Doctors pleased with progress Altuve’s making
SAN FRANCISCO — Astros team doctors are “very pleased” with Jose Altuve’s progress from a right knee injury, manager A.J. Hinch said Monday.
Altuve joined a cavalry of Astros players who returned to Houston for visits with the medical staff.
The reigning American League MVP has been on the disabled list since July 26 with right knee soreness. Though he was supposed to accompany the club throughout this road trip, he was sent back to Houston on Sunday for another opinion.
“We have a really good plan in place,” Hinch said. “He is making the progress that the doctors are happy with. We’ll try to initiate more baseball stuff this weekend. They were very pleased with the healing, and they have a pretty good plan in place to keep inching forward.”
Monday’s game against the Giants was the second of the season in which Altuve, George Springer and Carlos
Correa did not play. Springer was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained left thumb. Derek Fisher was recalled from Class AAA Fresno to take his roster spot.
“We’re going to have to find a way to be an effective offense without the middle of our order being intact,” Hinch said. “We can do that. We have great on-base skills at the top of the order with ( Tony) Kemp ,( Alex) Bregman, (Josh) Reddick.
“It would be nice for some guys to get hot. This is an opportunity for some of these guys who probably didn’t expect to be playing in August virtually every day. Now they have an opportunity to play.”
Correa on track for homestand
Though he took a prescribed day off Monday from his rehab assignment at Class AA Corpus Christi, Carlos Correa will play two full nine-inning games on Tuesday and Wednesday in anticipation of a return during the Astros’ upcoming homestand, which begins Thursday.
Correa has been on the disabled list since June 26 with back soreness. He has missed 33 consecutive games.
Correa is 3-for-10 in three games with the Hooks with a double and home run. They return home to Whataburger Field on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“We hope to get him back early at the beginning of the homestand, if all goes well,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.
McCann takes part in bullpen session
For the first time since he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery five weeks ago, Astros catcher Brian McCann caught a bullpen on Monday at AT&T Park.
It was only the second time McCann squatted into a catcher’s position since the surgery. He caught Justin Verlander’s side session, much to the delight of all involved.
“It’s like getting old brothers back together again,” manager A.J. Hinch quipped. “It’s the most excited I’ve ever seen Verlander wanting to throw a bullpen for quite some time. McCann feels the best he’s felt all year, which is a good sign.”
McCann said he feels “ahead of schedule” in his rehab. When the team returns from this road trip, Hinch said McCann will be “lightly pushed” on to more baseball activities — emphasizing catching, blocking, and agility exercises behind the plate.
“I feel really good. I feel I’m definitely ahead of schedule,” McCann said. “I’ve always been a quick healer, and I think where my knee was, it feels so much better. There’s been a lot of relief.”
Minor league honor bestowed on Beer
After 45 professional games and two promotions within the Astros’ farm system since he was drafted in June, first-round pick Seth Beer garnered organizational honors.
Beer, the slugging lefthanded hitter who currently plays at high Class A Buies Creek, was named the Astros’ Minor League Player of the Month on Monday.
A Clemson product selected No. 28 overall, Beer entered the day with a .916 OPS and .500 slugging percentage in 172 professional at-bats. He slashed .360/.458/.510 in 100 July atbats.
One week ago, Beer was promoted from Class A Tri City — where he spent just four weeks — to Buies Creek. The Astros are moving him around defensively at all affiliates, having played him 12 games at first base, 19 in left field and 10 in right field.
Class AA Corpus Christi righthander Framber Valdez was announced as the Minor League Pitcher of the Month. Valdez allowed one earned run and struck out 37 across 221⁄3 July innings.