The Astros activated right-hander Kaleb Ort from the 15-day injured record as we speak, and positioned righty Forrest Whitley on the 15-day IL (retroactive to April 24) within the corresponding transfer. Ort didn’t see any motion in as we speak’s 7-3 win over the Royals, so the reliever remains to be ready to make his season debut after starting the yr on the IL resulting from an indirect pressure.
Whitley additionally started the season on the IL resulting from a bone bruise on his left knee, however after making only one look, Whitley now finds himself again on the shelf with a left knee sprain. Supervisor Joe Espada informed the Houston Chronicle’s Matt Kawahara and different reporters that Whitley’s two accidents are possible linked, and the reliever will bear extra testing on Monday to find out the extent of the problem. The choice was made to put Whitley on the IL when he reported extra knee soreness after a recreation of catch on Saturday, Espada stated.
It represents one more setback for Whitley, as the previous prime prospect has handled a number of accidents and a 50-game PED suspension throughout his lengthy minor league profession. Chosen seventeenth general within the 2016 draft, Whitley lastly made it to the Present final yr, throwing 3 1/3 scoreless (regardless of 5 hits and three walks) innings over three appearances for the 2024 Astros. His massive league ERA has remained spotless by his fourth profession recreation, as he tossed two extra scoreless frames in mop-up responsibility throughout Houston’s 7-0 win over the Blue Jays on April 21.
Whitley’s a number of accidents have already altered his profession path from beginning to reduction pitching, and he had very robust outcomes working in a full-time bullpen position with Triple-A Spherical Rock in 2024. There may be nonetheless loads of alternative for the 27-year-old Whitley to carve out a distinct segment for himself within the majors, if he can solely keep wholesome.
Talking of late bloomers, Ort had a 6.27 ERA in 51 2/3 profession MLB innings (all with the Pink Sox) earlier than he broke out with Houston final yr in his age-32 season. After being claimed off waivers from the Orioles final Could, Ort posted a 2.55 ERA, 28% strikeout fee, and 4.3% stroll fee throughout 24 2/3 innings out of the Astros’ pen. Whereas Ort benefited from some favorable batted-ball luck, his metrics had been nonetheless intriguing sufficient to point that he generally is a useful bullpen piece for Espada’s group.
