BOSTON -- Evan Gattis will join the Astros for Tuesday's series opener against the White Sox in Chicago and will serve as the team's backup catcher.
Manager A.J. Hinch announced after Sunday's 10-9 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park that Gattis will be called up from Double-A Corpus Christi in time for Tuesday's game, though Jason Castro will get the start. Gattis is expected to make his first appearance behind the plate since 2014 at some point during the series, though.
To make room for Gattis, the team informed catcher Erik Kratz he's no longer on the active roster, though they've yet to announce a formal transaction for him. Also, struggling outfielder Preston Tucker was optioned to Triple-A Fresno following the game, and a corresponding roster move will be announced later.
Gattis, who caught for the Braves in 2013-14, was used primarily as a designated hitter by the Astros in his first season in Houston last year. The team wanted him to get back behind the plate in the spring, but he underwent sports hernia surgery Feb. 9 and missed all of camp.
He joined the Astros shortly after the start of the season and played in 20 games before they decided to option him to Corpus Christi a week ago to get some extensive playing time at catcher. In six games with the Hooks, Gattis hit .360 with three homers and six RBIs and threw out one of the two runners trying to steal in 32 innings behind the plate.
He was in the lineup at catcher Sunday for Corpus Christi, but the game was rained out and Gattis drove back to Houston.
Gattis caught 93 games with the Braves in 2014 and 42 as a rookie with Atlanta in '13. He hit .246 with 20 doubles, 11 triples, 27 home runs and 88 RBIs in 153 games last year.