HOUSTON, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 06: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros smiles in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the first inning during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Daikin Park on September 06, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images)
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Houston Astros left-handed slugging designated hitter, Yordan Alvarez, has a tremendous chance to win the highly coveted, and very elusive Major League Baseball Triple Crown.
To win the MLB Triple Crown in either the American or National League, a player must 1) lead the league in home runs, 2) lead the league in batting average, and 3) lead the league in runs batted in.
As justbaseball.com points out, “Ten. That’s the number of Triple Crown winners there have been in the history of baseball.”
The most recent winner was Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers. Cabrera hit 44 homers, drove in 139 runs, and finished the 2012 season with a .320 batting average.
baseballreference.com notes only four players have won the Triple Crown since 1950. Those players include:
DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 27: Three young fans wear crowns to support Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers in his triple crown quest prior to the game against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park on September 27, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Royals 5-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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-Miguel Cabrera-2012 with the Detroit Tigers
-Carl Yastrzemski-1967 with the Boston Red Sox
-Frank Robinson-1966 with the Baltimore Orioles
-Mickey Mantle-1956 with the New York Yankees
It’s notable that each of these players were from the American League.
At the start of play September 9, here are the statistics Alvarez will bring to his quest for the very rare MLB Triple Crown:
Alvarez had hit 38 homers, had driven in 95 runs, and had a .311 batting average.
As of September 9 in the American League, here are the leaders in home runs, RBIs, and batting average as listed by mlb.com
Home Runs=Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays. He hit 39
Runs Batted In= Pete Alonso of the Baltimore Orioles. He has driven in 97 runs
Batting Average= Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros. He has a league leading .311 batting average
Now, with a bit more than two weeks left in the Major League Baseball season, Yordan Alvarez has to a) catch Caminero for the home run lead, b) catch Alonso for the RBI lead, and c) maintain his batting average, with the Rays Chandler Simpson right behind Alvarez, at ,307.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 29: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the New York Mets during the eighth inning at Citi Field on August 29, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caean Couto/Getty Images)
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Facts About Houston Astros Slugger, Yordan Alvarez:
A big man, Alvarez is 6-4, 237 pounds.
Alvarez was born June 27, 1997 in Las Tunas, Cuba.
Now 29, Alvarez played two seasons in the Cuban National Series for Las Tunas.
Alvarez is now in his prime baseball production years.
Alvarez defected from Cuba in 2016, and established residency in Haiti.
Alvarez signed a professional baseball contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers as an International free agent in 2016. However, he never played for the Dodgers, as he was traded to the Houston Astros the same year.
Alvarez made his professional debut with the Astros in the Dominican Summer League at the age of 16.
Alvarez has now played parts of eight seasons with the Houston Astros, but some of them have been interrupted by injuries. For example, in 1995, Alvarez played only 48 games, gaining only 199 plate appearances.
sports.yahoo.com notes, “He missed 100 games to a right hand fracture, which the Astros initially diagnosed as a muscle strain…”
While he has a great chance to win the Triple Crown for his stellar American League season, Alvarez has is probably the front runner to win the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 31: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros reacts after being intentionally walked in the sixth inning by the Chicago White Sox at Daikin Park on August 31, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images)
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Conclusions About Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez Chasing the Triple Crown:
Astros designated hitter/outfielder Yordan Alvarez will be dialed in at the plate during the final days of the season.
Alvarez has a chance to accomplish a feat that hasn’t occurred since 2012.
Alvarez has the possibility of winning Major League Baseball’s elusive Triple Crown.
Alvarez would have to lead the American League in batting average, home runs, and RBIs to win the Triple Crown.
He is now chasing the Rays Junior Caminero for the home run lead, and the Orioles Pete Alonso for the most RBIs. However, Alvarez leads in batting average.
The Houston Astros still have games left with the Phillies (September 10) the Rays (September 11, 12, and 13) the Royals at home September 15, 16, 17, the Braves at home September 18, 19, and 20, the Mariners in Seattle September 22, 23, and the Athletics in Sacramento September 24, 25, 26, and 27.
Houston Astros slugger, Yordan Alvarez can clearly win the coveted Triple Crown.
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