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3 Astros One-Hit Wonders We Wish Hadn't Disappeared

By Max Bevington

The Houston Astros have had great success in recent seasons, but also have one-hit wonder players
The Houston Astros have had great success in recent seasons, but also have one-hit wonder players / Rick Stewart/Getty Images

With having won two out of the last three American League Pennants, as well as a World Series title in 2017, the Houston Astros have established themselves as one of the premier teams in MLB, despite the asterisks involved.

Although the Astros have evolved into one of the best MLB squads each of the past few seasons, we can't forget their share of one-hit wonder players throughout their checkered franchise history.

3. Jason Lane

Former outfielder Jason Lane has had solid seasons, but had one great season in 2005.
Former outfielder Jason Lane has had solid seasons, but had one great season in 2005. / Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

Outfielder Jason Lane began his career with the Astros in the 2002 MLB season and put up very solid batting averages of .290, .296, and .272 in his first three seasons in Houston. But his best season came in 2005, when he helped lead the Astros to their first ever World Series appearance. In that 2005 season, Lane actually ended up hitting only .267, but smashed a career-high 26 home runs with 78 RBI, also a career high. After that campaign, Lane only played one more full season with Houston, putting up much less impressive numbers with a batting average of .201 and only 15 dingers, as the 'Stros faded from contention.

2. Lucas Harrell

Pitcher Lucas Harrell put together a great season from the mound in 2012, but was unable to replicate it afterwards.
Pitcher Lucas Harrell put together a great season from the mound in 2012, but was unable to replicate it afterwards. / Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Former MLB pitcher Lucas Harrell started off his career with the Chicago White Sox and ended his first season in 2010 with an ERA of 4.88. During the 2011 season, Harrell continued to struggle with Chicago, and was then claimed off waivers by the Astros in July of 2011. During his first full season in Houston in 2012, he put out a career-best 3.76 ERA. Harrell also won 11 games and struck out a career-high 140 batters in 2012. Harrell returned to the Astros in 2013, but fared much worse. He ended the season with a record of 6-17 and an ERA of 5.86, along with a career-high 88 batters walked. In April of 2014, Houston decided to outright Harrell to the minor leagues, but then traded him to the Arizona Diamondbacks just a few days later. Since then, Harrell has bounced around with various teams and has not been on an MLB roster since 2017.

1. Charlie Kerfeld

Pitcher Charlie Kerfeld had a great second year in the MLB with Houston, but injuries and inconsistency derailed his career.
Pitcher Charlie Kerfeld had a great second year in the MLB with Houston, but injuries and inconsistency derailed his career. / George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Pitcher Charlie Kerfeld played his first major league season with the Houston Astros in 1985 where he pitched limited innings. Despite pitching a small number of innings, Kerfeld showed impressive ability for a rookie, ending that season with an ERA of 4.06 and a 4-2 record. In the 1986 season, Kerfeld put out an amazing performance from the mound. He ended the season with 11 wins against just two losses. Kerfeld also achieved a career-best 2.59 ERA and struck out a career-high 77 batters, while only giving up 42 walks. After that 1986 season, it looked like Kerfeld could be a future MLB star with having put together such a great performance in just his second season, but it was not meant to be for him. In the 1987, he posted a dismal 6.67 ERA and was sent down to the minor leagues for a period of time. Kerfeld became bogged down by injuries in 1988 and 1989, and continued to struggle, which made him decide to call it a career in 1990.