Houston Astros: Jake Marisnick is the team’s main glue guy

Jake Marisnick isn’t a star. The outfielder isn’t an everyday starter for the Houston Astros, either. But he’s still an essential piece on the All-Star roster.

Every Houston Astros player didn’t post the most miraculous numbers in the league last year. As a combined force, they still scored more runs than any team in the MLB has since 2009.

While many players pieced together remarkable campaigns for Houston, others contributed in different ways. Veterans, like Carlos Beltran, offered knowledge and experience. Other guys, like Evan Gattis and Brian McCann, provided production in the bottom of the lineup.

Jake Marisnick was one player that brought the team together, with consistent defense and big hits. And while he has never been an All-Star, he is still a crucial part of the Astros.

The outfielder was unable to contribute during the World Series, but he played an essential role throughout the regular season. He has proven to be one of the ultimate bench players for the Astros in recent years.

A trio of players that surveyed the outfield for much of the season received most of the recognition. George Springer catapulted into stardom during the postseason, while Marwin Gonzalez and Josh Reddick were major surprises.

But Marisnick bored the brunt of the innings in center field, playing in 93 games for the Astros. The 26-year-old isn’t the most renowned hitter, boasting a .228 career average. And he enjoyed a relatively mediocre season in 2017 with a .243/.319/.496 triple-slash. 

Yet, he was still productive in many ways.

Marisnick’s power isn’t a noteworthy feature in his game, but it was apparent this past season. Despite owning a subpar average, he crushed 16 home runs and sported a .815 OPS. Those home runs account for nearly half of his 34 career bombs.

The Riverside product’s worst quality at the dish is his plate discipline. He struck out in more than 31 percent of his at-bats throughout his career. Meanwhile, his strikeout-to-walk ratio looks putrid at nearly 5.50. That’s been his primary issue thus far, especially in Houston.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

Although Marisnick’s fielding isn’t outstanding compared some outfielders, it is an asset for the Astros. He possesses enough speed to make a majority of the catches in center field, but his arm is shoddy compared to most other fielders, per FanGraphs statistics.

He sported a positive defensive run saved, which is ultimately a goal for an outfielder. Of Houston’s main starters, only Josh Reddick saved more runs overall. But Marisnick also played 400 fewer innings than him last season.

Marisnick’s speed is also somewhat utilized. The outfielder took more chances in 2015, accumulating 24 steals that year. He swiped just 10 and nine bags in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The Astros, though a power-hitting squad, ranked eighth in steals in the MLB.

Thus, there are ways that Marisnick contributes that don’t capture attention. There are several players across the league that does not boast eye-opening numbers and do not consistently change the nature of the game with one swing or play.

But there is still a class of guys like Marisnick that are needed for consistency, especially in the field. Springer played center field well, but no one else did in Houston, other than Marisnick.

Next: Tony Watson is a main priority

He may lose playing time to any bright prospects or new additions in the future  – if there are some. However, he will remain a critical piece for the Astros, who will look to win back-to-back titles.