Sep 28, 2022; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros center fielder Mauricio Dubon (14) catches a fly ball for an out against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Astros Player of the Day: Mauricio Dubón
Welcome to the Gallery Sports’ Houston Astros Spring Training player spotlight: Astros Player of the Day. We will look at a different Astros player each day throughout the spring.
Today’s Astros Player of the Day is utility outfielder Mauricio Dubón.
The Boston Red Sox drafted Dubón in the 26th round of the 2013 draft, and he remained in their farm system until the 2016 offseason, when he would be part of a trade package that landed him with the Milwaukee Brewers, joining their Double-A club to start 2017. He moved to Triple-A in June of that year before posting a .343 average in a full year with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox in 2018.
In 2019, he continued to impress in the Brewers’ minor-league system, ultimately making his major league debut on July 7 for the Brewers before being part of a trade-deadline deal that sent him to the Giants in exchange for Drew Pomeranz and Ray Black. Dubón didn’t stay in San Francisco’s minor-league system long, getting elevated to the major league squad and debuting with his new team on Aug. 29, and was in the lineup virtually every day the rest of that season.
He finished the 2019 season with a .274 average over 106 at-bats and matched that exactly over the COVID-shortened 2020 season, again ending at .274 this time with 157 more MLB at-bats under his belt. After filling in at second base for the Giants in 2019, he played primarily center field in 2020 before splitting time between center field and middle infield in 2021.
Dubón came to the Astros in a May 14 trade last year, with Houston sending catcher Michael Papierski to San Francisco in the deal. He was intended to be a depth upgrade for their utility position, coming at an opportune time as the team was dealing with some injuries. He didn’t provide the biggest spark at the plate, hitting just .208 with his new team in the 83 games he played.
However, due to his ability to play a plethora of positions, his roster spot is likely secure for 2023, as he gives the Astros the bench depth they need to manage the grueling 162-game sludge that is the MLB season, where players inevitably need some games off their feet, if not more should injuries arise. One way to make the defending champions even better is if he could get closer, or even surpass, his performance at the plate in his first two seasons in the league.