The Houston Astros continue to get missing pieces back for the final stretch of the season as they look to once again win the American League West for the eighth time in nine years. This time, the Astros’ offense looks to get a huge boost from the anticipated return of Yordan Alvarez, well-known as one of the most feared hitters in baseball. Alvarez has not played since May 2 due to a fractured right hand. Inflammation followed that further delayed his rehab process, even though it initially looked like Alvarez might return sooner.
The Return Plan for Yordan Alvarez
Astros fans have been patiently waiting for their star slugger the entire summer and will now get their chance to watch Alvarez as he begins a minor league rehab assignment with the Corpus Christi Hooks on Tuesday. According to general manager Dana Brown on the team’s pregame show, Alvarez will rest on Wednesday before playing back-to-back games to potentially wrap up his rehab assignment. The 2021 ALCS MVP initially took eight at-bats on Saturday in West Palm Beach, Fla., before returning to Houston.
Yordan Alvarez could be back in the Astros’ lineup as early as this weekend
@jonmorosi shares more on the Astros slugger, who is set to begin a rehab assignment this week. pic.twitter.com/XLo8RJrijq
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The good news for Space City is that Alvarez could suit up for the big league team next weekend during the second half of the series against the Baltimore Orioles.
The much-needed return of Alvarez has been highly anticipated for a team finally getting some of its injured stars back. The 6-foot-4 big man did not have the best start to the season, as he only hit for a .210 average, along with a .646 OPS. In 100 plate appearances, Alvarez mustered only three home runs and 18 RBI, likely due to the hand injury he suffered. Alvarez hurt his hand swinging in April, but kept playing through it. The team initially diagnosed the issue as a muscle strain in early May, but later scans revealed a small fracture that was only 60% healed and hidden by swelling.
The Importance of Alvarez’s Comeback
Houston needs the three-time back-to-back All-Star in order to make a deep run in the postseason. In 2022, Alvarez had multiple game-winning home runs and played a massive part in the Astros’ World Series title that year. Fans in H-Town would fondly remember his 450-foot blast to center field in Game 6 of the Fall Classic that gave Houston the lead over the Philadelphia Phillies. His three-run walk-off home run in Game 1 of the AL Division Series to stun the Seattle Mariners was just as spectacular.
Last season, the 28-year-old had a .308 average and .959 OPS in 147 games and was named the team’s most valuable player. Alvarez made the American League All-Star team as he crushed 35 home runs and had 86 RBI. A healthy Alvarez makes the Astros so much more dangerous and creates quite the lineup once plugged in at designated hitter.
This rehab assignment marks the first step in the big return of the Astros’ most powerful hitter. If all goes well, the boost will not just be on offense, but in the overall vibe of the clubhouse. With how much Alvarez means to the team, his return could give the Astros the extra edge they need to start winning consistently in order to close out the division.
Main Photo Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images
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