Meyers’ return leaves a choice to be made
NEW YORK — Jake Meyers’ first defensive play in eight months required a headlong dive. He tore the labrum in his left shoulder after crashing into a wall during the Astros’ American League Division Series last season, showcasing the sort of aggression and sacrifice he often makes as a defender.
Now, in the final step of his recovery, another situation called for it. Meyers made the dive during a game with Class AAA Sugar Land earlier this month. He hopped up, felt no pain and — at long last — felt free.
“Right away, I tested it, and I feel really good,” Meyers said Thursday. “There is no hesitation. Playing the game is back for me, and I’m really excited to be back to playing.”
Meyers returned to the major league clubhouse prior to Thursday’s series opener at Yankee Stadium.
The Astros did not activate him, but given that he’s in town with the team, it seems only a matter of time.
Asked on Thursday whether the plan is to activate Meyers on Friday, general manager James Click said: “We’re going to assess today and make a determination on next steps at that point.”
Meyers did a full battery of pregame work before Thursday night’s game. He finished 13for-52 during a 14-game minor league rehab assignment with Class AAA Sugar Land.
Meyers struck two home runs and totaled four hits in his final game Wednesday before flying to New York and joining the major league team. His presence in the clubhouse Thursday created an awkward conundrum for the player he could soon replace.
Barring an injury or unforeseen move, Houston will demote either Chas McCormick or Jose Siri to Sugar Land to clear a spot for Meyers on the active roster.
Siri started Thursday’s series opener against the Yankees in center field, continuing manager Dusty Baker’s recent trend of alternating days for the duo. McCormick started in center field Wednesday after Siri made a start on Tuesday.
McCormick is the better offensive option — he sat Thursday with a 96 OPS+ compared with Siri’s 67 OPS +. Siri entered Thursday’s game worth seven defensive runs saved in center field, according to Sports Info Solutions. Only Cleveland Guardians center fielder Myles Straw — a former Astro — is worth more at the position.
Meyers will play every day whenever he returns. Houston’s decision might boil down to whether it wants a late-game defensive replacement or a more competent bat on the bench.
Meyers’ calling card is his defense, so pulling him late in games would be rare, but Siri brings a baserunning element McCormick does not. Additionally, Baker has long been an advocate of Siri.
“It’s a good problem to have,” Click said. “We have a lot of guys that have played very well and gotten us to this point. It’s always difficult making changes to a winning team. You’re always reticent to upset the apple cart to some extent. But at the same time, Jake was huge for us for half the season last year. Sometimes you have to make those tough decisions.”
Jones reinstated from 60-day IL
The Astros reinstated Taylor Jones from the 60-day injured list Thursday and optioned him to Class AAA Sugar Land.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the team placed reliever Josh James on the 60-day injured list with a right lat strain. James will accrue major league service time while on the IL despite not having pitched in the big leagues this season.
Jones missed the first three months of the season with a back ailment. He went 9-for-49 during a 20-day minor league rehab assignment with the Space Cowboys.
James had a 7.59 ERA and 2.02 WHIP in 211⁄3 innings with Sugar Land.
Rainiers down Space Cowboys
Tacoma scored four times over the final four innings to defeat Sugar Land 4-3 Thursday night at Constellation Field.
Yainer Diaz put the Space Cowboys ahead with a three-run home run in the first inning. Lewis Brinson had three doubles for the Space Cowboys. Sugar Land starter J.P. France pitched five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out six.