Spence Makes MLB Debut

Lucas Spence made his Major League debut Friday night at Daikin Park, going 1-for-3 with a walk while getting the start in center field.

Spence, a non-drafted free agent signee of the Astros in 2024, coaxed the walk in his first MLB plate appearance in the second and cracked a base hit up the middle to start the seventh.

First big league hit for the rookie!#ChaseTheFight x @budweiserusa pic.twitter.com/ai3NGeDLn2

— Houston Astros (@astros) July 18, 2026

Spence, 23, batted .246 with five extra-base hits and 12 RBIs in 17 games for Triple-A Sugar Land after opening the season with the Hooks.

The speedy left-handed outfielder from Southern Illinois-Edwardsville entered the Pacific Coast League having hit safely in each of his final 14 Texas League games, batting .407 with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, and 19 RBIs. It is the longest hitting streak by a Hooks player this season.

Spence is the 192nd former Hook to “graduate” to the big leagues in 21 campaigns, joining RHP Alimber Santa, C Collin Price & RHP Miguel Ullola this year.

Spence is in select company as a position player to reach the Majors for the first time after opening the year at Double-A. OF Zach Cole accomplished the feat last season, homering on the first pitch of his first MLB plate appearance. IF Zach Dezenzo and C Yainer Diaz made their MLB debuts after starting with CC in 2024 and 2022, respectively.

Spence, hailing from Beecher, Illinois, batted .252 with 18 doubles, 3 triples, 8 home runs, 47 RBIs, 44 walks, and 16 stolen bases (2 caught stealings) in 74 games over the past 2 seasons with the Hooks, recording 5 outfield assists.

Punctuating his Texas League tenure, Spence hit .368 with 12 extra-base hits, 21 RBIs, and a 1.101 OPS in his last 18 Corpus Christi contests.