Astros right-hander Luis Garcia will begin a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend and could rejoin the rotation in late July. Nearing the final stages of his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Garcia will likely throw two innings in his first rehab start this weekend.
Luis Garcia could start a game in the complex league this weekend, Joe Espada said. That would be the beginning of his rehab assignment.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 25, 2024
Garcia threw a 32-pitch live bullpen session on Saturday and could throw another before making his first rehab start. After tossing seven innings for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, the 27-year-old made six starts for Houston before undergoing Tommy John surgery last May. Manager Joe Espada said the length of Garcia’s rehab assignment will depend on “how he feels, how he bounces back.” Espada has previously expressed optimism that the right-hander could return to the Astros rotation in late July.
Garcia made 28 starts for the Astros in 2022, posting a 3.72 ERA through 157 ⅓ innings. During the American League Division Series, he tossed five scoreless innings in relief in an 18-inning victory over the Seattle Mariners. Having lost both Cristian Javier and José Urquidy to season-ending elbow surgery, Garcia beginning a rehab assignment is welcome news.
Luis Garcia Begins Rehab Assignment, Could Return in Late July
Having been depleted by injuries in the first half, the Astros have a full six-man rotation on their injured list and just four healthy starters. Yet, the Astros have won six straight, sitting one game under .500 and 4 1/2 games behind the Mariners. But reinforcements are on the way, with both Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. working their way back from elbow surgery.
A Lance McCullers Jr. update: he’s scheduled to throw his first up-down tomorrow. He’ll throw 25 warmup pitches, sit in the bullpen to mimic an inning break, and then throw more. He’ll do that one more time and then they’ll start talking about facing hitters.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 21, 2024
McCullers, who last pitched for the Astros in 2022, underwent flexor tendon surgery last June after suffering a forearm strain in spring training. The 30-year-old threw his first up-down session on Saturday and has been throwing regular bullpens. But the right-hander, who is roughly two weeks behind Garcia’s rehab, has yet to face hitters in live batting practice. McCullers made eight regular season starts for Houston in 2022, pitching to a 2.27 ERA with 50 strikeouts over 47 ⅔ innings. He is currently in line to return to the Astros starting rotation sometime in August.
Espada said Luis Garcia will pitch either Friday or Saturday for the rookie-level Astros team in the Florida Complex League. He has been consistently throwing 93-94 mph in his live bullpen sessions and, barring any setbacks, could return next month.
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