Astros righty Luis Garcia hasn’t pitched since May 1, 2023 due to an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery later that month. He’s been building back up in camp this year, pitching 9 2/3 innings, but manager Joe Espada revealed this morning that Garcia has been shut down entirely after renewed elbow discomfort (via Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle). He’d been slated to pitch a bullpen session today but will instead be evaluated by team doctors.
It’s not the first setback for Garcia, but it’s perhaps more ominous than the last. The right-hander pitched 2 1/3 rehab innings last summer before being slowed down and turning his focus to 2025. The Astros did not provide specifics on the nature of last summer’s setback at the time (as is typical; the Astros are notoriously vague regarding health updates for their players). It’s not clear when they’ll provide more information on Garcia.
Chandler Rome of The Athletic notes that Garcia resumed throwing to hitters last October and was throwing without issue throughout the offseason. The team considered him to be ahead of fellow long-injured righty Lance McCullers Jr. in their respective rehabs, but today’s setback marks an abrupt and significant departure from that thinking.
Houston wasn’t counting on Garcia to step right into the Opening Day rotation, but the belief was that he’d emerge as a critical depth option in the early stages of the season. That won’t be the case. The Astros still have a solid if top-heavy staff, with Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco and sophomore Spencer Arrighetti (who had an outstanding finish to the 2024 season after a rough few months as a rookie) leading the pack. Hayden Wesneski, acquired from the Cubs in the Kyle Tucker trade, is favored to be the fifth starter.
A healthy Garcia would’ve been a welcome boon to the staff, whatever his role. The right-hander was never considered a premium pitching prospect but hit the ground running in his 2020 debut and has never faced any kind of prolonged struggles in the big leagues. (Garcia has just one month of his career with an ERA north of 5.00.) He’s pitched a total of 352 innings for the Astros and logged a 3.61 ERA with a strong 25.3% strikeout rate against a sharp 7.8% walk rate. He started 28 games for Houston in both 2021 and 2022, logging mid-3.00s ERAs with more than 155 innings in each of those two seasons.
There’s now no telling when or whether Garcia will be an option to return to Houston’s rotation. His setback marks a notable blow to their pitching depth. The aforementioned McCullers, who’s been out of action even longer — since the 2022 World Series — made his spring debut earlier this week. That marked McCullers’ first official game action of any kind since ’22; he didn’t pitch in spring training or embark on any minor league rehab assignments in 2023 or 2024. He’s been beset by multiple flexor injuries along the way, which led to a June 2023 surgery.
The Astros currently have Garcia, McCullers, J.P. France (shoulder) and Cristian Javier (UCL) recovering from major surgeries. Javier had Tommy John surgery last June. France underwent surgery to repair a capsule tear in his shoulder last July. Depth starter Shawn Dubin has been sidelined all spring due to shoulder troubles.
Because of that wide swath of injuries, the Astros don’t have another rotation candidate on the 40-man roster who’s made even one big league start. Lefty Colton Gordon and righty Ryan Gusto are on the 40-man and could both get looks this season, but both are completely untested against MLB opposition.
The non-roster options behind the 40-man group aren’t experienced, either. Right-hander Glenn Otto (5.62 ERA in 169 2/3 MLB innings) has the most big league work of any NRI in Astros camp. Righties Miguel Ullola, 22, and A.J. Blubaugh, 24, are the team’s top-ranked pitching prospects. Ullola has just three innings in Triple-A. Blubaugh pitched well in 124 Triple-A frames last season and figures to be a key depth piece in 2025. Broadly speaking, the Astros are precariously thin beyond the top group of arms, which only exacerbates the problematic nature of Garcia’s latest setback.
Luis should just change his last name to McCullers…
I’m pretty sure Lance last pitched against the White Sox in the playoffs. That’s crazy!
He pitched in 2022 for 8 regular season starts and in the postseason. Although him pitching against the white sox was pretty much the last time he was consistently healthy.
Astros track record with these surgery/recovery projects seem lacking to say the least. Are these the best of surgeons? Are their rehab programs top caliber?? Something amiss? Or just bad luck’…
The Astros have the best surgeon. Dana Brown checked his credentials personally.
Dana Brown: Tell me, Dr. Norton, what school did you attend?
Ed Norton: P.S., 31 Oyster Bay.
If they waited longer, like 2-3 years, before letting them pitch in games, they might stay healthy.
Tommy John.
There is another, better world, where all three Luis Garcias are healthy and performing. Here’s to hoping they all end up in Washington at the same time at some point
There’s a feeling of thin-ness about the Astros roster, isn’t there?
He was lights out in the World Baseball Classic in 2023 and then got hurt that May. Makes you really think about the event and whether organizations should allow their pitchers to participate in it. Sucks. Feel bad for him as he hasn’t gotten paid yet.
Wbc is a ridiculous side show with meaningless games, and only gives opportunity for unnecessary injuries
Think “meaningless” is objective. Have our ever watched? Players playing with such a passion for their country. May not mean much to the MLB fan but to many players and their countries it’s high energy and drama
@metsies
when you have a 100 mil $ contract for a major lg team, THAT is your priority. and when you set yourself up for a potential injury in a game that doesnt count towards the team that gave you that 100 mil contract, then that game becomes meaningless. wanna play in wbc? do it on your own time, after you retire from the majors. edwin diaz tore his acl during wbc, still got paid over $21 mil. played 0 mlb games that yr. why should the tm paying him and fans be penalized bc “he wanted to play for his country”? didnt altuve break a finger during wbc and missed 2 months? tms should have control whether or not their players play in wbc
Why should the fans be penalised ? Ha ha. Proud athletes wanting to represent their country is all about you ? Get over yourself.
Yeah I agree with you. I wouldn’t want my players playing. Point being it’s not meaningless to many that love baseball
For many, it’s the most important thing that they can ever do.
@fopper
If a player plays in wbc and suffers injury then tm gets its $ back for everyday he’s out
Lets see how many players “play for their country” & do the “most important thing they can ever do”
0
Thats how many will sign up at risk of losing millions
The money side is a thing. No doubt. Owners have a case to deny. The good ones won’t. They’ll recognise the human element of it.
The fan disappointment side is ridiculously selfish. Protecting me from disappointment is so important player x shouldn’t be allowed to represent his country ?? Cmon. You are not that important.
what’s the latest on Whitley? Is he out of options?
Yes, Out of Options but I think they’ve dedicated him to bullpen duty. Maybe things have changed since i last heard…?
Out of options and ticketed for the bullpen, if healthy
Colton Gordon
Congratulations Luis Garcia you have been chosen as the 2025 Houston Astros TJ surgery winner.