Yordan Álvarez Breaks Astros Historical Records with the Most Explosive Season Start of His Career

April 12, 2026

Cuban designated hitter for the Houston Astros, Yordan Álvarez, has delivered the most dazzling start to a season of his Major League career, setting multiple all-time franchise records for the Texas club in just 12 games played in 2026.

According to official MLB records, Álvarez has surpassed the Astros' franchise record for home runs hit within the first twelve games of a season, with seven home runs. Along the way he also broke the organization's records for the first two, four, five, ten, and eleven games of a campaign. At the same time, he leads all of the Major Leagues in slugging percentage, expected batting average, and OPS — where he tops 1.300 — positioning him as the best hitter in the league at this early stage.

Álvarez's performance is even more significant considering that in 2025 he played just 48 games due to injuries. The 2026 season looks like the comeback of the left-handed bat born in Las Tunas on June 27, 1997, who with this start is reminiscent of the best Yordan of 2022 and 2023. With only weeks of baseball played, his candidacy for the American League MVP is already beginning to take shape.