The Houston Astros have announced that starting pitcher Ronel Blanco will undergo Tommy John Surgery next week. This will cause him to miss the remainder of the 2025 season. Blanco is expected to return during the 2026 season.
Update on Ronel Blanco: pic.twitter.com/fTunhbFFC6
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Ronel Blanco to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Blanco, 31, didn’t break into the majors until his age 28 season, where he spent time as a reliever and spot starter before breaking into the rotation in 2024. In his first season as a starter, he pitched to a 2.80 ERA in 29 starts. He also threw a no-hitter in his first start of the season.
The Astros placed Blanco on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation on May 22nd, and he will undergo Tommy John Surgery next week. He becomes the second pitcher the Astros have lost to elbow injuries in the last month, as Hayden Wesneski also underwent Tommy John Surgery on May 23rd.
Astro’s Rotation Suffers Another Blow
Losing Blanco is a massive blow to an already thin rotation. The Astros, who are currently second in the American League West with a 29-25 record, have had their starting rotation ravaged by injuries all season long. The club suffered losses to Wesneski and Spencer Arrighetti due to injury in 2025, along with some offseason injuries. Arrighetti is expected to return from a broken thumb sometime in July.
Luis Garcia seemed close to a return from Tommy John Surgery in spring training, but suffered a setback in his rehab and was shut down from throwing in early April. Cristian Javier is still recovering from an elbow procedure he had last June. The Astros expect him to return sometime after the All-Star break. The club also expects JP France to return sometime around July, so they will have to continue to manage with a thin rotation.
Without Blanco, the Astros will continue to rely on Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown to anchor their rotation. They recently got Lance McCullers Jr. back from an almost two-year absence. He has yet to throw more than five innings in a game this season. Rookies Ryan Gusto and Colton Gordon have slotted into the rotation as of late. They will have to contribute more innings in Blanco’s absence.
Main Image Credit: © Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
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