campaign.
“It felt good,” McCormick said of the swing. “It felt nice today to catch a ball out front. That’s what I’ve been working on. I feel like my plate discipline is OK. I’ve been walking a lot, but I really got to do some damage and be consistent and hit the ball harder.”
McCormick had a rough 2024, hitting .211 with five homers and 27 RBIs and being optioned briefly to Triple-A Sugar Land on Aug. 29 while starting at all three outfield spots. The trade that sent Kyle Tucker to the Cubs meant McCormick was going to be the starter in right field this year, and that still appears to be the case a week out from the regular season.
He’s slashing .161/.409/.290 in Grapefruit League play, thanks to a team-high 11 walks in 44 plate appearances.
“I just think I’ve taken some good offspeed pitches, and I’ve been able to get in good counts, but I just haven’t been able to get on that 1-0 fastball, get on the 2-0 fastball,” he said. “I’ve been a little late, been a little beat. If I can keep up on my walks and plate discipline and I can finally catch some balls out front like I did today, I’ll be in good shape.”
McCormick has noticed the Astros have been trying out top prospect Cam Smith in right field for the past two weeks as they look for ways to carry him on the Opening Day roster. They’ve also tried out No. 5 prospect Zach Dezenzo in right field (along with left field) for the same reason. McCormick has always embraced competition.
“We have a lot of good outfielders,” he said. “Everybody is trying to play in the big leagues. I try to take control of myself and get better every day. We have tons of good players in this organization and everybody wants to play in the big leagues with the Astros.”
Astros manager Joe Espada said earlier this spring that results won’t matter too much with McCormick, but there’s no denying the confidence that can be found from hitting some balls hard and even over the fence.
“His swing decisions have always been good, but I would like him to get some positive results behind the swings,” Espada said Friday. “I want to see him hit the ball hard and build from there. He’s been walking, but I want to see him [make] more consistent and hard contact so he can get more positive results and try to get some damage every time he puts himself in good hitters’ counts.”
McCormick has been paying attention to the other side of the outfield, where longtime second baseman Jose Altuve has been moved to left field. He knows how hard left field can be defensively and lauded Altuve for being willing to give it a shot.
“There’s a lot of guys transitioning to the outfield -- Dezenzo, Altuve, Cam Smith,” McCormick said. “Altuve’s been doing a good job. It’s hard to play outfielder in West Palm [Beach, Fla.]. You have the sun, you have the wind, and then mid-game you have the sky that gets dark. In West Palm, the wind’s all over the place, so it’s actually really tough. It’s going to get easier for him.”
McCormick can only hope things are easier on him this year, too.
“I’ve got to be consistent this year. I have to be,” he said. “I‘ve got to hit the ball hard this year. I’m going to play better, though. I’m going to play better this year, and I just have to make sure I get on base more. That’s the key that I’m coming in with this year -- I have to get on base no matter what.”