HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 16: Chas McCormick #20 of the Houston Astros gestures to the crowd ahead of Jonah Heim #28 of the Texas Rangers after hitting a home run during the sixth inning at Minute Maid Park on June 16, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
There are many reasons the Houston Astros reside in first place at the All-Star break. Some of them you could have predicted reasonably easily, while others have seemingly come out of nowhere.
Back in spring training as the loss of George Springer started to hit home and questions about who would be the 4th outfielder swirled, one of the names I least expected to hear as a viable option was Chas McCormick.