Injuries & Moves: Urquidy, McCormick to begin rehab assignments
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May 9: RHP José Urquidy (right forearm strain), OF Chas McCormick (right hamstring discomfort) to begin rehab assignments this weekend
Both Urquidy and McCormick will head to Triple-A Sugar Land to kick off their respective rehab assignments. Urquidy will start on Sunday vs. Oklahoma City, with manager Joe Espada sharing that the right-hander is projected to throw four innings or between 60-65 pitches. McCormick could play three to five games with Sugar Land, depending on how his hamstring bounces back after each game.
May 8: RHP Ryan Pressly dealing with lower back soreness
Pressly most recently pitched on May 3 in a scoreless inning of work against the Mariners. Manager Joe Espada shared that he's dealing with lower back soreness and that the Astros are employing caution with how he'll be deployed in the coming days.
"We're trying to see how he feels today," Espada said. "He played catch, he said he felt OK. Nothing worrisome right now, but he is sore right now."
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Cristian Javier (right neck discomfort)
Expected return: Saturday
Javier threw another bullpen on May 8 in preparation for his return to the rotation for the series in Detroit, starting on May 11 against the Tigers. After throwing a bullpen session on April 28 in Mexico City, he threw 3 1/3 innings on May 4 in a rehab start for Double-A Corpus Christi. Javier began experiencing neck discomfort in the days following his April 14 start against the Rangers. He was scratched from his scheduled April 21 start against the Nationals and flew from Houston to Chicago on April 23 to get checked out by team doctors. (Last updated: May 9)
RHP José Urquidy (right forearm strain)
Expected return: Late May
Urquidy threw a live batting practice session on May 7. Manager Joe Espada said the right-hander will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on May 12 vs. Oklahoma City. He's scheduled to throw four innings or 60-65 pitches. Urquidy went 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA in 16 games (10 starts) last year and spent three months on the injured list with right shoulder discomfort. (Last updated: May 9)
OF Chas McCormick (right hamstring discomfort)
Expected return: Mid-May
McCormick started 16 games in left field, four in center and one in right field this season, but he has struggled at the plate and is still searching for his first home run while in the longest homerless drought of his career (21 games). Manager Joe Espada shared that McCormick will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on the weekend of May 10-12. McCormick could play three to five games with Sugar Land, depending on how his hamstring responds to game action. (Last updated: May 9)
INF Grae Kessinger (right shoulder discomfort)
Expected return: Late May
Kessinger was sent to Triple-A Sugar Land to begin a Minor League rehab assignment on May 5 at El Paso, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. He made the Astros' Opening Day roster as the team's utility infielder but played sparingly before he was sidelined with a shoulder issue.
"He's feeling well," manager Joe Espada said. "I'm happy he's gotten the opportunity to also play. ... Keeping him down there for an extra day or two is beneficial for him, just to get him on the field running around, picking up at-bats and playing multiple positions." (Last updated: May 7)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (right forearm surgery)
Expected return: Midseason
McCullers progressed to throwing 10 fastballs off the mound's rubber on May 4, in what manager Joe Espada describes as a "half side" session. He did not pitch in 2023 following surgery performed on June 13 to repair his flexor tendon and remove a bone spur.
The right-hander had rehabbed to the point that he was close to facing hitters in mid May of last year, but another setback ultimately led to surgery. (Last updated: May 5) More>>
RHP Penn Murfee (right elbow surgery)
Expected return: Midseason
Murfee, claimed off waivers on March 27 from the Braves, won't be able to help the Astros until midseason after undergoing UCL surgery in June 2023. He had surgery July 5 of last year. He's progressed to throwing off the slope of the mound. (Last updated: May 4)
RHP Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Midseason
Garcia threw another bullpen session on May 3 as he continues to rehab from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in May 2023. He began throwing bullpens in April and is taking a slow progression to eventually going out on a Minor League rehab assignment.
The expectation is that he will be able to rejoin the Astros' rotation at some point in the middle of the season. (Last updated: May 3)
RHP Oliver Ortega (elbow surgery)
Expected return: July
Ortega underwent surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow, the Astros announced March 21. He was expected to miss three to four months. Ortega appeared in two Spring Training games in relief before being sidelined with elbow discomfort. He joined the Astros after being claimed off waivers from the Twins on Oct. 25. Ortega appeared in 10 games for the Twins in 2023, going 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA while tallying 14 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings pitched. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 9 to make room on the 40-man roster for Wander Suero. (Last updated: April 9)
LHP Bennett Sousa (left shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: 2025
Sousa was headed towards a spot on Houston's Opening Day roster before what he described as an inflamed nerve sent him to the IL to begin the season. Sousa said he experienced some numbness and soreness in his hand and "tried to grind through it." He underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome on April 3 and was shut down for the season. (Last updated: April 6)
RHP Kendall Graveman (right shoulder labral surgery )
Expected return: 2025
Graveman, acquired by the Astros for the second time at last year’s Trade Deadline, posted a 2.42 ERA in 23 appearances for Houston in August and September but didn’t pitch in the playoffs because of right shoulder discomfort. He underwent season-ending surgery in January. (Last updated: March 28)