WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Each spring, Astros manager Dusty Baker says he’s looking for a surprise -- a player who contends for a roster spot who probably wasn’t on the team’s radar when camp started. That can be a difficult ask considering the defending World Series champions are one of the deepest teams in baseball.

Enter Justin Dirden, a 25-year-old undrafted free agent who has put himself in position to perhaps be on the Opening Day roster when the Astros face the White Sox on Thursday in Houston. Dirden’s play has been impressive, but with veteran outfielder Michael Brantley beginning the year on the injured list as he finishes his rehab from right shoulder surgery, there’s increased opportunity.

“I think the whole goal coming in here is to kind of show different things I could do on the field, whether it be on the offensive [side], stealing, showing some power, contact -- whatever it’s got to be,” Dirden said. “On the defensive side, just playing clean defense. I think I showed a lot of it, and hopefully it did open some eyes.”

After Saturday’s 6-1 win over the Nationals, Dirden is slashing .300/.417/.600 with a pair of home runs while playing all three outfield positions in Grapefruit League play. He has drawn praise for his speed and his arm and work in the outfield, which has included a couple of diving catches.

“He has that quiet confidence,” Baker said. “He can play all three outfield positions, he can run, he can throw. There's not much he can't do on the baseball field. He's been impressive from Day 1."

The Astros will begin the year with four outfielders on their roster -- Kyle Tucker, Chas McCormick, Jake Meyers and Yordan Alvarez, assuming Alvarez is healthy. Dirden is competing for one of the last two position-player spots, alongside infielder Rylan Bannon, infielder/outfielder J.J. Matijevic, infielder Bligh Madris and a third catcher (Korey Lee or Yainer Diaz).

Dirden might be better served beginning the season at Triple-A and impacting the Major League club later in the season. He’s also not on the Astros’ 40-man roster, though the injured Jose Altuve could begin the year on the 60-day injured list, which would open up a spot.

Regardless, that should make for a nervous few days for Dirden while he awaits to hear if he’ll begin the year at Triple-A Sugar Land or in Houston. He has only 128 career Triple-A at-bats. Baker has said the Astros probably won’t decide on their 26-man roster until after the team plays a pair of exhibition games against the Space Cowboys on Monday and Tuesday.

“Someone told me once before [that] nerves and excitement are kind of the same thing, just shed in different lights,” he said. “Excitement is more positive; nervous more negative. I’d say I’m more excited than anything. No matter where [he starts], I’m just going to continue to keep my head high and work on the process to get better.”

When asked if he thinks he’ll make the club, Dirden laughed.

“I have no clue,” said Dirden, a St. Louis native who grew up cheering for the Cardinals. “That’s a good question. That’s something I can’t answer.”

Dirden has played in only 207 career Minor League games after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Southeast Missouri State in 2020. It’s worth noting the Draft was only five rounds that season and Dirden would have been selected later in a typical Draft, perhaps in rounds 11-15. The Draft has changed since 2020 and taking 22-year-olds is more common. A senior college player with Dirden’s skillset would probably go in the fourth or fifth round this year.

Last year, Dirden played 92 games at Double-A Corpus Christi, slashing .324/.411/.616 with five triples, 20 homers and 73 RBIs, before finishing the year at Sugar Land. In 32 games there, he slashed .242/.305/.398 with four homers and 28 RBIs.

No matter where he starts, Dirden’s strong spring should result in a Major League debut at some point this year.

“It’s not easy to crack any Major League lineup or any 26-man or 40-man roster, especially this one,” he said. “It would be awesome.”