Apr 29, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) prior to the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Houston Astros
(New York, NY) — The Astros second baseman is taking a big step on his way to rejoining the team.
Jose Altuve (thumb) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Sugar Land. The Astros and Space Cowboys tweeted the news Friday morning.
Altuve underwent surgery in late March to repair a fractured right thumb, after he was hit by a pitch in the World Baseball Classic. The 33-year-old has ramped up his baseball activity in recent weeks and checked all the boxes taking at-bats in a simulated game earlier this week.
Assuming all goes well, he could be cleared to rejoin the Astros at some point next week. Altuve follows Michael Brantley in rehabbing with the Space Cowboys. Brantley is yet to see action with the big league team yet.
It’s great news for the Astros, who have scuffled to a 19-18 record in the early going. Houston will hope their superstar infielder can jolt a lineup whose .672 team OPS ranks bottom three in the majors.
