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The Cuban Yordan Álvarez reached 700 games in Major League Baseball this Sunday with superstar numbers sustained since his debut, establishing himself as one of the most dominant hitters of the modern era and currently leading all of MLB with 10 home runs in the 2026 season.
According to the specialized page Pelota Cubana, the slugger for the Houston Astros has compiled, in those 700 games, an offensive line of .298 batting average, .391 on-base percentage, .580 slugging, and .971 OPS, with an OPS+ of 166, which places him well above the league average.
His average of 6.0 WAR per 162 games is particularly noteworthy considering that he has spent most of his career as a designated hitter, a position that historically generates less defensive value in advanced metrics.
In the 2026 season, Álvarez has started explosively: in just 22 games played, he has a batting average of .333, on-base percentage of .471, slugging of .790, OPS of 1.261, and 21 RBIs, numbers that project him to exceed 47 home runs by Jeff Bagwell, the franchise's historic record set in 2000.
This performance marks a strong comeback after the 2025 season, which was marred by injuries, when he was only able to play 48 games due to a fracture in his right hand and an ankle sprain that manager Joe Espada described as "quite serious."
During the week of April 7, Álvarez won the American League Player of the Week award with an average of .471, three home runs, and eight RBIs, showcasing the level he has maintained at the start of this season.
Throughout his career, the Cuban has compiled an impressive record that includes the American League Rookie of the Year in 2019 —by unanimous vote and the first in Astros history to achieve this—, three All-Star selections, a Silver Slugger, the MVP of the American League Championship Series in 2021, and the 2022 World Series with Houston.
Álvarez made his MLB debut on June 9, 2019 and in 2023 signed a six-year contract extension worth 115 million dollars with the Astros, reaffirming his commitment to the franchise.
With 177 home runs accumulated in his career and a total WAR close to 24 points, the milestone of 700 games arrives at a peak performance moment, solidifying his legacy as one of the best Cuban hitters in Major League Baseball history.
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