Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez is likely to miss at least four weeks of action with his current oblique strain, general manager Dana Brown said in this morning’s appearance on the Sean Salisbury Show on SportsTalk 790 AM (audio link).
“It’s going to take at least two weeks for us to get a feel for how it’s healing,” said Brown. “You take those two weeks and then another week to figure out when he starts to have some activity, and OK, how’s his body responding? That’s three weeks right there. You’re looking at, once he’s starting to swing a bat, maybe it’s four weeks or so.”
Brown went on to note that the Astros will be cautious with Alvarez’s return, as they want to avoid a scenario where he rushes back and quickly requires another IL stint and an additional four weeks away from the lineup. Brown declined to put a specific timeline on the return, noting that the team won’t know exactly how quickly Alvarez can return until they see how his body responds to the current shutdown.
There’s no replacing a hitter of Alvarez’s caliber in any team’s lineup. The 25-year-old slugger is on the short list of MLB’s best hitters, batting .277/.388/.589 with 17 home runs this season and .293/.384/.590 with 115 home runs in just 1779 career plate appearances (an average of nearly 44 homers per 162 games played). The Astros currently rank 15th in the Majors both in runs scored (304) and in home runs (76). They’re hitting .246/.316/.401 as a team.
Brown also indicated that Michael Brantley is running, throwing and hitting without any pain at the moment. The 36-year-old veteran can’t replicate Alvarez’s production but could help soften the blow if he’s able to return from the injured list before Alvarez. Brantley hasn’t suited up for the Astros yet in 2023 as he continues to rehab from last year’s shoulder surgery, but he hit .288/.370/.416 with Houston last year and is a .306/.368/.464 hitter in his four prior seasons with the team.
Ouch
I wonder what kind of numbers players like Alvarez, Alonso, Robert, Buehler, etc. could put up if they played a full season. It would be record breaking. I know you could guess at it by doing the math, but it’s not the same thing.
Well considering we’ve seen most all of them play a full or near full season, I think we have an idea.
Yordan only missed 18 games in 2021. Most players don’t play 162. So let’s say he plays 150ish instead of 144. He maybe hits 35-36 homers instead of 33. I’d say his ceiling is 45-50 homers, but staying healthy is a trait of a good MLB player.
Alonso played 160 games last year. There’s what you need to see for him.
Buehler made 33 starts in 2021. That’s a full season.
So really, Luis Robert is the only one your statement is relevant towards, and while he’s a good athlete, his ceiling is probably 30-35 HR if he does stay healthy.
But again, you can have superstar potential like Buxton, but if you can’t stay on the field, you aren’t a superstar.
Maybe they will get Brantley back for 12 games
Injuries suck. The game is less interesting when stars like deGrom, Judge, Alvarez and many others are out for long stretches.
Truth. I am obviously a Rangers guy but I want a shot at the Stros while everyone is at full strength. It should be a super fun series if it ever happens.
Appears he’s out until after the All-Star game and will be back (hopefully) for the second half
F#@k.
Sad to see Alvarez out for as long as will be. But they are being cautious with everyone. Altuve came back but still is not full strength either. Yes he gets on but against lefties I think it was that he was not up to par. Even McCormick is not up to what he did last season. The pitching is getting us by but myself Urquidy I do not think is all that, France, Bielak or Blanco either. Bielak has been the better but I think need someone more at the back of rotation. Yes think will need a bat most definitely. Yordan has had so many injuries too, knees, hands, now oblique. But LF and CF look like a need. Brantley will not be what he was with age and his shoulder. If he does make it back before all star break great. But could help in second half. So wonder of anyone now on team who could be expendable. And who in our minors besides Korey Lee whom I keep seeing mentioned
Is it just me, or does it seem that he’s injured quite often?
Wow the Astros seem snakebit. Guess one can cheat at board games and cheat on a diet but you can’t cheat the injury reaper