1993 Houston Astros season

Offseason

• October 5, 1992: Denny Walling was released by the Astros.
• November 17, 1992: Butch Henry was drafted by the Colorado Rockies from the Houston Astros as the 36th pick in the 1992 MLB expansion draft.
• December 1, 1992: Doug Drabek was signed as a free agent by the Astros.
• December 4, 1992: Greg Swindell was signed as a free agent by the Astros.
• January 5, 1993: Jack Daugherty was signed as a free agent by the Astros.
• January 27, 1993: Signed right-handed pitcher Manuel Barrios as an international free agent.
• February 1, 1993: Jim Lindeman signed as a free agent by the Astros.

Regular season

Summary

April—May

;Opening Day starting lineup

Astros starter Doug Drabek crushed the game-winning home run off reliever Pedro Martínez on May 16, a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. He helped himself to his fourth win of the season as Houston prevailed over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Drabek stuck out nine and allowed both runs as earned on the way to tossing solid innings.

For the month of May, Bagwell agglomerated a .412 batting average / .467 on-base percentage (OBP) / .676 slugging percentage (SLG) / 1.143 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS). Over 27 games, he totaled 42 hits, 22 runs, 6 doubles, 7 home runs, 25 RBI and 69 total bases. Thus, he received NL Player of the Month honors, his first such honor. Bagwell succeeded Kevin Bass during June 1986 as the most recent Astro to win the award.

June

In the Astros' first-ever road trip to face the Colorado Rockies on June 12, they took a 7–0 lead only to wind up losing the game, 14–11.

On June 22, Jeff Bagwell homered, doubled, and singled, driving in two runs in a 5–1 victory over Los Angeles. He also scored twice, including stealing home. Meanwhile, each run the Astros scored was unearned.

July

Pitcher Darryl Kile tossed his first career shutout and belted his first home run on July 3, to lead the win over the St. Louis Cardinals and run his record to 9–1. By games' end, he had added to a scoreless innings streak.

On July 10, the Astros approached history just a single away—both on pitching and offense. During the opening contest of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field, Pete Harnisch (8–6) delivered a no-hitter through innings, while Luis Gonzalez came just a single short of hitting for the cycle. Harnisch discharged his first career one-hitter during a 4–0 victory over the Chicago Cubs. With 10 strikeouts and just three walks issued, this effort earned Harnisch a game score of 92. Harnisch's no-hit bid lasted until Mark Grace lined a single to center field with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Meanwhile, Gonzalez, batting second, lined a double off Mike Harkey to right field to bring home Craig Biggio, who had led the contest off with a single. However, Sammy Sosa gunned down Gonzalez attempting to take third base. In the top of the third frame, Biggio was again aboard for Gonzalez, who hit a fly ball off Harkey to left field for a triple and drive in Biggio. In the top of the sixth, Biggio doubled to set the table for Gonzalez a third time, who homered off Harkey. In the top of the eighth, Shawn Boskie issued a walk to Gonzalez during his final opportunity to obtain the single.

During the July 10 night cap, Gonzalez drilled a José Guzmán offering to deep right in the top of the first to score Kevin Bass. Gonzalez was later issued two intentional base on balls, his first time receiving two or more during one game. Following Gonzalez' first-inning shot, the Astros maintained the extra-base hit momentum with six doubles and a triple by Biggio. Bass and Bagwell doubled twice to lead Houston to a twinbill sweep, 5–2.

August

On August 31, Bagwell collected his sixth career four-hit game and his first with at least two stolen bases. Every Astros starter had at least one hit while the team piled on 18 and pasted the New York Mets, 10–2. Craig Biggio went deep and doubled twice, and Eddie Taubensee also homered. Harnisch (12–8) allowed three hits and two runs over seven frames.

Darryl Kile's no-hitter

Opposite the 39-year-old Frank Tanana, the 24-year-old Kile no-hit the New York Mets on September 8, leading a 7–1 Astros win. Third baseman Ken Caminiti hit his 12th home run in the bottom of the second inning. In the bottom of the fifth, shorstop Andújar Cedeño also hit a blast off Tanana for his seventh of the season. The ninth no-hitter in franchise history, this was Houston's sixth

In addition to providing the offense, Houston's left side of the infield contributed two spectacular defensive gems in the seventh inning. First, Caminiti dove to his left to snag a bullet off the bat of Mets first baseman Eddie Murray. In the next at bat, Cedeño's leaping dive—a game-saver like Caminiti's—deep into the hole to trap a shot from Joe Orsulak was equally astonishing. Cedeño's singular twirl-and-heave to Jeff Bagwell at first base nipped Orsulak prior to touching the bag.

Kile polished off the contest by whiffing pinch hitters Tito Navarro and Chico Walker consecutively. Kile improved to 15–6, while walking just one batter.

His outing required just 83 pitches—getting 9 strikeouts.—and Kile retired each of the final 17 batters consecutively.

Following his no-hit effort, Kile was recognized as the NL Player of the Week for September 12. Kile's masterpiece succeeded Mike Scott's no-hit effort on September 25, 1986, as the previous by an Astro, and was succeeded by a six-man effort on June 11, 2003, composed of Roy Oswalt, Pete Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner.

Rest of September

Pete Harnisch fired a one-hitter of the San Diego Padres on September 17 to lead a 3–0 Astros win. The lone hit for the Padres arrived via a bunt single by Jarvis Brown. However, controversy ensued as to whether the play should have been officially scored as an error charged to Chris Donnels. Donnels, meanwhile, atoned for the blemish with a two-run double to provide the offensive support. This was Harnisch's second one-hit shutout of the campaign and second of his career.

Performance overview and aftermath

The Astros concluded the 1993 interval with a final record of 85–77, in third place, and 19 games trailing the first-place Atlanta Braves. The seventh time in club history that Houston had won at least 85 games, it was 13th time finishing the complete season in third place or higher. With an improvement by 4 wins, this was the second consecutive year that the Astros produced a record of .500 or better, and would continue to do so 15 times over a span of 17 seasons through 2008 to produce an era by far with the most consistency through that point in franchise history. Additionally, this Astros squad embarked on seven successive campaigns each with both a winning record and finish no lower than third place through 1999, both achievements ultimately arranging club records.

Moreover, the 85 victories represented the most Astros had won during a non-playoff qualifying campaign since they collected 89 wins in 1979, and most overall since winning 96 during their NL West division title drive in 1986.

Harnisch, who tossed two one-hit shutouts,

Conversely, the 1993 campaigned signified the end of other eras. Concurrent with Major League Baseball's second round of playoff expansion since 1969, the league commissioned one new Central division each for both the American and National leagues beginning the following season. Hence, the Astros, among 10 teams reshuffled, would no longer occupy the NL West and instead assumed position as charter members of the NL Central division starting in 1994.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

• June 3, 1993: Billy Wagner was drafted by the Astros in the 1st round (12th pick) of the 1993 Major League Baseball draft. Player signed June 22, 1993.
• July 12, 1993: Jack Daugherty was traded by the Astros to the Cincinnati Reds for Steve Carter.

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

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

Other batters

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

Pitching

Starting pitchers

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

Other pitchers

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

Relief pitchers

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

Awards and achievements

Awards

• Fred Hartman Award for Long and Meritorious Service to Baseball: Tal Smith
• Houston-Area Major League Player of the Year: Jay Buhner (SEA)
• Houston Astros Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award: Jeff Bagwell
• MLB All-Star Game—Reserve pitcher: Darryl Kile
• NL Pitcher of the Month—June: Darryl Kile
• NL Player of the Month—May: Jeff Bagwell
• NL Player of the Week:
  • May 23—Jeff Bagwell
  • September 12—Darryl Kile

League leaders

;NL batting leaders

• Sacrifice flies; Luis Gonazalez (10)
• Triples: Steve Finley (13)

;NL pitching leaders

• Hit batters: Darryl Kile (15)
• Hits per nine innings pitched (H/9): Pete Harnisch (7.07)
• Losses: Doug Drabek (18)
• Shutouts: Pete Harnisch (4)
• Winning percentage: Mark Portugal (.818)

Minor league system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Tucson, Jackson

;Awards

• Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player Award (PCL MVP): James Mouton, OF
• Texas League Most Valuable Player Award (TL MVP): Roberto Petagine, 1B

References

;Footnotes

;Sources

References

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2. "Butch Henry stats, position, height, weight, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com.
3. "Doug Drabek stats, position, height, weight, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com.
4. "Greg Swindell stats, position, height, weight, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com.
5. "Jack Daugherty stats, position, height, weight, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com.
6. "Manuel Barrios stats, position, height, weight, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com.
7. "Jim Lindeman stats, position, height, weight, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com.
8. (April 5, 1993). "Philadelphia Phillies (3) vs Houston Astros (1) box score". [[Baseball Almanac]].
9. "1993 Houston Astros uniform numbers". Baseball-Reference.com.
10. Schwartzberg, Seth. (May 16, 2025). "Today in Astros history - May 16". [[SB Nation]].
11. (May 16, 1993). "Los Angeles Dodgers (2) vs Houston Astros (3) box score". Baseball-Reference.com.
12. "Jeff Bagwell 1993 batting splits". Baseball Reference.com.
13. "MLB Player of the Month Award". Baseball Almanac.
14. Schwartzberg, Seth. (June 12, 2025). "Today in Astros history - June 12". SB Nation.
15. Schwarzberg, Seth. (June 22, 2025). "Today in Astros history - June 22". SB Nation.
16. Greene, Nelson "Chip". (September 25, 2018). "September 8, 1993: Darryl Kile no-hits the Mets at Astrodome". [[Society for American Baseball Research]] (SABR).
17. (July 10, 1993). "Houston Astros (4) vs Chicago Cubs (0) box score—Game 1". Baseball-Reference.com.
18. "Top performances for Pete Harnisch". [[Retrosheet]].
19. "Top performances for Luis Gonzalez". Retrosheet.
20. (July 10, 1993). "Houston Astros (5) vs Chicago Cubs (2) box score—Game 2". Baseball-Reference.com.
21. "Top performances for Jeff Bagwell". Retrosheet.
22. (August 31, 1993). "Houston Astros (10) vs New York Mets (2) box score". Baseball-Reference.com.
23. "Astrodome lasts". [[Retrosheet]].
24. López, John C.. (September 8, 1993). "Kile no-hits Mets". [[Houston Chronicle]].
25. (September 8, 1993). "New York Mets (1) vs Houston Astros (7) box score". Baseball-Reference.com.
26. "MLB Players of the Week Awards". Baseball-Reference.com.
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28. Hulsey, Bob. "This date in Astros history". Astros Daily.
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31. Staff and wire reports. (November 18, 1993). "Collins named Astro manager". [[Los Angeles Times]].
32. "Billy Wagner stats, position, height, weight, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com.
33. McTaggart, Brian. (December 21, 2009). "Bourn highlights Astros' awards season". MLB.com.
34. "Major League Baseball Pitchers of the Month". Baseball-Reference.com.