The Houston Astros, despite still leading the American League West at this point in the year, have got through what some would consider a hellacious 2025 season.
After a massive deal given to future Hall of Fame second baseman Jose Altuve over the offseason led to Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker each finding new teams, the Astros knew they would need to fill the holes, and that it would be a tough season.
However, they probably didn’t think it would be this tough.
Injuries have plagued the team like no one has ever seen before, and one of those still on that injured list three months after the original injury is the team’s power-hitting designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, who has been dealing with a right-hand injury that was originally a strain, only to have the situation gradually become worse over time.
And you may think that the team is still doing good without the big man, but the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers are nipping at the Astros’ heels in the AL West race, and Houston can only afford so many players being injured at this point in time.
Thankfully, the slugging DH was seen a short time ago hitting a ball off of a tee and taking reps at Houston’s spring training facility, so a return to the lineup could be coming sooner rather than later.
Losing Bregman and Tucker hurt the team’s lineup enough, and now with Jeremy Pena’s recent short stint on the IL, Isaac Parades’ injury, Altuve’s inconsistency at the plate over the year and who even knows how Carlos Correa will do in his return to Space City, seeing no. 44 back in the Astros lineup would surely be a sight for sore eyes.
Because when Yordan is healthy and at the top of his game, some might argue that only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are better overall hitters in the sport.
