Greinke to report with other players
Zack Greinke won’t be early, but he will arrive on time.
For a second straight spring, Greinke did not report to Astros camp with the other pitchers and catchers, opting instead to follow Major League Baseball’s later deadline for all players to report.
“We’ve had communication with him. He’s working out — this guy will always work out — he just never comes to camp early,” manager Dusty Baker said on Friday. “He comes whenever the deadline is. We’ve come to expect that. He knows what he can do and what he can’t do.”
Last spring, Greinke arrived 10 days after pitchers and catchers reported to camp. Upon his entrance, Greinke claimed he’d only just learned of the later deadline and said “if I had known that 15 years ago, I probably wouldn’t have been coming for a while now.”
Greinke, 37, does not enjoy the monotony of spring training. Last spring, he threw at a local college before arriving in camp — and showed little ill effects of his delayed arrival. Greinke threw a live batting practice session the day after arriving and had an increased velocity in subsequent Grapefruit League games.
Greinke finished last season’s 60-game slate with a 4.03 ERA in 67 innings. After Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, the veteran righthander questioned the organization’s “confidence” in his ability — a not-so-subtle reference to Greinke’s early hook in Game 7 of the 2019 World Series.
Greinke approached first-year general manager James Click the next day to offer clarification for his comments. In November, Click said the team “absolutely has confidence” in Grienke, the six-time AllStar and former Cy Young winner.
Abreu on track for comeback
Twelve months ago, Bryan Abreu positioned himself for a breakout. The Dominican righthander ranked as high as third among Astros prospects in outside publications.
Abreu made the American League Championship Series roster against the New York Yankees despite just 82⁄3 innings of major league experience. His menacing curveball/ slider combo befuddled established big league hitters. Last spring, pitching coach Brent Strom surmised that Abreu could grow into a 200-inning starter.
All momentum Abreu gained is now gone. The 23-year-old threw just 31⁄3 innings during the truncated 2020 season. He faced 20 batters. Seven drew walks and two were hit by pitches. Abreu was noticeably overweight after the coronavirus shutdown and unable to harness his arsenal.
“He had the lead on other guys in the organization and because he came back out of shape and wasn’t throwing very good, some of the guys he had the lead on passed him up,” manager Dusty Baker said on Friday. “Some of those innings were supposed to be his last year down the stretch.”
Instead, Abreu toiled at the alternate training site for two months, trying to get better conditioned and correct some of his problems.
Following the first two days of workouts for pitchers and catchers, Baker said Abreu “looks great” and has shed the extra weight that hampered him during 2020. For a club that could use rotation depth, a bounce-back from Abreu would be welcomed.
“That motivates you when you get passed up by some guys that you had the lead on,” Baker said. “We’ll see. We’re going to give him every opportunity to catch up and get that lead back, but it’s up to him.”
James may return by end of May
Josh James’ return from hip surgery may be closer than originally anticipated.
James is not a candidate to go on the 60-day injured list, manager Dusty Baker revealed Friday, offering hope that the flamethrowing righthander may be back near the end of May.
On Oct. 24, James underwent surgery to repair a labral tear in his hip. The Astros announced James’ recovery would take “approximately six to eight months,” and Baker’s timeline suggests it could be near the seven-month mark.
After speaking with James a few times this offseason, Baker said the 27-year-old is “progressing well” with his rehabilitation. James had a 7.27 ERA during the 2020 season while bouncing between the starting rotation and bullpen.
The news means Houston has only Justin Verlander eligible for the 60-day injured list. The Astros cannot put him there until they need a spot on their 40-man roster, which remained full as of Friday afternoon. Verlander underwent Tommy John surgery last November.
Bregmans to help with recovery
Astros third baseman Alex Bregman and his wife, Reagan, are spearheading two days of water distribution this week in Houston while recovery continues from the winter storm.
On Saturday, the Bregmans are partnering with the Astros Foundation and Brothers Produce to distribute 18,000 cases of water at the Astros Youth Academy. The event will be a drive-through and a limit of two cases of water per car is in place. Distribution will begin at 9 a.m. and last until cases run out.
The Astros Youth Academy is located at 2801 S. Victory Drive
Sunday, there will be a distribution beginning at 2 p.m. at Butler Stadium at 13755 S. Main St., Bregman announced on Twitter. Bregman thanked teammates Ryan Pressly, Joe Smith and Michael Brantley — along with their families — for helping to coordinate Sunday’s drive.