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Hader Injury Casts Shadow Over Astros Spring Training
23 Feb
Summary
- Josh Hader's biceps inflammation creates bullpen uncertainty for Astros.
- Roster battles continue for pitchers and infielders, impacting final lineup.
- Injuries to key players like Hader and De Los Santos pose opening day challenges.
The Houston Astros are navigating their spring training with cautious optimism, though lingering roster concerns and injuries are present as of February 23, 2026. Pitcher Josh Hader is dealing with biceps inflammation, and Enyel De Los Santos is sidelined with a right knee strain, impacting the projected Opening Day bullpen. This situation puts added pressure on setup man Bryan Abreu to potentially assume closer duties.
Internal competitions are intense across the roster, particularly for the pitching staff and infield positions. The team's efforts to manage an surplus of infielders have been unsuccessful, with Isaac Paredes remaining a trade candidate. The outfield also presents a challenge, lacking experienced players, though prospects like Taylor Trammell are vying for opportunities.
Newcomer Tatsuya Imai has quickly become a clubhouse favorite, and his seamless integration, along with an open communication approach, has been a positive storyline. Due to Imai's pitching schedule in Japan's NPB and a condensed early MLB calendar, the Astros plan to utilize a six-man rotation to begin the season.
