for the hank

2 Houston Astros heavy hitters score big nominations for prestigious MLB award

The Houston Astros are hours away from facing off with the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Conference Series (ALCS; their sixth appearance, by the way).

Adding to a little momentum, two of Houston's heaviest hitters are up top bat for one of the most prestigious awards in Major League Baseball. Astros second baseman José Altuve and outfielder Yordan Alvarez have both been nominated for MLB's 2022 Hank Aaron Award.

As fans know, the award — named for one of the greatest icons in sports — honors the most outstanding offensive performer in each league. Altuve and Alvarez join six other finalists for the American League award. A panel of MLB.com writers chose the finalists for each league.

Meanwhile, Houston fans can root-root-root for our two hometown heroes by voting online through Monday, October 24.

In a stroke of good luck, a special panel of Hall of Fame MLB players will also vote on the winners of the award. The legends include Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, Pedro Martínez, John Smoltz, Johnny Bench, Eddie Murray, Robin Yount, and one Craig Biggio. Any guesses as to whom he'll vote for on the list?

Altuve is no stranger to the award nomination, as he scored the award — along with his World Series title — in 2017. For those keeping track, he ranks first among AL second basemen in runs, doubles, home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS (on-base plus slugging). The perennial hitter and good-guy thief (read on) knocked in 28 home runs and stole 18 bases in a crazy 19 attempts.

Essentially the Astros cannon in the playoffs, Alvarez has blasted 37 home runs and 97 RBIs. By the numbers, he ranks second in the AL in OPS, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage. He ranks third in home runs and fourth in runs scored and second in the MLB for hard-hit percentage.

Oh, and Alvarez also ranks first in the world for dramatic, game-winning, walk off home runs.

Created in honor of the barrier-breaking titan who famously wore No. 42, the Hank Aaron Award was introduced in 1999 in honor the 25th anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record. It was the first major award introduced by Major League Baseball in more than 25 years.

$Jos\u00e9 Altuve Houston Astros$

Houston Astros/Facebook

Altuve won the Hank in 2017.

fight night

Boxing promoter will build dedicated arena in north Houston

Photo courtesy of PlaceNEW Studios.

Red Owl Boxing currently rents a venue at 12539 Perry for events, but will soon have their own arena.

For the first time in decades, Houston will have a dedicated arena for live boxing. Red Owl Boxing recently announced that it will be open the Owl's Nest in 2027.

“Houston is a phenomenal city for boxing, and an arena of our own allows us to deliver consistency at the highest level in terms of fan experience, fighter experience, and in-house operations,” said Gabriel Fanous, Red Owl Boxing executive chairman, in a statement.

Previously, Red Owl hosted 17 live boxing shows between 2021 and 2025 at a rented venue on Perry Road. This new one, to be located at 2929 FM 1960, will feature several improvements, including a mezzanine level with luxury suites, a green room for content creation, expanded truck bay for television vans, entrance ramps for more dynamic fighter introductions, and a proper box office and concession stand. Its total space will be 25,000 square feet, and it will host 21 live boxing events in between 2027 and the end of 2028.

The new venue also comes with a new face at the top of the promotion. Veteran combat sports and media attorney Greg Bloom has been appointed CEO of Red Owl. Previously, Bloom was CEO at at Bareknuckle Boxing (BKB), where he oversaw a massive expansion promoting fights across the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East as well as bringing BKB to several new television markets.

“I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to help lead Red Owl Boxing into its next chapter," said Bloom. "Gabriel Fanous’s forward-thinking business model exemplifies the authentic passion that the company has for the great sport of boxing."

“In Greg Bloom, I have a process-focused leader with ample experience in building combat sports media companies,” said Fanous. “I don’t hire people and tell them what to do. I hire smart people so they can advise me on what to do.”

Red Owl's next live event will be Friday, May 28 at the Archer Music Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Undefeated super featherweight Deonte “Lay ‘Em Down” Brown will take on Yohan Vasquez. The match will be screened lived on DZAN.

boxing red owl boxing construction anderson

for the hank

2 Houston Astros heavy hitters score big nominations for prestigious MLB award

fight night

Boxing promoter will build dedicated arena in north Houston

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