Rasmus to return quicker than expected
In the days after Colby Rasmus underwent surgery to remove a cyst from his right ear, Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow estimated a mid-September return date for the veteran outfielder.
It appears Rasmus will return much sooner.
The Astros on Monday were determining whether Rasmus will be ready to be activated within the next few days of he if will require a minor league rehab assignment. Rasmus’ pregame workout Monday featured what manager A.J. Hinch described as “a heavy workload.”
“I feel pretty good about the way things are going,” Rasmus said before taking batting practice on the field with his teammates for the third time in four days.
“My swing feels really good right now, which to me is most important. Outfield is a little further away and is a little more like riding a bike. I wanted to make sure my swing has been feeling good, and it’s where I want it to be right now.”
Although still less than three weeks removed from the Aug. 10 surgery, Rasmus said his head feels better and that his eating habits — which were affected when his ear was infected — are returning to normal. In terms of baseball activity, he resumed baserunning and outfield work over the weekend.
If Rasmus can return to his April form, he would provide the Astros a power bat who could slide into the sixth or seventh spot in the lineup.
Before Rasmus opted to undergo the operation he had originally planned for the offseason, his season had spiraled to the point he was batting a dismal .211 with a .638 onbase-plus-slugging percentage.
Rasmus’ bat will dictate whether he returns to an everyday role over the season’s final five weeks. The Astros are in the thick of a crowded American League wild-card race and after Monday night’s 6-0 win over the A’s play only 31 more games.
“Every small advantage matters now,” Hinch said. “These are 30 of the most important games that we’re going to play the rest of the way, so assessing your own and getting the best guys out there as quickly as possible is always important.”
Based on his experience with rehab assignments, Rasmus said he did not feel he requires a stint in the minors before returning to the Astros’ lineup. He feels he fares better when getting back into his normal routine while with the major league club.
“Some people may like it. Some may not,” he said. “In my past experiences with rehab assignments, I go down and not really get good pitches to hit.
“I feel that just as long my body’s feeling good and I can get my swing feeling how I want it to feel, I don’t think there’s going to be any problem,” he added. “I should bounce back pretty quick.”