Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez to see hand specialist after suffering setback

New York Times

01-07-2025

DENVER — Tuesday should've been a seismic day in Yordan Alvarez's drawn-out recovery from a hand fracture. Houston Astros officials hoped he would 'ramp it up'
against live pitching at the team's spring training facility, putting Alvarez in position for a return within the week.
Instead, a setback sapped the optimism and put Alvarez's immediate future in peril. The three-time All-Star designated hitter reported more hand soreness to officials and will be shut down from baseball activities, Astros general manager Dana Brown said on Tuesday.
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Alvarez is scheduled to see a hand specialist on Wednesday, and, according to Brown, the Astros hope to know more information within the next 48 hours. Alvarez will receive more imaging on his hand, Brown said — an important declaration given the trajectory of this entire saga.
Asked if surgery is an option for Alvarez, Brown responded 'It's too early to tell right now. I hope not. We'll know after he sees the specialist.'
'It's a tough pill to swallow,' Brown said. 'At the end of the day, his health is the most important thing here. We'll let him take the time that he needs to get completely healed.'
Alvarez has not played in a game since May 2.
The Astros initially described his injury as a muscle strain in the top of his right hand, but on May 31 discovered a 'small fracture' near the fourth metacarpal.
Alvarez took batting practice on the field at Daikin Park prior to Sunday's 2-0 win against the Chicago Cubs. That afternoon, Alvarez flew to the team's spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., where he was scheduled to face some of the team's rehabbing pitchers in live batting practice sessions.
According to Brown, Alvarez took some swings against live pitching on Monday afternoon, though the day was more designed for him to track pitches after such a prolonged absence. Tuesday 'was really the big day where he was going to ramp it up even more,' Brown said.
Instead, Brown sat atop a bench at Coors Field delivering another round of dismal news. Houston's 34-19 record in Alvarez's absence somewhat softens the blow, but questions of how sustainable the success is are real. Resurgent shortstop Jeremy Peña just landed on the injured list with a rib fracture while four other position players — Chas McCormick, Zach Dezenzo, Jacob Melton and Brendan Rodgers — have been there for weeks.
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'He wants to get back,' said manager Joe Espada, who spoke with Alvarez after the latest setback. 'He's doing everything in his power to get back. He's staying optimistic, and I'm staying optimistic with him. We just have to give some time and hopefully this hand heals and we get him back in our lineup.'
The team hoped to activate Alvarez during the team's upcoming home series against the Cleveland Guardians, Brown said. Team officials even held out faint hope that Alvarez could return during this weekend's series at Dodger Stadium.
Now, it's a mystery when — or if — Alvarez will reappear in the Astros' lineup this season.
'We felt like he was close because he had felt so good of late,' Brown said. 'This is certainly news that we didn't want.'