Houston Astros GM Jeff Luhnow has told reporters that starting pitcher Aaron Sanchez will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. Sanchez will undergo the surgery on his throwing shoulder next week. He last pitched on August 20th when the club initially said he had a sore right pectoral muscle. The Astros are expected to release more news on how the injury occurred after the procedure.
Also, Luhnow says RHP Aaron Sanchez will not return to play this season. He will have a procedure on his right shoulder next week and team will have more information afterwards regarding his rehab and return to throwing.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) September 5, 2019
Aaron Sanchez to Undergo Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery
Tough Break for Houston
The Astros acquired Sanchez from the Toronto Blue Jays at the July 31st trade deadline. In four starts with Houston, Sanchez was 2-0 with a 4.82 ERA. He also started and pitched six innings in the Astros combined no-hitter on August 3rd. This start was Sanchez’s first with the team.
There’s no doubt that the Houston rotation is still the most feared in MLB. Even without Sanchez, the Astros boast Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke, Gerrit Cole, and Wade Miley in their starting five. However, without Sanchez, the Astros depth in their rotation takes a hit, as they will have to rely on Framber Valdez to fill in. Valdez is 4-7 with a 5.55 ERA in 22 games pitched (seven starts).
Another Hurdle for Sanchez
Whether it has been body soreness, lingering blisters, or contusions in his hand, Sanchez has had his fair share of time on the IL. According to Sanchez, this issue had been bothering him before he was traded to the Astros. “For me, it’s kind of been an ongoing thing,” Sanchez said. “I’ve been trying to pitch through it.”
The Astros will hope that Sanchez can bounce-back from this injury and become a staple in their rotation next season. For Sanchez, this is just another hurdle in his injury-plagued career.
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