The Astros optioned outfielder to Triple-A Sugar Land following last nights game presumably to clear an active roster spot for the pending arrival of outfielder . The team didnt formally announce the move yet, but McCormick took it upon himself to call the Astros beat over Kody Clemens Jersey to his locker last night and inform them of the news after hed been told ( via Chandler Rome of The Athletic). Houston still needs to clear a 40-man spot for Heyward. Its the first time McCormick has been sent to the minors since June 2022 a trip that only lasted one day, as he was quickly recalled to the big leagues after landed on the injured list. With the exception of that one-day trip to Sugar Land, this new optional a signment is the first time McCormick has been sent down since initially being called to the majors. (Hes briefly played in the minors in the past two years while on injury rehab a signments but hasnt actually been optioned.) The 2024 season has been a nightmare for the 29-year-old McCormick and a noted departure from the productive three-year stretch he enjoyed from 2021-23. McCormick posted a solid .257/.319/.447 slash as a rookie in 2021, enjoyed a more productive year in 2022 and broke out with a career-best .273/.353/.489 slash last year. McCormick enjoyed career-best marks in home runs (22), doubles (17), stolen bases (19), plate appearances (457), strikeout rate (25.6%), wRC+ (134) and wins above replacement (3.3 fWAR, 3.6 bWAR) during that standout 2023 campaign. Everything has trended in the wrong direction in 2024. The 2017 21st-rounder has posted a disastrous .192/.256/.292 batting line in 243 plate appearances this season. McCormicks 28.8% strikeout rate isnt a career-worst but is a significant increase from last year. His 6.6% walk rate is a career-low. McCormick has chased pitches off the plate at the highest rate of his career (33.1%) and made contact on pitches within the strike zone at the lowest rate of his career (76%). The contact hes made has generally been weak. Statcast pegs him with career-worst marks in average exit velocity (85.2 mph), barrel rate (7.8%) and hard-hit rate (31.4%). McCormick has hit more infield flies (six) in a career-low 243 plate appearances this season than he has in any previous campaign. Depending on the amount of time McCormick spends in Sugar Land, there could be contractual implications. He entered the 2024 season with exactly three years of service, meaning hed need 172 days in the majors to hit four years of service. At the moment, hes accrued 154 days of major league service. McCormick still needs another 18 days to cro s four years of service and remain on track for free agency in the 2026-27 offseason. If hes not recalled on or before Sept. 12, his path to free agency will be pushed back by a year. For now, the focus will be getting McCormick back on track down in Triple-A, where he can get everyday at-bats that havent been available as a contending Astros club looks to stay atop a closely contested AL West race. McCormick did pinch-hit in last nights game and swat a two-run homer, though that was just his fourth hit in 48 plate appearances since the trade deadline. At the moment, with still on the shelf, the Astros outfield mix includes , , utilityman , journeyman and (soon) the aforementioned Heyward. With Alvarez working primarily as a designated hitter (81 games there versus 43 in left field) and three lefty-swinging options in the outfield mix (Alvarez, Gamel, Heyward), there should be room for McCormicks right-handed bat if a brief minor league reset can get him back on track. Thats particularly with rosters set to expand from 26 to 28 players on Sept. 1. While hes struggled against lefties and righties alike this season, McCormick is still a career .286/.358/.508 hitter against southpaws. Carlos Ruiz Jersey