Strong defender Meyers eyeing season-long consistency at plate

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Astros center fielder Jake Meyers is a model of consistency when it comes to his defensive prowess. After all, he was a Gold Glove finalist last season.

His results on the offensive side of the game were uneven last season, however. His goal this season is to bring more consistency to his approach at the plate. Astros manager Joe Espada has stressed that to Meyers in his conversations with the 28-year-old center fielder.

¡°We value his defense, but also we would like to see his bat be more consistent, because one thing I don¡¯t like doing is taking his bat out of a game late in the game because of how valuable his defense is,¡± Espada said Thursday when assessing Meyers¡¯ importance of being in the everyday lineup. ¡°I¡¯ve been very transparent with him about that aspect, so I expect him to make some adjustments offensively so I¡¯m not forced to make that move during the game.¡±

Defensively, Meyers is among the best center fielders in the American League, as his .997 fielding percentage last season was tops in the American League. For a time last year, it appeared that Meyers¡¯ offense would match his defensive skills, as he had a .736 OPS in the first half of the 2024 season, including a lofty .924 OPS in May.

The second half of the season was a different story for Meyers at the plate, however, as his OPS dropped to .526. He finished the season with a slash line of .219/.286/.360 with 20 doubles, 13 home runs, 61 RBIs and 11 stolen bases in 513 plate appearances while playing in a career-high 148 games, including 126 starts in center field.

¡°We¡¯ve seen how good he can be [at the plate],¡± Espada said prior to the Astros¡¯ workout Thursday at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. ¡°Hitters go through tough moments during the season, but he needs to make those adjustments quicker than what he¡¯s done in the past.¡±

Meyers agrees and he said he knows that he¡¯s capable of delivering more consistent production at the plate and that there¡¯s not anything really wrong with his swing.

¡°In terms of mechanics, it¡¯s really just about being on time and staying athletic,¡± Meyers said. ¡°I think later [in the 2024 season], I got a little robotic. ... I don¡¯t think I need to change [my approach] based on just two months of results. The game is tough, so you gotta show up and do what you can every day, and good things will happen if you do that. It¡¯s being able to deal with that and do it the right way that can help you over the course of a season.¡±

Meyers said he¡¯s had conversations with Astros hitting coach Troy Snitker during the offseason, and he seems confident that he can have the kind of success he had at the plate during the first half of last year for the entire 162 games this year.

¡°Slumps happen,¡± Meyers said. ¡°Everyone might go through it differently. I¡¯ve been through it before and I¡¯ve done it so many times in my life, you know what you need to go to at certain points in time and as you get older you try to use that experience that you¡¯ve been through and know how to get out of it. Baseball¡¯s a funny thing.¡±

Espada said that he likes what he¡¯s seen of Meyers the first few days of Spring Training.

¡°His swing has been good,¡± Espada said. ¡°He made some adjustments in the offseason. We¡¯re just trying to create some more consistency, some walks, do some small stuff that I know he¡¯s capable of doing. We¡¯re just trying to avoid the big dip. We¡¯re trying to level that and create some consistency when it comes to the quality of his at-bats.¡±

Meyers echoed his manager in so many words.

¡°I know what I need to know and I can do what I need to do,¡± Meyers said. ¡°It¡¯s just about execution and going out and doing it over the course of a [whole] season. There¡¯s people around me who are going to help me stay where I need to be and keep things simple, and I think that¡¯s what it¡¯s about, and let myself go out and play baseball. I know I¡¯m capable, it¡¯s just about being consistent.¡±