The Astros have reinstated outfielder Kyle Tucker from the 60-day injured record. Infielder Zach Dezenzo has been optioned to Triple-A so as to open an energetic roster spot. Left-hander Parker Mushinski has been designated for task to create room on the 40-man. Chandler Rome of The Athletic was amongst these to relay the strikes on X.
Tucker obtained out to a superb begin this season, hitting 19 residence runs in 60 video games whereas strolling greater than he struck out. He slashed .266/.395/.584 for a wRC+ of 175 regardless of a subpar .245 batting common on balls in play. On June 3, that wRC+ was third within the majors behind Aaron Decide and Juan Soto regardless of some poor therapy from the baseball gods.
But it surely was on that June 3 date that Tucker started a wierd saga. He fouled a ball of his shin and landed on the 10-day injured record. The membership continued to described his damage as a “deep bruise of the bone” or a “shin contusion,” all whereas seeming to anticipate him to make a fast return. His absence turned to weeks after which months as followers continued to surprise how a easy bruise might result in such an prolonged absence.
Only a few days in the past, Rome reported that Tucker had suffered a fracture, regardless of continued denials from normal supervisor Dana Brown. After that report got here out, Brown and Tucker each admitted that the participant had certainly suffered a fracture.
Although the explanations for that obfuscation aren’t clear, the bigger level is that Tucker is now again. He didn’t go on a rehab task and is within the designated hitter slot tonight, so maybe the membership is easing him again after an extended layoff. Possibly he’ll expertise some rust however he’ll clearly be an enormous boon to the Astros if he can get wherever close to his pre-injury type.
Regardless of the lineup enhance, he’ll give the membership a bit much less lineup flexibility if he stays in that DH slot. Yordan Alvarez has been the DH greater than anybody else however he’ll maybe should play left subject extra often. It’ll even be tougher to place Alex Bregman in there, as he has been battling a minor elbow challenge of late. The membership additionally likes to have Yainer Diaz because the DH generally when Victor Caratini is behind the plate, retaining Diaz’s bat within the lineup. Maybe that can occur much less typically because of this as nicely.
The outfield group presently consists of Alvarez, Jake Meyers and Ben Gamel, with Chas McCormick and Jason Heyward additionally within the combine. Each time Tucker is able to take the sphere once more, he’ll push into that group and take a few of their enjoying time, but in addition unlock the DH spot as soon as once more.
Mushinski, 28, might maybe be a part of a brand new membership for the primary time in his profession. He was drafted by the Astros in 2017 and was added to their 40-man roster in 2022. He has served as a frequently-optioned depth arm for them since then. He has tossed 33 main league innings over these three campaigns with a 5.45 earned run common. His 8.1% stroll charge and 45.2% floor ball charge are near common however he’s solely struck out 17.4% of batters confronted.
His minor league work has been extra spectacular. In that very same three-year span, he has tossed 114 2/3 innings for Triple-A Sugar Land, placing up a 3.30 ERA regardless of that membership enjoying within the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He has a 26.7% strikeout charge and 10.7% stroll charge in that pattern.
The Astros must put Mushinski on waivers within the coming days. He can nonetheless be optioned for what stays of this 12 months however will likely be out of choices subsequent season. If he does get claimed, he has lower than two years of service time and might subsequently be managed for 5 seasons past this one. If he have been to go via waivers unclaimed, he wouldn’t have the suitable to elect free company since he has by no means been beforehand outrighted and has lower than three years of service time.
