1996 Houston Astros season

1996 Houston Astros
League	National League
Division	Central
Ballpark	The Astrodome
City	Houston, Texas
Record	82–80 (.506)
Divisional place	2nd
Owners	Drayton McLane, Jr.
General managers	Gerry Hunsicker
Managers	Terry Collins
Television	KTXH Prime Sports Southwest
Radio	KILT (AM) (Bill Brown, Milo Hamilton, Larry Dierker, Vince Controneo, Bill Worrell) KXYZ (Francisco Ernesto Ruiz, Danny Gonzalez)
← 1995 Seasons 1997 →

The 1996 Houston Astros season was the 35th season for the Houston Astros, a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 32nd as the Astros, third in the NL Central division, and 32nd at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season with a 76–68 record, in second-place and 9 games behind the division-champion Cincinnati Reds, while having missed the playoffs by 1 game behind the Colorado Rockies in the NL Wild Card race.

On April 1, pitcher Shane Reynolds made his first of five consecutive Opening Day start for the Astros, who hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers but were defeated, 4–3. In the amateur draft, the Astros selected pitcher Mark Johnson in the first round, at 19th overall, and pitcher Roy Oswalt in the 23rd round.

First baseman Jeff Bagwell and second baseman Craig Biggio represented the Astros for the National League at the MLB All-Star Game, the second for Bagwell, and fifth for Biggio.

The Astros finished in second place in the NL Central with an 82–80 record, six games behind the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals. In the NL Wild Card race, the Astros ranked third, eight games behind the Dodgers. This was the Astros' fourth consecutive winning season—unprecedented in club history—and third consecutive with a second-place finish in the division.

Following the season, Biggio won the Gold Glove Award, the third of his career, while reliever Billy Wagner was selected to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team for the position of left-handed pitcher.

• January 5, 1996: Anthony Young was signed as a free agent by the Astros.^[1]

On May 7 against Philadelphia, Jeff Bagwell reached the 500th run batted in (RBI) of his career with two home runs and four RBI.^[2] By hitting his second upper-deck home run at Three Rivers Stadium on May 29 – it travelled 459 feet (140 m) – Bagwell joined longtime Pirate Willie Stargell as the only players to homer twice into the stadium's upper deck.^[3]

On May 24, Craig Biggio's two-run, ninth-inning blast tied the game and sent it into extra innings. Later, Astros outfielder John Cangelosi stroked a 10th-inning RBI single to finish off the Chicago Cubs for the 8–7 win.^[4]

For the month of May, Bagwell batted .360 with .740 SLG, 10 HR, 31 RBI, scored 22 runs, and stole four bases. He was named NL Player of the Month, his fourth career monthly award.^[5]

On June 14, Bagwell tied a major league record with four doubles in one game against the San Francisco Giants.^[6]

The Astros retired Nolan Ryan's number 34 on September 29, 1996.

• v
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NL Central

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
St. Louis Cardinals	88	74	.543	—	48‍–‍33	40‍–‍41
Houston Astros	82	80	.506	6	48‍–‍33	34‍–‍47
Cincinnati Reds	81	81	.500	7	46‍–‍35	35‍–‍46
Chicago Cubs	76	86	.469	12	43‍–‍38	33‍–‍48
Pittsburgh Pirates	73	89	.451	15	36‍–‍44	37‍–‍45

1996 National League record Source: MLB Standings Grid – 1996 v t e
Team	ATL	CHC	CIN	COL	FLA	HOU	LAD	MTL	NYM	PHI	PIT	SD	SF	STL
Atlanta	—	7–5	7–5	5–7	6–7	6–6	5–7	10–3	7–6	9–4	9–3	9–4	7–5	9–4
Chicago	5–7	—	5–8	5–7	6–6	5–8	8–5	6–6	7–5	7–6	4–9	6–6	7–5	5–8
Cincinnati	5–7	8–5	—	7–6	3–9	7–6	4–8	3–9	6–6	10–2	5–8	9–3	9–4	5–8
Colorado	7–5	7–5	6–7	—	5–8	8–5	6–7	3–9	7–5	6–6	7–5	8–5	5–8	8–4
Florida	7–6	6–6	9–3	8–5	—	7–5	6–7	5–8	7–6	6–7	5–7	3–9	5–7	6–6
Houston	6–6	8–5	6–7	5–8	5–7	—	6–6	4–9	8–4	10–2	8–5	6–6	8–4	2–11
Los Angeles	7–5	5–8	8–4	7–6	7–6	6–6	—	9–3	8–4	7–6	6–6	5–8	7–6	8–4
Montreal	3–10	6–6	9–3	9–3	8–5	9–4	3–9	—	7–6	6–7	7–5	4–8	9–4	8–4
New York	6–7	5–7	6–6	5–7	6–7	4–8	4–8	6–7	—	7–6	8–5	3–10	6–6	5–7
Philadelphia	4–9	6–7	2–10	6–6	7–6	2–10	6–7	7–6	6–7	—	7–5	4–8	6–6	4–8
Pittsburgh	3–9	9–4	8–5	5–7	7–5	5–8	6–6	5–7	5–8	5–7	—	4–9	8–4	3–10
San Diego	4–9	6–6	3–9	5–8	9–3	6–6	8–5	8–4	10–3	8–4	9–4	—	11–2	4–8
San Francisco	5–7	5–7	4–9	8–5	7–5	4–8	6–7	4–9	6–6	6–6	4–8	2–11	—	7–6
St. Louis	4–9	8–5	8–5	4–8	6–6	11–2	4–8	4–8	7–5	8–4	10–3	8–4	6–7	—

1996 Game Log: 82–80 (Home: 48–33; Away: 34–47)
April: 13–14 (Home: 5–8; Away: 8–6) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 1 Dodgers 3–4 Martinez Reynolds (0–1) Worrell 34,375 0–1 2 April 2 Dodgers 5–4 Jones (1–0) Cummings — 20,492 1–1 3 April 3 Dodgers 5–2 Hampton (1–0) Nomo Jones (1) 14,858 2–1 4 April 5 Padres 4–10 Tewksbury Kile (0–1) — 28,629 2–2 5 April 6 Padres 4–8 (13) Hoffman Small (0–1) — 24,510 2–3 6 April 7 Padres 2–17 Bergman Swindell (0–1) — 16,258 2–4 7 April 8 Giants 6–2 Hampton (2–0) VanLandingham — 13,488 3–4 8 April 9 Giants 1–3 (10) Juden Tabaka (0–1) Beck 13,588 3–5 9 April 10 Giants 5–11 Fernandez Kile (0–2) — 14,183 3–6 10 April 11 @ Reds 9–4 Reynolds (1–1) Portugal — 18,946 4–6 11 April 12 @ Reds 10–8 (10) Jones (2–0) Moore Tabaka (1) 24,960 5–6 12 April 14 @ Reds 3–5 Schourek Hampton (2–1) Brantley — 5–7 13 April 14 @ Reds 8–9 Shaw Young (0–1) Brantley 21,552 5–8 14 April 16 @ Mets 9–6 Reynolds (2–1) Isringhausen Jones (2) 13,795 6–8 15 April 17 @ Mets 7–5 Kile (1–2) Wilson Jones (3) 12,065 7–8 16 April 19 Reds 13–5 Brocail (1–0) Schourek — 22,728 8–8 17 April 20 Reds 1–6 Smiley Drabek (0–1) — 34,098 8–9 18 April 21 Reds 7–5 Jones (3–0) Brantley — 27,845 9–9 19 April 22 @ Giants 11–8 Reynolds (3–1) Leiter — 8,867 10–9 20 April 23 @ Giants 8–4 Kile (2–2) VanLandingham — 8,439 11–9 21 April 24 @ Dodgers 2–5 Valdez Brocail (1–1) — 26,666 11–10 22 April 25 @ Dodgers 4–6 Nomo Drabek (0–2) Worrell 33,530 11–11 23 April 26 @ Padres 2–3 Worrell Hampton (2–2) Hoffman 21,254 11–12 24 April 27 @ Padres 6–0 Reynolds (4–1) Ashby — 38,309 12–12 25 April 28 @ Padres 3–2 Kile (3–2) Bergman Jones (4) 27,208 13–12 26 April 29 @ Padres 0–2 Hamilton Brocail (1–2) — 8,979 13–13 27 April 30 Braves 5–7 Smoltz Jones (3–1) McMichael 17,795 13–14
May: 14–14 (Home: 7–6; Away: 7–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 28 May 1 Braves 3–0 Hampton (3–2) Avery — 18,546 14–14 29 May 3 Expos 4–1 Reynolds (5–1) Cormier Jones (5) 19,633 15–14 30 May 4 Expos 1–2 Veres Hernandez (0–1) Rojas 22,810 15–15 31 May 5 Expos 0–5 Fassero Brocail (1–3) — 25,207 15–16 32 May 6 @ Phillies 11–5 Drabek (1–2) Hunter — 15,906 16–16 33 May 7 @ Phillies 7–5 Young (1–1) Springer Jones (6) 16,569 17–16 34 May 8 @ Phillies 1–2 (10) Ryan Tabaka (0–2) — 16,284 17–17 35 May 9 @ Expos 11–4 Kile (4–2) Rueter — 12,470 18–17 36 May 10 @ Expos 2–5 Fassero Dougherty (0–1) Rojas 30,315 18–18 37 May 11 @ Expos 9–10 (13) Dyer Dougherty (0–2) — 26,084 18–19 38 May 12 @ Expos 6–7 Urbina Hampton (3–3) Rojas 19,345 18–20 39 May 13 @ Cubs 0–6 Trachsel Reynolds (5–2) — 22,610 18–21 40 May 14 @ Cubs 6–3 Kile (5–2) Navarro Jones (7) 17,562 19–21 41 May 15 @ Cubs 7–5 Wall (1–0) Castillo Jones (8) 16,093 20–21 42 May 16 @ Cubs 1–13 Telemaco Drabek (1–3) — 15,902 20–22 43 May 17 Pirates 4–2 Reynolds (6–2) Lieber Jones (9) 22,882 21–22 44 May 18 Pirates 1–2 (11) Cordova Young (1–2) Plesac 21,010 21–23 45 May 19 Pirates 4–3 Jones (4–1) Lieber — 18,815 22–23 46 May 20 Cardinals 3–5 Osborne Drabek (1–4) — 14,547 22–24 47 May 21 Cardinals 2–8 Stottlemyre Reynolds (6–3) — 17,935 22–25 48 May 22 Cardinals 2–5 Benes Kile (5–3) Mathews 15,353 22–26 49 May 24 Cubs 8–7 (10) Jones (5–1) Patterson — 23,910 23–26 50 May 25 Cubs 5–2 Drabek (2–4) Navarro Jones (10) 34,326 24–26 51 May 26 Cubs 7–2 Reynolds (7–3) Castillo — 33,245 25–26 52 May 27 @ Pirates 5–3 Kile (6–3) Smith — 8,906 26–26 53 May 28 @ Pirates 5–6 Miceli Swindell (0–2) Cordova 7,182 26–27 54 May 29 @ Pirates 7–4 Morman (1–0) Darwin Jones (11) 11,679 27–27 55 May 31 @ Cardinals 4–6 Osborne Swindell (0–3) Fossas 37,625 27–28
June: 15–12 (Home: 8–4; Away: 7–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 56 June 1 @ Cardinals 4–5 (10) Bailey Hernandez (0–2) — 34,958 27–29 57 June 2 @ Cardinals 0–2 Stottlemyre Kile (6–4) — 32,703 27–30 58 June 4 Rockies 16–8 Hampton (4–3) Thompson — 18,418 28–30 59 June 5 Rockies 4–1 Wall (2–0) Reynoso — 14,954 29–30 60 June 6 Rockies 7–14 Ritz Drabek (2–5) — 22,112 29–31 61 June 7 Phillies 11–5 Reynolds (8–3) Crawford — 22,585 30–31 62 June 8 Phillies 7–3 Wagner (1–0) Springer — 23,739 31–31 63 June 9 Phillies 2–1 Young (2–2) Williams Jones (12) 30,180 32–31 64 June 10 @ Rockies 10–9 Wall (3–0) Reynoso — 48,007 33–31 65 June 11 @ Rockies 5–7 Alston Young (2–3) Ruffin 48,014 33–32 66 June 12 @ Rockies 0–8 Freeman Reynolds (8–4) — 48,024 33–33 67 June 13 @ Giants 8–12 Leiter Kile (6–5) — 10,527 33–34 68 June 14 @ Giants 9–1 Hampton (5–3) VanLandingham Wagner (1) 10,758 34–34 69 June 15 @ Giants 4–3 Wall (4–0) Watson Jones (13) 18,530 35–34 70 June 16 @ Giants 7–8 DeLucia Morman (1–1) — 27,624 35–35 71 June 17 Reds 5–4 Young (3–3) Shaw Jones (14) 24,977 36–35 72 June 18 Reds 4–6 (10) Brantley Hernandez (0–3) — 20,505 36–36 73 June 19 Reds 7–10 Portugal Hampton (5–4) Brantley 38,218 36–37 74 June 20 @ Dodgers 4–2 Wall (5–0) Nomo Jones (15) 49,656 37–37 75 June 21 @ Dodgers 11–3 Drabek (3–5) Candiotti — 33,273 38–37 76 June 22 @ Dodgers 0–3 Martinez Reynolds (8–5) — 37,844 38–38 77 June 23 @ Dodgers 3–4 Worrell Hernandez (0–4) — 35,467 38–39 78 June 25 @ Padres 9–4 Jones (6–1) Sanders — 13,458 39–39 79 June 26 @ Padres 4–3 Wall (6–0) Worrell Wagner (2) 12,388 40–39 80 June 28 Mets 2–7 Clark Drabek (3–6) Henry 24,569 40–40 81 June 29 Mets 9–1 Reynolds (9–5) Person — 35,454 41–40 82 June 30 Mets 9–3 Kile (7–5) Isringhausen — 35,981 42–40
July: 15–12 (Home: 10–3; Away: 5–9) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 83 July 1 Marlins 6–2 Hampton (6–4) Brown — 18,513 43–40 84 July 2 Marlins 4–3 (12) Johnstone (1–0) Mathews — 18,897 44–40 85 July 3 Marlins 4–3 Drabek (4–6) Leiter Jones (16) 24,537 45–40 86 July 4 @ Braves 5–2 Reynolds (10–5) Smoltz Hernandez (1) 49,060 46–40 87 July 5 @ Braves 7–1 Kile (8–5) Schmidt — 36,896 47–40 88 July 6 @ Braves 2–4 Bielecki Hampton (6–5) — 41,619 47–41 89 July 7 @ Braves 1–9 Maddux Wall (6–1) — 28,716 47–42 90 July 11 @ Mets 2–8 Clark Drabek (4–7) — 18,557 47–43 91 July 12 @ Mets 3–1 Reynolds (11–5) Jones Wagner (3) 17,405 48–43 92 July 14 @ Mets 7–5 (11) Hernandez (1–4) Mlicki Jones (17) — 49–43 93 July 14 @ Mets 3–10 Harnisch Hampton (6–6) — 33,505 49–44 94 July 15 @ Marlins 5–15 Pall Wall (6–2) — 15,807 49–45 95 July 16 @ Marlins 2–3 Perez Jones (6–2) — 15,610 49–46 96 July 17 @ Marlins 2–11 Leiter Reynolds (11–6) — 16,345 49–47 97 July 18 Braves 2–3 Smoltz Jones (6–3) Wohlers 35,822 49–48 98 July 19 Braves 7–6 Kile (9–5) Woodall Wagner (4) 39,090 50–48 99 July 20 Braves 2–1 Wagner (2–0) Maddux — 49,674 51–48 100 July 21 Braves 4–3 (10) Hernandez (2–4) McMichael — 45,561 52–48 101 July 22 Padres 1–0 Reynolds (12–6) Hamilton Wagner (5) 21,563 53–48 102 July 23 Padres 4–7 Sanders Hampton (6–7) Hoffman 19,620 53–49 103 July 24 Padres 6–4 (10) Hernandez (3–4) Villone — 19,168 54–49 104 July 26 Dodgers 4–3 Darwin (1–0) Guthrie Wagner (6) 27,089 55–49 105 July 27 Dodgers 5–6 (11) Osuna Clark (0–1) Worrell 36,841 55–50 106 July 28 Dodgers 3–2 Darwin (2–0) Eischen — 32,912 56–50 107 July 29 @ Reds 2–1 Hampton (7–7) Portugal Wagner (7) 22,163 57–50 108 July 30 @ Reds 4–5 (10) Shaw Clark (0–2) — 27,015 57–51 109 July 31 @ Reds 0–10 Smiley Wall (6–3) — 26,082 57–52
August: 17–11 (Home: 10–7; Away: 7–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 110 August 2 Giants 5–1 Drabek (5–7) Gardner Hernandez (2) 22,682 58–52 111 August 3 Giants 4–1 Reynolds (13–6) Estes — 35,930 59–52 112 August 4 Giants 7–6 Hampton (8–7) Fernandez Wagner (8) 33,646 60–52 113 August 6 Expos 5–7 Fassero Kile (9–6) Rojas 17,658 60–53 114 August 7 Expos 5–13 Leiter Wall (6–4) — 19,703 60–54 115 August 8 Expos 6–2 Drabek (6–7) Martinez — 26,632 61–54 116 August 9 @ Phillies 5–1 Reynolds (14–6) West — 21,780 62–54 117 August 10 @ Phillies 3–1 Hampton (9–7) Schilling Wagner (9) 18,486 63–54 118 August 11 @ Phillies 10–5 Kile (10–6) Williams — 24,150 64–54 119 August 12 @ Expos 1–8 Leiter Darwin (2–1) — 35,458 64–55 120 August 13 @ Expos 4–7 Martinez Drabek (6–8) Rojas 17,103 64–56 121 August 14 @ Expos 8–3 Reynolds (15–6) Cormier — 19,136 65–56 122 August 16 @ Cubs 8–3 Hampton (10–7) Castillo — 37,139 66–56 123 August 17 @ Cubs 3–12 Trachsel Kile (10–7) — 39,775 66–57 124 August 18 @ Cubs 8–10 Navarro Brocail (1–4) Wendell 37,210 66–58 125 August 19 Pirates 2–1 (13) Morman (2–1) Morel — 15,067 67–58 126 August 20 Pirates 9–4 Wall (7–4) Miceli Hernandez (3) 19,866 68–58 127 August 21 Pirates 2–5 Neagle Hampton (10–8) Ericks 13,357 68–59 128 August 22 Pirates 6–8 Wilkins Wagner (2–1) Ericks 14,899 68–60 129 August 23 Cardinals 0–1 Osborne Kile (10–8) Eckersley 35,554 68–61 130 August 24 Cardinals 3–1 Reynolds (16–6) Stottlemyre — 43,258 69–61 131 August 25 Cardinals 4–1 Wall (8–4) Benes Hernandez (4) 31,609 70–61 132 August 26 Cardinals 2–3 Benes Hampton (10–9) Eckersley 21,624 70–62 133 August 27 Cubs 6–5 Morman (3–1) Adams Hernandez (5) 15,374 71–62 134 August 28 Cubs 5–4 Olson (1–0) Bottenfield — 18,026 72–62 135 August 29 Cubs 3–4 Navarro Reynolds (16–7) Wendell 16,151 72–63 136 August 30 @ Pirates 10–0 Wall (9–4) Peters — 24,619 73–63 137 August 31 @ Pirates 5–4 Hernandez (4–4) Ericks Hudek (1) 27,559 74–63
September: 8–17 (Home: 8–5; Away: 0–12) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 138 September 1 @ Pirates 5–9 Wainhouse Darwin (2–2) — 14,144 74–64 139 September 2 @ Cardinals 7–8 (10) Benes Brocail (1–5) — 32,955 74–65 140 September 3 @ Cardinals 3–12 Stottlemyre Reynolds (16–8) — 23,955 74–66 141 September 4 @ Cardinals 4–6 Benes Wall (9–5) Eckersley 34,891 74–67 142 September 6 Rockies 2–1 Hernandez (5–4) Leskanic — 20,932 75–67 143 September 7 Rockies 5–4 Kile (11–8) Holmes Hudek (2) 37,213 76–67 144 September 8 Rockies 2–5 Reed Reynolds (16–9) Ruffin 31,316 76–68 145 September 9 Rockies 2–4 Ritz Wall (9–6) Ruffin 13,833 76–69 146 September 10 Phillies 4–3 Morman (4–1) Schilling Hernandez (6) 12,700 77–69 147 September 11 Phillies 8–10 Parrett Holt (0–1) Bottalico 17,300 77–70 148 September 12 Phillies 4–1 Kile (12–8) Williams — 16,103 78–70 149 September 13 @ Rockies 3–6 Holmes Hernandez (5–5) Ruffin 48,049 78–71 150 September 14 @ Rockies 3–7 Ritz Wall (9–7) — 48,132 78–72 151 September 15 @ Rockies 4–11 Thompson Drabek (6–9) — 48,038 78–73 152 September 17 @ Braves 4–5 Smoltz Kile (12–9) Wohlers 32,109 78–74 153 September 18 @ Braves 2–6 Maddux Hampton (10–10) — 29,885 78–75 154 September 20 @ Marlins 1–3 Brown Reynolds (16–10) Nen 21,518 78–76 155 September 21 @ Marlins 1–2 Heredia Wagner (2–2) — 31,023 78–77 156 September 22 @ Marlins 0–6 Helling Kile (12–10) — 17,461 78–78 157 September 24 Mets 0–4 Jones Wall (9–8) — 39,511 78–79 158 September 25 Mets 5–4 (10) Hudek (1–0) Wallace — 15,760 79–79 159 September 26 Mets 6–2 Drabek (7–9) Trlicek — 13,751 80–79 160 September 27 Marlins 2–3 Hutton Kile (12–11) Nen 21,725 80–80 161 September 28 Marlins 5–1 Darwin (3–2) Heredia — 21,832 81–80 162 September 29 Marlins 5–4 (10) Hudek (2–0) Hammond — 42,658 82–80
Legend:        = Win        = Loss Bold = Astros team member

• June 3, 1996: Greg Swindell was released by the Astros.^[7]
• June 4, 1996: Roy Oswalt was drafted by the Astros in the 23rd round of the 1996 Major League Baseball draft. Player signed May 18, 1997.^[8]
• July 23, 1996: Rich Loiselle was traded by the Astros to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Danny Darwin.^[9]
• July 27, 1996: Rick Wilkins and cash were traded by the Astros to the San Francisco Giants for Kirt Manwaring.^[10]

1996 Houston Astros
Roster
Pitchers 46 Doug Brocail 52 Terry Clark 44 Danny Darwin 49 Jim Dougherty 15 Doug Drabek 10 Mike Hampton 58 Dean Hartgraves 31 Xavier Hernandez 45 Chris Holt 35 John Hudek 39 John Johnstone 59 Todd Jones 57 Darryl Kile 51 Alvin Morman 30 Gregg Olson 37 Shane Reynolds 36 Mark Small 21 Greg Swindell 31,41 Jeff Tabaka 13 Billy Wagner 56 Donne Wall 22,99 Anthony Young		Catchers 20 Tony Eusebio  9 Jerry Goff  9 Randy Knorr  3 Kirt Manwaring  3 Rick Wilkins Infielders  5 Jeff Bagwell 17 Sean Berry  7 Craig Biggio 22 Andújar Cedeño 12 Ricky Gutiérrez 4,30 Dave Hajek 24 Orlando Miller 28 Bill Spiers		Outfielders 29 Bobby Abreu 14 Derek Bell 27 John Cangelosi 19 Brian Hunter 16 Derrick May 21 Ray Montgomery  6 James Mouton 23 Mike Simms		Manager  2 Terry Collins Coaches 48 Matt Galante (third base) 55 Steve Henderson (hitting)  1 Julio Linares (bench) 42 Brent Strom (pitching) 18 Rick Sweet (first base)

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C	Rick Wilkins	84	254	54	.213	6	23
1B	Jeff Bagwell	162	568	179	.315	31	120
2B	Craig Biggio	162	605	174	.288	15	75
SS	Orlando Miller	139	468	120	.256	15	58
3B	Sean Berry	132	431	121	.281	17	95
LF	Derrick May	109	259	65	.251	5	33
CF	Brian Hunter	132	526	145	.276	5	35
RF	Derek Bell	158	627	165	.263	17	113

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
James Mouton	122	300	79	.263	3	34
John Cangelosi	108	262	69	.263	1	16
Ricky Gutiérrez	89	218	62	.284	1	15
Bill Spiers	122	218	55	.252	6	26
Tony Eusebio	58	152	41	.270	1	19
Randy Knorr	37	87	17	.195	1	7
Kurt Manwaring	37	82	18	.220	0	4
Mike Simms	49	68	12	.176	1	8
Bobby Abreu	15	22	5	.227	0	1
Ray Montgomery	12	14	3	.214	1	4
Dave Hajek	8	10	3	.300	0	0
Jerry Goff	1	4	2	.500	1	2
Andújar Cedeño	3	2	0	.000	0	0

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Shane Reynolds	35	239.0	16	10	3.65	204
Darryl Kile	35	219.0	12	11	4.19	219
Doug Drabek	30	175.1	7	9	4.57	137
Mike Hampton	27	160.1	10	10	3.59	101
Donne Wall	26	150.0	9	8	4.56	99

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Doug Brocail	23	53.0	1	5	4.58	34
Danny Darwin	15	42.1	3	2	5.95	27
Greg Swindell	8	23.0	0	3	7.83	15

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Todd Jones	51	6	3	17	4.40	44
Xavier Hernandez	58	5	5	6	4.22	78
Alvin Morman	53	4	1	0	4.93	31
Billy Wagner	37	2	2	9	2.44	67
Anthony Young	28	3	3	0	4.59	19
Dean Hartgraves	19	0	0	0	5.21	16
Jeff Tabaka	18	0	2	1	6.64	18
Mark Small	16	0	1	0	5.92	16
John Hudek	15	2	0	2	2.31	14
Jim Dougherty	12	0	2	0	9.00	6
John Johnstone	9	1	0	0	5.54	5
Gregg Olson	9	1	0	0	4.82	8
Terry Clark	5	0	2	0	11.37	5
Chris Holt	4	0	1	0	5.79	0

Awards

• Gold Glove Award—Second base: Craig Biggio
• MLB All-Star Game
  • Jeff Bagwell
  • Craig Biggio
• Topps All-Star Rookie Team—left-handed pitcher: Billy Wagner

NL batting leaders

• Doubles: Jeff Bagwell (46)
• Games played: Jeff Bagwell & Craig Biggio (162)

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Tucson Toros	Pacific Coast League	Tim Tolman
AA	Jackson Generals	Texas League	Dave Engle
A	Kissimmee Cobras	Florida State League	Alan Ashby
A	Quad Cities River Bandits	Midwest League	Jim Pankovits
A-Short Season	Auburn Doubledays	New York–Penn League	Manny Acta
Rookie	GCL Astros	Gulf Coast League	Bobby Ramos

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Jackson

Awards

• Houston Astros Minor League Player of the Year: Bobby Abreu^[11]

• List of Major League Baseball annual doubles leaders

• 1996 Houston Astros season at Baseball Reference