Astros righty Luis Garcia hasn’t pitched since Might 1, 2023 as a result of an elbow harm that required Tommy John surgical procedure later that month. He’s been constructing again up in camp this 12 months, pitching 9 2/3 innings, however supervisor Joe Espada revealed this morning that Garcia has been shut down fully after renewed elbow discomfort (by way of Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle). He’d been slated to pitch a bullpen session right now however will as an alternative be evaluated by staff medical doctors.
It’s not the primary setback for Garcia, however it’s maybe extra ominous than the final. The correct-hander pitched 2 1/3 rehab innings final summer time earlier than being slowed down and turning his focus to 2025. The Astros didn’t present specifics on the character of final summer time’s setback on the time (as is typical; the Astros are notoriously imprecise concerning well being updates for his or her gamers). It’s not clear once they’ll present extra info on Garcia.
Chandler Rome of The Athletic notes that Garcia resumed throwing to hitters final October and was throwing with out situation all through the offseason. The staff thought-about him to be forward of fellow long-injured righty Lance McCullers Jr. of their respective rehabs, however right now’s setback marks an abrupt and important departure from that pondering.
Houston wasn’t relying on Garcia to step proper into the Opening Day rotation, however the perception was that he’d emerge as a important depth possibility within the early levels of the season. That received’t be the case. The Astros nonetheless have a strong if top-heavy workers, with Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco and sophomore Spencer Arrighetti (who had an excellent end to the 2024 season after a tough few months as a rookie) main the pack. Hayden Wesneski, acquired from the Cubs within the Kyle Tucker commerce, is favored to be the fifth starter.
A wholesome Garcia would’ve been a welcome boon to the workers, no matter his function. The correct-hander was by no means thought-about a premium pitching prospect however hit the bottom working in his 2020 debut and has by no means confronted any form of extended struggles within the huge leagues. (Garcia has only one month of his profession with an ERA north of 5.00.) He’s pitched a complete of 352 innings for the Astros and logged a 3.61 ERA with a powerful 25.3% strikeout price towards a pointy 7.8% stroll price. He began 28 video games for Houston in each 2021 and 2022, logging mid-3.00s ERAs with greater than 155 innings in every of these two seasons.
There’s now no telling when or whether or not Garcia will probably be an choice to return to Houston’s rotation. His setback marks a notable blow to their pitching depth. The aforementioned McCullers, who’s been out of motion even longer — for the reason that 2022 World Sequence — made his spring debut earlier this week. That marked McCullers’ first official recreation motion of any sort since ’22; he didn’t pitch in spring coaching or embark on any minor league rehab assignments in 2023 or 2024. He’s been beset by a number of flexor accidents alongside the best way, which led to a June 2023 surgical procedure.
The Astros at present have Garcia, McCullers, J.P. France (shoulder) and Cristian Javier (UCL) recovering from main surgical procedures. Javier had Tommy John surgical procedure final June. France underwent surgical procedure to restore a capsule tear in his shoulder final July. Depth starter Shawn Dubin has been sidelined all spring as a result of shoulder troubles.
Due to that large swath of accidents, the Astros don’t have one other rotation candidate on the 40-man roster who’s made even one huge league begin. Lefty Colton Gordon and righty Ryan Gusto are on the 40-man and will each get seems this season, however each are utterly untested towards MLB opposition.
The non-roster choices behind the 40-man group aren’t skilled, both. Proper-hander Glenn Otto (5.62 ERA in 169 2/3 MLB innings) has essentially the most huge league work of any NRI in Astros camp. Righties Miguel Ullola, 22, and A.J. Blubaugh, 24, are the staff’s top-ranked pitching prospects. Ullola has simply three innings in Triple-A. Blubaugh pitched nicely in 124 Triple-A frames final season and figures to be a key depth piece in 2025. Broadly talking, the Astros are precariously skinny past the highest group of arms, which solely exacerbates the problematic nature of Garcia’s newest setback.
