HOUSTON -- There’s probably not an Astros player who’s more hyped for the start of Spring Training than Spencer Arrighetti, whose sophomore season in the big leagues was cut short by a pair of injuries. After a promising rookie season in 2024, Arrighetti missed four months last year with a fractured right thumb and returned on Aug. 6, going 0-4 with a 5.26 ERA in five starts before being shut down with right elbow inflammation.
Arrighetti was able to avoid surgery and has already thrown seven times in the bullpen this winter. He will report to West Palm Beach, Fla., in two weeks healthy and ready to compete.
“I feel ahead of schedule right now instead of behind,” Arrighetti said on Saturday at FanFest at Daikin Park. “So I'm just really optimistic going into camp that I'll be able to hit the ground running, be on par with the rest of the group and just still be in that competition fighting for my spot.”
Arrighetti was thrust into the rotation in 2024 because of injuries and wound up making 29 appearances (28 starts) in 145 innings. He went 7-13 with a 4.53 ERA and pitched better in the second half (3.18 ERA) than the first (5.63 ERA), which is what made last year’s injuries even more frustrating.
“I’ve already chalked it up to bad luck, bad timing, a whole list of things that are out of my control,” he said. “And then this offseason, I made a commitment to control everything that I could control effort-wise, going into my preparation, going into narrowing down my routine, nailing down what exactly is going to keep me feeling good for 162 games. I think I'm in a really good spot right now.”
The Astros added three starting pitchers in the offseason -- Tatsuya Imai, Mike Burrows and Ryan Weiss -- to create more depth behind Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier and Lance McCullers Jr. in case of injuries. That means there’s more competition, which Arrighetti embraces.
“I love it. I’m ready,” Arrighetti said. “I think that no matter whose name's getting called this year, I feel like we're going to have a great chance to go out there and win the game. I feel like the guys that we brought in this year -- trades and free-agent signings -- those are dogs. Imai, Burrows, Weiss, those guys are dogs. They’re nasty, and I’m excited to get out there and compete with them.”
Smith embraces competition
General manager Dana Brown said at the GM Meetings in November that second-year outfielder Cam Smith would have to be more consistent at the plate in 2026 or be sent to Triple-A, where he’s never played. Smith will compete for playing time in right field this spring with Trade Deadline acquisition Jesús Sánchez, who slashed an uninspiring .199/.269/.342 in 48 games with Houston last season.
“It’s nothing personal,” Smith said. “It’s a business. I’m never complacent with where I’m at. I’m always going to work. That’s nothing new to me. I’m ready. Let’s go.”
Smith won the Opening Day right-field job last spring after a position switch from third base and was a Gold Glove finalist. He played 134 games and slashed .236/.312/.358 with nine homers and 51 RBIs. He had a .765 OPS in the first half before slumping in the second (.489 OPS).
Brown said on Saturday that Smith has the upside to be an everyday right fielder but must win the job.
“I think Cam is going to be much better,” Brown said. “He’s got that year of experience under his belt. I think he’ll come into camp fired up. We’re looking for him to be a big part of this club. It’s going to be very competitive.”
Hunter Brown a fan of Imai
After the Astros signed Imai to a three-year contract in early January, ace Hunter Brown pulled up YouTube videos of Imai pitching to see what his new rotation-mate is all about. Brown liked what he saw.
“I'm excited to get to know him,” Brown said.
Brown had the best season of his career in 2025 and was the anchor of the pitching staff last year. He will be called upon to carry the weight of ace with Framber Valdez gone. After making 31 starts and going 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA and a career-best WHIP of 1.03, he finished third in AL Cy Young voting. He feels stronger than ever entering ’26.
“You get three and a half months of working out for four or five days a week instead of in-season, where you’re just prepping to throw,” he said. “I feel good -- definitely the strongest I’ve been. Also, staying mobile has been a big thing for me. As a pitcher, getting into some different kinds of positions, you want to be strong in those positions, but also flexible, as well. So yeah, I’m feeling good about it.”