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This story was excerpted from Brian McTaggart’s Astros Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

In the seventh inning of the Astros’ win over the Cubs on Monday, shortstop Jeremy Peña made a great diving catch of a line drive off the bat of Cubs hitter Seiya Suzuki, got back on his feet and threw to first base to complete a double play. The ball had an exit velocity of 109 mph and a 65 percent hit probability, but none of that mattered to Peña.

Peña, the American League Gold Glove winner at shortstop last year as a rookie, was in the right place at the right time. And it wasn’t happenstance. Because of his preparation, Peña had anticipated the pitch relief pitcher Rafael Montero was going to throw -- a sinker -- and knew where Suzuki was going to try to hit the ball.

“I knew he wanted to stay through the middle,” Peña said. “I think it was a sinker pitch, so I knew he wasn’t really going to roll it over. He wasn’t going to pull it. It was either going to be hit at me, or to my left and I was already programmed to go either way.”

Everyone learned about Peña’s skills last year when, taking over for Carlos Correa, he won a Gold Glove, American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player and World Series MVP as a rookie. His big moments at the plate in last year’s playoffs are well documented, but’s he’s an elite defensive player who still seems to be improving.

“This year, I feel more comfortable on defense,” Peña said. “I feel like the game has slowed down a bit. Last year, I felt like the game was a little fast. This year, I feel like we just know the league a little better. You know who can run, you know how much time you have on a certain play. That’s the biggest difference.”

Peña put in the work, but he credits bench coach Joe Espada, first-base coach Omar Lopez and assistant director of player development and Minor League field coordinator Jason Bell with working with him in the offseason to put him in position to get better. The goal was to slow the game down, understand the hitters’ tendencies.

“We do a lot of talking before the game starts of just going over some certain hitters, the speed of those certain hitters, understanding what our pitchers are trying to do more, so he understands the game plan,” Espada said. “Credit goes to him. He’s just paying attention and it’s paying off. He’s got all the skills and now he knows how fast he needs to play, how fast he needs to go finish every play.”

So what’s the next level for Peña’s defense? Espada said it’s finding some consistency.

“Not to be content,” he said. “Complacency is something we don’t like talking about at all. He’s one of those guys that every day, he tries to get better.”

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- When the pandemic hit, ABC13 launched a weekly job fair, which, three years later, continues to help people find work.

Pipefitting is a career choice Juan Tovar didn't think was an option until he came across ABC13's social media page.

"I ended up finding a post on ABC13 about the pre-apprenticeship program, and I figured that was exactly what I needed," Tovar recalled.

Eight months later, Tovar has gone through a three-week pre-apprenticeship program.

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ABC13's Who's Hiring job fairs have continued to help people connect with employers and programs three years after the pandemic hit.

He's now applied to join a pipefitters apprenticeship program.

In weeks, he could be on his way to making money while learning a new career.

"I didn't know where I was going to go," Tovar recalled. "I was looking at options. This was one of them. I went for it."

It's a success story our ABC13 Who's Hiring Job Fair with Workforce Solutions has brought to hundreds of people in southeast Texas over the past three years.

"I thought it was a one-time thing," Workforce Solutions spokesperson Michelle Castrow recalled. "Then, we went for a month or so, and I thought, 'OK, that's good. It means we're doing something right.' I had no dreams three years later we'd still be doing this."

Each Thursday at 10 a.m., ABC13 features several immediate-hire jobs. We also have guests from various careers, colleges, and programs. You can watch on our website or wherever you stream ABC13.

"We are still getting 500 new job orders every day," Castrow explained. "Employers have a need. Our role in this is to make sure our people understand what's available right now to understand the jobs that are going to pay well going into the future."

One of those in-demand jobs is a pipefitter, a career you can get into through a pre-apprenticeship program as Tovar took.

"They tend to have higher scores on the aptitude test, and they are much better prepared with exactly what they're getting into with this five-year apprenticeship," Pipefitters Local 211 Education Administrator Candyce Castillo said.

It's an earn-while-you-learn job that Tovar is hoping to start soon.

"I thought it was too good to be true, but I asked, and I called, and it was exactly what they mentioned, and it's perfect," Tovar said.

You can view the jobs in our ABC13 Who's Hiring Job Fair and look for the "As seen on ABC13" section, or also call the ABC13 hotline powered by Workforce Solutions at 713-243-6663.

For updates on employment, hiring and free job fairs, follow Nick Natario on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The University of Houston presented a revised contract for men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson in the past two weeks, sources briefed on the situation said while a report circulated Wednesday that Sampson interviewed for a vacant NBA head coaching job.

ESPN reported that Sampson, who has built UH into a national championship contender, met with the Milwaukee Bucks about their opening. A source characterized Sampson’s meeting with the Bucks as “a visit.”

In a text message to the Houston Chronicle, Sampson quashed any speculation he might be leaving for a job elsewhere.

“Can’t wait to compete in the Big 12. Go Coogs!” Sampson wrote in reference to UH’s conference move on July 1.

Prior to taking over at Houston, Sampson spent six seasons in the NBA as an assistant coach, including three with the Bucks. The UH offer has been on the table since early May, before top-seeded Milwaukee lost its first-round Eastern Conference series to the Miami Heat and fired Mike Budenholzer.

The new UH contract presented to Sampson’s representatives includes a pay raise that would put him among the top 15 college basketball coaches in salary, two sources with knowledge of the talks said. Under his current deal, Sampson, 67, is set to make $3.4 million in 2023-24 and would receive a $100,000 increase each year that UH makes the NCAA Tournament through the 2026-27 season.

“He’s outperformed, and he’s earned to be better compensated,” UH athletic director Chris Pezman said earlier this month at the Big 12’s spring meetings.

UH is also working on a new deal with assistant coach Kellen Sampson that includes “more defined head coach-in-waiting” language in his contract and commensurate pay once he makes the transition to replace his father.

“There’s got to be some forethought, especially at a program that is elite like we are, that what Kelvin and Kellen built to this point that we make sure we maintain it whenever that happens,” Pezman said. “We want it to be a long time from now. We want to keep it as good as possible for Kellen. Part of that is keeping Kellen here and making sure that Kellen knows there is a path forward to the future, financially and a path for him to be the head coach and what that looks like.”

Kelvin Sampson is 232-74 in nine seasons at UH, including four straight appearances in the Sweet 16 and a trip to the Final Four in 2021. The Cougars spent a majority of the 2022-23 season with the No. 1 ranking and matched the program record with 33 wins.

In a Hall of Fame worthy career, Sampson is 657-301 across stops at UH, Indiana, Oklahoma and Washington State. Along with three years with Milwaukee, Sampson spent three seasons with the Rockets from 2011-14 and as an adviser to San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

The ESPN report cited Sampson’s relationship with Bucks general manager Jon Horst, who was a member of the franchise’s front office when Sampson worked on Scott Skiles’ staff from 2008-11.

In 2018, Sampson was linked to the Orlando Magic head coaching opening, and Arkansas expressed interest the following year.

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After 11 seasons in the National Football League, Whitney Mercilus made a name for himself on the field, including earning NFL All-Pro Second Team honors in 2016. Now, he’s looking to make a name for himself off the field.

The son of two Haitian immigrants, Mercilus was born in Orange, New Jersey, and grew up in Akron, Ohio. He played defensive end at the University of Illinois, winning multiple honors and awards following his junior season. Mercilus chose to forgo his senior year and enter the NFL draft.

His decision paid off. Mercilus was chosen in the first round of the 2012 draft by the Houston Texans. He helped lead the team to five playoff appearances, but after spending 10 seasons in Houston, he was released. Mercilus then signed with the Green Bay Packers, spending one year with the team before choosing to retire from the league in 2022.

During his time in the NFL, Mercilus started the WithMerci Foundation, which provides community advocacy of and financial support for children with disabilities and special needs. Also while in the league, Mercilus became interested in real estate investing, which ultimately led him to where he is now.

Mercilus is now part of an internship program with real estate developer Vero Sade, a sister company of New York-based investment firm Vero Capital. His involvement in the program came about after he met Dan Bassichis, founder and managing partner of Vero Capital, who helps professional athletes transition from sports into business with his partner David Robinson, a former NBA player. As part of the program, Mercilus has chosen to focus his business ventures on the multifamily sector.

While being in the NFL was a significant opportunity for him, Mercilus said being a professional football player was never the ultimate goal. However, having that experience has now given him a platform to be able to develop and achieve his other goals, such as in real estate and with his foundation.

What were some of your favorite moments in the NFL? There’s a few, like the time where I got a chance to go to the playoffs for the first time when I came in the 2012 season. Another moment was my first sack in the NFL, which was against Joe Flacco here in Houston. 2019 was a special year. I finally got two interceptions that year. I was looking for an interception for at least eight years of my life, and the first one was on Drew Brees in the first game of the season. I remember that play to the tee. I tried to run it back and I got tackled by the tight end on the opponent’s five yard line. I was so out of breath. Then, I got my second interception against Tennessee against Ryan Tannehill and ran it back like 86 yards. The end zone was right there, but I got hawked. I couldn’t unhook that trailer on the back. I was so defeated and out of breathe. I could have gotten my first touchdown in the NFL, but I had to settle with just an interception.

Why wasn’t the NFL the ultimate goal for you? Coming from an immigrant family, it’s all about education. I’m glad the NFL came along because it opened my eyes to a whole different world, but never was it always that end all, be all. It was always a platform and a catalyst to something greater. I just wanted to get a scholarship and get an education and not have to worry about any debts. I enjoy football and it’s great that I got to be able to do it as a living, but I wanted to utilize that platform and my earned income in order to go do what I really wanted to do.

How did having goals beyond football help you transition out of the league? There’s this moniker that the National Football League is not for long. Luckily, I was blessed to be able to play for 10 years. You have to focus and dedicate your entire life to eating, living and breathing football and to understanding the game plans, analyzing and dissecting plays on field, and understanding your opponent inside and out. That actually bridges over to the business world. Having that mindset, it really has helped me be able to transition.

How did you first get interested in real estate investing? I was wrapping up my taxes with my former CPA and we had an hour long conversation about investing in real estate. I was just more so looking at it as a cash play versus having to hit 300 pounders to actually earn an income and beat my body up. At that time, I was so intrigued. I was like, “Wow, you can really do this without having to go hit anybody and actually earn it?” It was the whole principle of taking your money to work for you and you make money while you sleep. My first investment was a Whataburger in Hallsville, Texas. It was the perfect asset. I was able to earn $65,000 a year. I thought I was the hottest thing on the block.

Where do you see the future of your foundation going? I began that in 2016 and that passion really came from what I studied in college. About four to five years in the NFL, after spending my time with kids at the hospital and doing camps, I really wanted to do something with a great impact that was very focused and direct. It started with rotating disabilities each year and educating the public, but also partnering up with local organizations who are specified towards that disability. Through seven years, we were able to raise $700,000 and impact 3,000 kids. I shut down the foundation January 31 of this year because it was not sustainable based on what I had done because it was so uniquely tied to who I was a football player. So I thought, “How do I get to a point where this is an absolutely great beneficial deal for whoever wants to be a part of the mission?” Impact investing. I’m working on bringing those two worlds together. I’m at a point where I want to combine these investing passions to that philanthropy passion and do this impact investing and see where that bridge can be.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Closer look:

Hometown: Akron, Ohio

Education: University of Illinois, studied community health with a concentration in disabilities and rehabilitation

Favorite NFL teams growing up: Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts

Least favorite part about playing in the NFL: “Practicing in 120 degree heat with 90% humidity for nine and a half years.”

Favorite movie and TV genres: Science fiction, anime

Favorite books: "Good to Great" by Jim Collins; "Never Eat Alone" by Keith Ferrazzi

Last summer, James Harden declined his $47.4 million player option then ultimately re-signed with the 76ers for $14.4 million less in a move that opened up room for Philly to round out a contending roster (the league called that tampering). Harden’s sacrifice didn’t lead to a ring.

Now Harden wants to get paid.

He will opt out of his $35.6 million for next season to hit free agency, seeking the security of multiple years, reports Chris Haynes at Bleacher Report. Harden also says he wants to play for a competitive team.

Harden, 33, took a sizable pay cut last offseason to help the Sixers build the roster out. The guard will now be seeking a four-year contract…

The Houston Rockets have long been a rumored destination, but sources say Harden will only entertain suitors that present a competitive roster and the basketball freedom for the star to be himself, sources say.

There may not be a long line of teams interested in Harden’s services — his skills are in decline and there is a lot of mileage on those tires — but he only needs one. And he appears to have at least two interested parties in the Rockets and 76ers (Daryl Morey said he wants to bring Harden back in Philly).

There are two clear takeaways from this news. The first is obvious: Turning 34 before next season starts — and with his game showing some slippage — he wants the security of as many years as possible. Because of the “over 38” rule, not even the 76ers can offer him more than four years. His max would be $210 million over four years with the Sixers, or $201 million with another team, however, it is highly unlikely any team wants to max him out for four years. Or maybe even one year. The more likely option is a compromise where Harden takes less than the max to get the security of three or four years.

The second takeaway is this feels like a clear message to the Rockets: I’m not coming there just to babysit young players, get some veterans in here who can help us win now. League sources have told NBC Sports that the interest between Harden and the Rockets is genuine, but that doesn’t mean he returns to Texas automatically. There are conditions. Notice this report didn’t use the word “contend” — something that likely only Philly can offer Harden — but rather “competitive roster,” which the Rockets could assemble. Also, Harden wants a system that doesn’t confine him to a role of a facilitator, as he was for much of the time in Philadelphia.

The Rockets have good young talent in players such as Alperen Şengün and Jalen Green, plus they have the No. 4 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft (which likely lands a team Amen Thompson). Young players and that pick could be traded to get the kind of veterans Harden wants to see around him.

Harden averaged 21 points and led the league with 10.7 assists per game. In the playoffs we saw the highs of what he can still do on a given night — a 45-point Game 1 against Boston — as well as the lows (his disappearing act with the series on the line).

What matters ultimately is what Harden values most, which seems to be the security of multiple years. Where that lands him will be one of the big tipping points of the summer.

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Report: James Harden will opt out with 76ers to test free agency originally appeared on NBCSports.com