Pitching takes a hit
» Corbin Martin to miss a year or more after Tommy John surgery.
The Astros’ drastically diminishing starting pitching depth absorbed another hit.
Corbin Martin, the Astros’ fifth-best prospect who made five major league starts this season, underwent Tommy John surgery on Wednesday. General manager Jeff Luhnow expects the 23-year-old righthander to miss a “significant portion” of next season.
Martin exited his start at Class AAA Round Rock on June 23 after feeling a pop in his right elbow following his 76th pitch. The Texas A&M product sought two medical opinions — one from the Astros team doctors and another from physicians in California. Both recommended surgery.
“It takes a piece away that we were counting on for the rest of this year and certainly for next year,” Luhnow said Friday. “It’s a significant blow to our depth, but we have other guys.”
After tossing 5⅓ fabulous innings in his Mother’s Day major league debut, Martin struggled to repeat his delivery and command his pitches during four subsequent starts.
The Astros optioned him to Round Rock on June 4 in hopes he could correct his flaws and contribute later in the season. Luhnow said Martin did not complain of any discomfort while with the the Astros.
Luhnow left open the possibility that Martin could appear in minor league games during the latter half of next season. But returning to the majors next year appears remote.
“When you lose a top prospect who’s gotten to the big leagues and who you think might be a part of your rotation the following year, it’s definitely not a welcome feeling,” the general manager said.
It leaves the Astros assessing their pitching plans in both the short and long term as the trade deadline looms. Luhnow said Martin’s diagnosis “doesn’t really change anything” with how the Astros are proceeding toward July 31. The goal always has been to reinforce pitching.
“But it could make getting a pitcher with an extra year of control more appealing,” Luhnow said.
Aside from Justin Verlander and Lance McCullers Jr., not much is known about the Astros’ 2020 rotation. Brad Peacock remains under team control, but Wade Miley and Gerrit Cole will be free agents. Collin McHugh, too.
Martin was among a handful of prospects primed to impact the major league rotation, a list headlined by Forrest Whitley. Whitley remainsat the Astros’ spring training complex undergoing a “season reset.”
Framber Valdez and Jose Urquidy represent options. Luhnow mentioned the upside of J.B. Bukauskas, the Class AA righthander who will pitch in the Futures Game on Monday.
Rare July 4th off ? Watch baseball
Some of the Astros didn’t know what to do with a rare day off on the Fourth of July. Others knew exactly what to do.
“We sat on Collin McHugh’s driveway and had a Michelob … or two,” Gerrit Cole said. “It was very American.”
And how did manager A.J. Hinch spend Thursday?
“I’ve never had in my time in baseball the Fourth of July off, except one summer I got fired right before the Fourth,” Hinch said. “I watched baseball (Thursday), that’s what I did. Sorry, it’s not more exciting than that. July 4th and baseball go together. Being off was weird for all of us.”
A tough time to be on road for Angels
The Angels have not been back home since pitcher Tyler Skaggs died Monday in Arlington. Not being able to see the Angels’ fans and get their support has made it more difficult for the team on the road, outfielder Mike Trout said.
“Obviously, we’re seeing it over social media and through texts and everything,” Trout said. “But I think being home is going to mean a lot, being able to go back and see his family and just be with them.”
The Angels are wearing a No. 45 patch on their jerseys to honor Skaggs, whose cause of death has not yet been determined.
“We’re playing for him,” Trout said. “It’s a tough situation to go through when you lose somebody.”