The Houston Astros have designated outfielder Jake Meyers for assignment, removing him from their 40-man roster, the team announced Monday. The move ends Meyers' six-year run with the organization, with the 30-year-old expected to elect free agency after a disappointing 2026 campaign in which injuries and offensive woes limited his playing time.

Meyers appeared in just 57 games during the 2026 regular season, finishing with a .213/.268/.326 slash line with three home runs, 11 RBIs and a 67 wRC+. His season was disrupted by a Grade 2 right oblique strain that kept him out for more than a month. Although he returned in May, he never fully reclaimed a regular role in Houston's lineup.

Meyers was subsequently optioned to Triple-A in early July after failing to produce consistently at the plate. His time in the minors did little to change his situation, as he hit .212/.277/.315 while attempting to earn another opportunity in the majors. He made only five additional appearances for the Astros down the stretch. A foul ball struck his left kneecap while he was playing for Sugar Land in September, ending his season.

Meyers had been a regular presence in Houston's center field from 2023 through 2025. Over that three-year period, he compiled a .243/.310/.370 batting line, with a 93 wRC+, 22% strikeout rate and 7.4% walk rate. He was most impactful defensively, accumulating 22 Defensive Runs Saved, 43 Outs Above Average and 35 Fielding Run Value across more than 3,800 career innings in center field.

His 2025 campaign was among the best of his career, recording 2.3 fWAR despite hitting only three home runs in 381 plate appearances. Between 2023 and 2025, Meyers also collected 51 doubles, six triples, 26 home runs and 118 RBIs across 364 games, generating 5.5 bWAR.

However, injuries repeatedly interrupted his progress. A torn labrum in his left shoulder during the 2021 postseason required surgery and limited him to 52 games in 2022. Meyers also missed nearly two months in 2025 because of a right calf strain. Across the last two seasons, he missed 163 team games.

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Meyers entered 2026 with 4.044 years of major league service time, falling approximately two weeks short of reaching five years. His projected arbitration salary is $3.6 million, potentially making it difficult for another team to claim him at that figure. The Astros have five days to trade him or place him on waivers following the designation, with the waiver process taking another 48 hours.

Meanwhile, Houston also made several additions to its roster, selecting right-handed pitchers Roddery Munoz and Evan Reifert, along with catcher Cesar Salazar.

Following the transactions, the Astros have 39 players on their 40-man roster, leaving one spot available.