Brice Matthews didn’t spend much time in Houston last season, but he certainly made the most of his opportunity. The former first-round pick flashed real potential during his brief stint with the Astros, hitting four home runs and posting a .452 slugging percentage in just 13 games. Add that to a strong Triple-A season in Sugar Land – where he slashed .260/.371/.458 – and it’s clear Matthews is knocking on the door for more playing time in 2026.

But here’s where it gets complicated.

Astros GM Dana Brown recently said Matthews will “get some run in the outfield,” but emphasized that second base remains his primary position. That sounds great in theory – versatility is always a plus – but when you look at the Astros’ current roster construction, fitting Matthews into the mix is anything but straightforward.

Let’s start with the infield. Shortstop?

Locked down by Jeremy Peña. First and third?

Houston’s already heavily invested there after trading for Isaac Paredes, inking Christian Walker to a three-year, $60 million deal, and reuniting with Carlos Correa at last year’s deadline. That’s a lot of money and a lot of names crowding the corners.

Second base, where Matthews is projected to play the most, isn’t exactly wide open either. Paredes could slide over, but he’s a below-average defender at the keystone.

And while the Astros did experiment with Jose Altuve in the outfield last season, that experiment didn’t exactly pan out. Altuve ended up logging more games at second (66) than he did in left (47), which suggests Houston still sees him as a better fit in the infield – even if his days as an everyday second baseman are winding down.

That brings us to the outfield. The Astros still have Jesús Sánchez in the fold and appear committed to keeping Yordan Alvarez locked in at DH.

That limits flexibility in the corners. And while trading Jacob Melton to acquire Mike Burrows may have opened a path in center field, Jake Meyers remains on the roster and is expected to be the starter in center come Opening Day.

So where does that leave Matthews?

Right now, it looks like he’s on the outside looking in. There’s no clear path to regular at-bats unless the Astros make some significant moves between now and spring training. Whether that’s offloading a corner infielder, finding a trade partner for Walker (whose market has been quiet), or shifting someone like Paredes to a utility role, Houston will need to get creative.

The good news? Matthews has shown he can hit, and he’s athletic enough to handle multiple positions.

That kind of profile doesn’t stay buried in Triple-A for long – especially on a team that’s always looking to maximize production. But unless the Astros clear some space, Matthews may have to wait a little longer before he gets an extended shot in the majors.

For now, expect him to begin the 2026 season back in the minors. But if the front office can sort out the roster logjam – or if injuries open the door – don’t be surprised if Matthews forces his way back to Houston sooner rather than later.

He’s earned a longer look. The question is whether the Astros can find him the runway to take off.