The Houston Astros are on the fringes of the AL West race, but are dealing with some bad news about their starting rotation.
Right-hander Jose Urquidy is expected to need Tommy John surgery. The Astros send Urquidy to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister from Dallas for a second opinion on the initial imaging results. But Meister is expected to recommend a reconstructive procedure, according to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez and Jeff Passan.
Urquidy, 29, has not pitched for Houston this season after suffering a forearm injury in spring training. At the time, an MRI examination and multiple doctors consulted found no structural damage to Urquidy’s ulnar collateral ligament and he was placed on the injured list for elbow inflammation.
The Astros started the season with pitchers Justin Verlander, Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia also on the injured list.
Urquidy had begun a minor league rehab assignment and appeared to be on his way back to the Astros. The sixth-year pitcher made two rehab starts at Triple-A Sugar Land without any setbacks. However, according to the Houston Chronicle, he left his third outing after feeling forearm soreness after 52 pitches.
Imaging was performed at Urquidy last week before the visit with Dr. Meister was planned. Astros general manager Dana Brown was asked about the likelihood of Tommy John surgery for Urquidy and pitcher Cristian Javier, who went on the injured list last week with right forearm discomfort.
Dana Brown on José Urquidy and Cristian Javier: “We’ll probably know something about what direction we’re going to take by the end of this week, maybe Thursday or so. They’re both feeling better, which is a good sign.” sign, but we still get second opinions from doctors”
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 2, 2024
“We’ll probably know something about what direction we’re going to take by the end of this week, maybe Thursday or so,” Brown said. via Chandler Rome of The Athletic.
Astros manager Joe Espada had a similar response when asked to comment on the ESPN report before Monday’s game with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Here at MMP, manager Joe Espada is not commenting on an ESPN report that Jose Urquidy is out this season. The report indicated that Urquidy was headed for TJ surgery. pic.twitter.com/gyy2Ww1SrQ
— Randy McIlvoy (@KPRC2RandyMc) June 3, 2024
“We’re giving Urquidy and Javier the space they deserve and we’re just waiting for the second opinion and the results they get from those guys,” Espada told reporters. including KPRC’s Randy McIlvoy. “
Last season, Urquidy posted a 5.29 ERA while being limited to 63 innings (in 16 appearances) due to right shoulder discomfort. However, he became a key part of the Astros’ starting rotation over the previous three seasons, posting a 3.71 ERA and 241 strikeouts in 301 innings.
In five seasons with Houston, Javier has a 3.59 ERA with 564 strikeouts in 501 innings (116 appearances).
