Not many fans knew what to expect when the Astros signed the little covered Cuban infielder, Yulieski Gurriel, to a five-year, $47.5-million deal in the midst of the 2016 season. The 32 year-old had hit well in Cuba and Japan, but the MLB would be a different animal, and it wasn’t clear if Gurriel could shake off the rust in time to boost Houston’s offense down a crucial stretch.
Gurriel’s debut with the Astros in 2016, 36 games and 137 plate appearances in total after a late August debut, ended as a bit of a disappointment. It probably shouldn’t have, since it was a small sample, he had a .