The Astros optioned Spence to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.
Spence had already begun to cede more starts in center field to Taylor Trammell over the past week, and the rookie's playing-time outlook would have worsened had he stuck around after the Astros acquired Daulton Varsho on Monday. The Astros have thus elected to send Spence back to Sugar Land, where he'll get the chance to play regularly. During his first taste of the big leagues, Spence slashed just .162/.244/.189 with a 36.6 percent strikeout rate over 41 plate appearances.
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Astros' Lucas Spence: Losing playing time in center
Rotowire
Spence is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.
On the bench for the fourth time in the past five games, Spence appears to have faded into a reserve role while Taylor Trammell has re-emerged as the preferred option in center field. Since receiving his first big-league call-up July 17, Spence has hit just .162 while striking out at a 36.6 percent clip. He could be headed back to Triple-A Sugar Land in the near future.
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Astros' Lucas Spence: Hitting bench Sunday
Rotowire
Spence is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.
Spence will take a seat for the first time since being called up from Triple-A Sugar Land on July 17, paving the way for Taylor Trammell to pick up a start in center field. Over his first eight big-league games, Spence has gone 5-for-28 (.179) with a 2:11 BB:K, one RBI and two runs.
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Astros' Lucas Spence: Collects hit in MLB debut
Rotowire
Spence went 1-for-3 with a walk in a 3-2 loss to Baltimore on Friday.
Spence was called up to make his big-league debut in center field after Brice Matthews (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list. The 23-year-old Spence went on to pick up his first hit in the seventh inning off Grant Wolfram. Spence should continue to see playing time in center field for Houston.
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Astros' Lucas Spence: Headed to big leagues
Rotowire
The Astros selected Spence's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday.
The 23-year-old is in the lineup, batting eighth and manning center field for Houston on Friday against the Orioles. It will be Spence's major-league debut after he slashed .246/.313/.386 with one homer, 12 RBI, seven runs scored, three stolen bases and a 5:22 BB:K across 17 games at Triple-A following his promotion from Double-A.
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Astros' Lucas Spence: Returns from IL
Rotowire
Spence (undisclosed) was activated from the 7-day injured list Tuesday.
Spence landed on the minor-league injured list at the end of April with an unspecified injury, but he's back on the field after completing a brief rehab stint. He's collected a pair of RBI and one stolen base in four appearances since being activated.
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Astros' Lucas Spence: Hits shelf at Double-A
Rotowire
Double-A Corpus Christi placed Spence on its 7-day injured list April 22 due to an unspecified injury.
The 23-year-old outfielder slashed .267/.382/.311 with zero home runs and two stolen bases over 55 plate appearances on the season for Corpus Christi before landing on the shelf.
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Astros' Lucas Spence: Included in Monday's lineup
Rotowire
Spence (neck) will start in left field and bat seventh in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Spence will check back into the Astros' spring lineup after a neck issue and kept him out of action since Tuesday. Regarding as one of the top position prospects in the organization, Spence is likely to open the 2026 season at Double-A Corpus Christi or Triple-A Sugar Land.
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Astros' Lucas Spence: Scratched with neck issue
Rotowire
Spence was scratched from Thursday's Grapefruit League lineup against the Cardinals due to a neck injury, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Spence had been slated to start in center field and bat sixth, but he'll be replaced by Ethan Frey instead. Consider Spence -- who is slated to begin the 2026 season in the minors -- day-to-day for now.
