Taylor

Trammell

Trammell got the Astros on the board with a two-run double in the fourth inning, trimming their deficit to two runs at 4-2. While he’s in camp as a non-roster invitee, given their current outfield mix, Trammell seemingly has a strong shot at earning a bench spot on the team’s Opening Day roster provided he shows well in Grapefruit League play.

Trammell is off to a 4-for-8 start as he tries to win back a spot on Houston’s roster. He was outrighted off the 40-man roster after two weeks after signing a major league deal worth $900,000 in November. Unless it’s decided that Cam Smith or Zach Cole needs more time in the minors, then there’s probably one spot on Houston’s roster for Joey Loperfido, Zach Dezenzo, Shay Whitcomb or Trammell.

VanWey and Trammell were both removed from the 40-man roster last week. They could both spend time in the majors in 2026, but in order to do so they’ll need to be added back to Houston’s — or another team’s — 40-man.

Trammell’s contract is a split deal, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. The outfielder is a former top prospect who forged just a .630 OPS in 2025 but will get a chance to be a backup outfielder for Houston in 2026.

Meyers was a late scratch from Friday’s lineup due to soreness in his right calf and apparently it’s still bothering him on Saturday as well. Taylor Trammell will start in his place in left field and will bat ninth for the Astros on Saturday evening with Zach Cole sliding over to cover center field.

Nothing else is working, so why not? Trammell is in left today, with Zach Cole in center and Jake Meyers on the bench. Trammell, who hasn’t even had an at-bat in 13 days, is batting .200/.299/.345 in 127 plate appearances.

No word yet who he’s replacing. It might be Taylor Trammell, unless someone is going on the IL. Cole, 25, has hit .353/.459/.745 with five homers in 15 games since being promoted to Triple-A last month. He came in at .267/.363/.505 in Double-A. If the Astros are trying to catch lightning in a bottle here and intend to play Cole fairly regularly, then Cam Smith will receive even fewer starts.

The Yankees had the umpires check Trammell’s bat after a ninth-inning double, and the bat was taken out of play. The issue was the bat, apparently, was that a bunch of paint had worn off it, making it illegally colored but not actually giving Trammell any advantage.

The 27-year-old outfielder landed on the injured list with a cervical muscle strain on August 21 after crashing into the outfield wall at Comerica Park. He returns to a .208/.313/.354 slash line with three homers, 11 RBI and two stolen bases in his first 112 plate appearances with the Astros.

Trammell sustained the injury when he crashed into the center field wall while attempting to make a leaping catch against the Tigers on Wednesday afternoon. No word yet on how long he’ll be sidelined for. Brice Matthews was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land to take his place on the active roster on Thursday.