Astros' A.J. Reed: Faces crowded competition at first base

Reed will need to hit his way onto the Astros Opening Day roster, according to manager A.J. HInch, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Analysis:

Reed's prospect status took a big hit last season when he batted just .164 with three home runs, three doubles and a .532 OPS in 141 plate appearances for the Astros. The bat is the skill that got him to the majors, so if he's not hitting, then Reed isn't "relevant on our team," in the words of Hinch. The big-bodied first baseman gained some weight over the course of last season and, in addition to finding his hitting stroke, will need to maintain mobility to stay on the field. At 23, it's a bit early in the career to be a one-dimensional, DH-only player -- especially in today's MLB where roster flexibility is paramount. We expect him to start the season at Triple-A Fresno.