The Astros missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, meaning no October baseball, and had an unusually down year offensively.
The Astros had one of the weakest offenses in almost 10 years, and while this wasn't the sole reason they missed the playoffs, it was a major contributor. In crucial moments, the offense simply didn’t deliver.
Who is to blame for this drastic change in the Astros' once‑dynamic offense? No single player is solely responsible, but as a team, they were off this season and lacked plate discipline. According to ESPN, the Astros scored 686 runs in 2025, ranking 21st in the league, with a team batting average of .250, an On‑Base Percentage of .315, and a Slugging Percentage of .399.
The team swung at too many pitches outside the strike zone, which hurt their batting average. Specifically, their Chase % (swings at pitches outside the strike zone) was 30.5%, they swung at 49.3% of all pitches, and saw an average of only 3.76 pitches per plate appearance. Their Barrel % was 7.5% for the season, showing a decline in quality contact. According to Baseball Savant, their average exit velocity ranked last among MLB teams, and their Hard Hit % ranked 26th. Adding to the problem, some key hitters spent significant time in the dugout due to injuries.
With those players expected to return healthy and a significant change in the coaching staff, the Astros' 2026 season could look very different.
Several members of the long‑term coaching staff have moved on. Whether it’s a new team or a new job, the Astros have some rebuilding to do. Five major coaches are either going to a different team or had their contracts not renewed:
- Alex Cintrón: Former Co‑Hitting Coach. Joined the Astros organization in 2017 and the MLB staff in 2019. (Contract not renewed)
- Troy Snitker: Former Co‑Hitting Coach. MLB staff since 2019. (Hired by the New York Mets as hitting coach)
- Michael Collins: Former Catching Coach / Major League Coach. Started in 2019. (Contract not renewed)
- Jeremiah Randall: Former Head Athletic Trainer. Joined the Astros in 2015. (Not returning for 2026)
- Andrew Ball: Former Assistant General Manager. Started in 2022. (Not returning for 2026)
- Bill Murphy: Former Co‑Pitching Coach. Joined the organization in 2016 and the MLB staff in 2021. (Hired by the Pittsburgh Pirates as pitching coach)
The front office has decided the best way to address these offensive struggles is to develop a new hitting philosophy, and having injured stars like Yordan Alvarez and Jeremy Peña back in the lineup will help.
The pitching staff and defense held up their end of the game. With a new strategy, returning key hitters, and improved contact quality, the Astros could return to the level of performance they maintained over the past eight seasons.