WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Astros closer Josh Hader, who missed the final two months of last season with a left shoulder capsule strain, said Wednesday he’s “a few weeks behind” schedule after being diagnosed with biceps tendinitis about 10 days ago.
Hader was able to resume his throwing program Wednesday on the back fields at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches -- the first day of pitchers and catchers working out in Spring Training -- by making a few tosses off flat ground without any issues. He’ll start progressing from there, with hopes of being ready for Opening Day.
“For me, it’s more of just seeing how my body responds on everything,” he said. “If I started setting a [time] table, I don’t want to get to the point where I’m going to be rushing it and something long-term happens, which I don’t think it will. Sometimes you’ve got to be cautious with that.”
Hader said he was up to 85 mph while throwing in the bullpen, but felt a grabbing in his biceps while throwing a changeup during his fourth bullpen session of the offseason. The feeling persisted the following day while throwing another changeup and again when he started throwing with more intensity without using his changeup.
“The biceps kind of got inflamed, so I took about 10 days off and started letting that heal a little bit and now we’re here today,” he said. “Today is the first day of catch play, and it was pretty good. A little setback, but nothing too concerning for me. Just building back up and get ready for the season.”
Hader, who saved 28 games for the Astros last year and made his sixth All-Star team, landed on the 15-day injured list in August after reporting some left shoulder discomfort while working out at Daikin Park. He didn’t pitch again in 2025 after his Aug. 8 outing against the Yankees in which he threw two innings.
He finished his rehab from that injury in November and got off the mound and threw 87 mph before taking a break. He resumed throwing again in January and was around 85-87 mph in those bullpens, with his capsule not being an issue.
“It’s early,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “We have a good seven, eight weeks [before Opening Day]. We have time and Josh knows his body very well, so he will let us know.”
Hader was named American League Reliever of the Month for June by going 4-1 with a 1.98 ERA. He converted all nine of his save opportunities in 14 appearances, allowing six hits with one walk, 22 strikeouts, a 0.51 WHIP, a .128 opponents’ average and 14.49 strikeouts per nine innings. He converted his first 25 save chances of the year, setting a club record.
“I think he’s going to be fine,” Astros general manager Dana Brown said. “The big thing is he feels really good. At the end of the day, he was building up and this is expected. You’re going to get soreness when you’re coming off an injury. You’re definitely going to get soreness. I feel confident he’s going to be all right, mainly because he feels really good.”