Astros’ Yordan Alvarez Faces Lengthy Recovery from Hand Fracture

HOUSTON, Texas – Yordan Alvarez will remain on the Houston Astros‘ 10-day injured list after suffering a small fracture in his right hand. General Manager Dana Brown revealed the injury on Friday following a live batting practice session, which was supposed to mark Alvarez’s return to the lineup.

The 26-year-old slugger has been sidelined since May 3 due to inflammation in his hand. Alvarez felt discomfort during the batting session, prompting imaging that uncovered the fracture in his ring finger. Fortunately, the fracture is approximately 60 percent healed, and Brown indicated that surgery will not be necessary.

Brown expressed optimism about Alvarez’s return, stating he might be back in “the near future” for activities other than hitting. However, the new diagnosis raises concerns about how long the three-time All-Star will be out of action. Historically, Alvarez has dealt with hand issues primarily related to inflammation rather than structural problems.

At the time of his injury, Alvarez’s performance stats were below his usual standards, with a .210/.306/.340 slash line in 121 plate appearances. Despite his struggles and absence, the Astros’ lineup has managed to maintain a solid performance without him.

Brown noted that issues with inflammation in the past have complicated the diagnosis, similar to what happened with teammate Kyle Tucker last season. Tucker ultimately missed over three months due to a previously undetected fracture in his shin.

“You don’t see the calcium buildup until like five weeks or so and that’s part of the problem,” Brown explained. “And then when you do these imagings and you have so much fluid and inflammation, it’s very, very difficult to diagnose these.”

As the Astros sit in first place in the AL West, maintaining a competitive lineup is crucial. Alvarez’s absence will now extend into June, impacting the team’s overall performance as they look to secure another playoff berth.