Astros Manager Joe Espada Drops Huge Update on $115M Star’s Potential Return Amid Offensive Struggles

We all remember May 3—a Houston Astros’ $115 million star suffering an inflammation in his right hand. That too, while hitting against a pitching machine. And what followed was him getting sidelined right before the Astros were about to start a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays.  Not to forget that the Astros’ offense has been rather poor this season. They currently boast a .709 OPS, which is not at all impressive. More concerning is that there haven’t been any notable improvements in their swing decisions, too. The batters are not chasing enough pitches, and they are swinging even less.  However, there’s a little gleam of hope at the moment with Astros manager Joe Espada dropping a major update on the star’s return. Guess who we are talking about.

Well, no surprise for many. We are talking about the 27-year-old Cuban designated hitter and left fielder for the Houston Astros, Yordan Alvarez. It’s good news that he is on the verge of recovery. In fact, he will probably make it to the lineup given that he has been practicing batting against the minor-league pitchers at Daiki Park.

Now that he is being closely monitored by the manager, Espada is optimistic about his return soon. “It went really well. He hit some balls out of the ballpark; he hit some balls the other way. He said he felt good, so we’ll see where this takes us. I think this is a step in the right direction.” Yordan Alvarez managed to swing his bat quite a number of times. The upside was that his hand appeared to be recovering nicely from the injury.

But is that enough to think that he will be returning soon?

Well, going by Joe Espada and Astros’ general manager Dana Brown’s reactions, Alvarez seems to be going in the right direction. Espada, however, believes that he won’t be allowed to go back until he can swing his bat pain-free. And we completely agree, right? The Astros are not going to take risks, especially at this moment, where they stand atop the AL West with a 31-26 record.

Right from the injury till date, Joe Espada is keeping a close eye on him and how he progresses. “I think we’re going to give this some time here and see how this feels. I think today went well.” He felt that he could perform better because all of the batting drills against the pitching machine on Thursday went smoothly. That’s probably why he was able to unwrap his arms when he faced minor-league pitchers Grant Burleson and Dylan Howard.

But not to forget that he has been struggling massively this season. Yordan Alvarez has posted only three home runs and 18 RBIs at a .210 average, a .306 OBP and a .646 OPS. Obviously, the Astros are doing quite well, but the have the potential to do even better if Alvarez is on the team.

But after the way Alvarez ended his batting practice with a home run before the Astros vs Tampa Bay Rays game, we all hope he returns sooner rather than later. More significantly, he will be game-ready once he is prepared and won’t need to undergo rehabilitation. Meanwhile, another positive update from a different recovering player is shortly incoming for Astros fans.

Beyond the $115M star: The Astros are looking for the return of their first baseman

Manager Joe Espada has left the $115 million star’s return in his own hands. However, just like the Houston Astros received positive news on Yordan Alvarez’s return, their first baseman, Christian Walker, seems to be returning soon as well. If you remember, in the 5-3 win over the Athletics, Walker was hit by a 96-mph sinker thrown by Luis Severino. While it sent shivers among the fans, the negative X-ray report soon brought back their smiles, confirming that the injury wasn’t serious.

Now that Chandler Rome of The Athletic made a post on his X handle: “Christian Walker is going to take the infield and hit today before the game. Joe Espada said he could be available off the bench tonight. Also, Luis Garcia is going to throw a bullpen on Sunday.” It won’t be wrong to say that he will soon be back in the lineup. But the question is, what significance does Walker hold for the Astros?

Well, first of all, his skills and potential at first base, along with his ability to swing the bat, are something praiseworthy. That’s why they probably have invested $60 million for someone like him. He has already posted seven home runs, batting at a .213 average with a .276 OBP and a .638 OPS. But now for him, recovering from an injury is more of a mental battle than physical. Think that’s true?

Maybe true to some extent. However, his recuperation is proceeding according to plan because of the support he has been receiving from the Astros, the medical staff, and his close associates. While it is a stark reminder of how fragile the career of an athlete may be, we all will be hoping that all team members step up to the occasion and do their best to fill the gap caused by Walker and Albarez’s absence.

Both the players’ recovery from the injury to their first step on the field will reflect their undying commitment towards the game and their triumph over adversities in sports.

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