Astros injury updates: Altuve, Springer, Diaz
HOUSTON -- Astros manager AJ Hinch provided updates Tuesday on several of the club’s players who are in the 10-day injured list:
• Second baseman Jose Altuve (left hamstring strain): Altuve, who’s been out since May 10, will likely go out on a Minor League rehab this weekend. This will be the second rehab stint for Altuve, who had to shut down his previous one in late May when he suffered fatigue and soreness in his right leg.
Altuve ran the bases at full speed prior to Tuesday’s game and went through his regular batting practice with the team. If he gets through the next couple of days without any setbacks, he’ll play this weekend for Triple-A Round Rock.
“He’s working at full speed,” Hinch said. “He’s doing things that, quite honestly, he hasn’t done dating back to pre-injury last season when it comes to some of the techniques and fundamentals and things that he’s able to do with this lower half. That’s exciting. We’re going to work him pretty heavy today and tomorrow and we’re off on Thursday. If we get to the weekend all feeling good, we’ll likely to get him out on a rehab assignment.”
Altuve will need multiple rehab games, considering how long he’s been out of action.
“It feels pretty good, probably the best I’ve felt in a long time,” Altuve said. “I’m excited. I’m just trying to be smart and just come back to help the team. I don’t want to come back and be an issue for the team. I really want to go out there and help this team. We’re really, really good. We’re in first place and I want to be a part of this. I don’t want to be a problem for these guys that are playing so good right now.”
• Outfielder George Springer (left hamstring strain): Springer, who’s been out since May 24, is behind Altuve but trending in the same direction, Hinch said. He also took a full batting practice on the field Tuesday and will continue to run over the next couple of days. The Astros are off Thursday, but Springer will be at the ballpark working out.
“Once he gets through that and you get maybe a little deeper into the weekend, we’ll have a chance to get him out potentially to play as well,” Hinch said.
• Infielder Aledmys Díaz (left hamstring strain): Diaz, who’s been out since May 26, suffered a setback running in the outfield with Springer on Sunday and has been shut down. Diaz said Sunday he felt tightness in his hamstring.
“We still don’t think it’s extraordinary long, but it will be much delayed compared to [Altuve and Springer],” Hinch said.
• Catcher Max Stassi (left knee soreness): Stassi, who’s been on the injured list since May 26, will start a rehab assignment on Thursday with Round Rock. He’s been working out at the team’s facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., and caught a bullpen Tuesday by rehabbing reliever Joe Smith.
• RHP Collin McHugh (right elbow discomfort): McHugh, who’s been on the IL since May 21, threw a bullpen on the field at Minute Maid Park in Tuesday and “let it go,” Hinch said. If he feels good Wednesday, he’ll begin a rehab assignment this weekend as well.
“His command wasn’t great, but his arm felt great, which is a good sign,” Hinch said.
• RHP Smith (left Achilles’ tendon surgery): Smith, who’s been out since undergoing surgery in December, threw a bullpen Tuesday and is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session soon in Florida. He will do a couple of those within in the next week before the club will consider sending him out on Minor League rehab.