Staff required to get COVID-19 vaccines

The Astros are mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for all of their non-playing, full-time employees and those who don’t abide “will be subject to termination of employment,” according to an email disseminated to staff on July 29.

The team set a Sept. 1 deadline for its employees to “complete both shots,” according to the email. Unvaccinated employees were not allowed to come into Astros offices beginning on July 30 and needed to have their first COVID-19 vaccine by Aug. 6 to return.

“Requests for exceptions may be made based on religious beliefs or medical conditions,” the email to staff said. “We will consider those requests on a case by case basis.”

According to ESPN, the Astros and Washington Nationals are the first two teams to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for their full-time employees. An Astros spokesperson did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Friday.

The Astros have exceeded Major League Baseball’s 85 percent vaccination threshold among its Tier 1 on-field personnel — which includes players and coaches — but the exact number of vaccinations remains unknown.

Gonzalez signs minor league pact

General manager James Click announced Friday that the club had signed Marwin González, a free agent utility player who was released by the Red Sox on Aug. 16, to a minorleague deal. González played for the Astros from 2012-2018, batting .264 with 76 home runs, 292 RBI and a .737 OPS in 795 appearances over those seven seasons.

González began to work out Friday at the Astros’ spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla. The switch-hitter can play every infield position as well as the outfield, and his signing offers the Astros bench depth as playoffs draw nearer.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said the club has not yet determined a plan for when González might leave West Palm Beach and be assigned to a minor-league affiliate.

“We got him to see what he brings to the table. We’re trying to see if there’s a fit,” Baker said. “We’re trying to decide that right now to see where he is physically. Trying to decide if the layoff has hurt him or try to get him into games sooner rather than later to get him in tip top shape and game ready.”

González initially left the Astros in free agency following the 2018 season and signed with the Twins, where he played for two years before signing with the Red Sox this past offseason. This season with Boston, he batted .202 with 14 doubles, two home runs

and 20 RBI in 77 games.

Altuve sits out the series opener

Second baseman Jose Altuve got the day off Friday for the series opener against the Rangers, delaying the Astros’ return to their near-full opening day lineup.

The last time the Astros started their full opening day lineup was June 11 in a 6-4 win at Minnesota. Third baseman Alex Bregman (strained left quad) and right fielder Kyle Tucker (COVID-19 illness) returned to the lineup Wednesday against the Royals after respective absences of 59 games and 10 games, but left fielder Michael Brantley took the day off.

While Brantley, Bregman and Tucker all started Friday in Arlington, Baker said he wanted to use the club’s day off Thursday and Friday’s game to give Altuve two “much-needed” consecutive days off. Altuve is mired in an 0-for-11 streak at the plate and went 1for-14 in the Astros’ threegame series win against the Royals this week.

“Sometimes we need his defense with the ground ball pitcher and so that all weighs into when to give him a day off because, you know, he's been struggling a little bit lately,” Baker said. “He's been playing a lot and his energy level, I could just see his bat slowing down a little bit. So I figured today was a great day to get it off.”

Altuve has played in 113 of the Astros’ 128 games this season. His last full game off was July 3.

France, Hinojosa power Skeeters

J.P. France allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings, C.J. Hinojosa homered and drove in five runs and J.J. Matijevic hit a home run and drove in four runs as Sugar Land routed host El Paso 13-1 on Friday night.

France struck out nine and walked one. Josh James and Riley Ferrell pitched an inning each to complete the two-hitter.

Odds and ends

Astros pitching prospect Austin Hansen underwent Tommy John surgery on Wednesday, the club announced.

Hansen, a right-handed starter drafted by the Astros in 2018, had a strong spring training showing this season but has since pitched only 25 2⁄3 innings in nine appearances with six starts for Class AAA Sugar Land.

Baker said pitcher José Urquidy remains on track for a Sept. 1.