Outfield prospect León makes spring training debut
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Outfielder Pedro León, the Astros’ top-five prospect who underwent surgery for a hernia in January, made his major league spring training debut on Tuesday in a split-squad game against the Cardinals.
León said the hernia developed while he was playing winter ball in Puerto Rico. He resumed baseball activities three weeks after the surgery, and said that he feels his health is now “in perfect condition.”
“After I injured it, the team ran a couple tests (and) decided that it was fine for me to get surgery,” he said through an interpreter. “It wasn't something too major. I wasn't going to miss a lot of time. Did that, and recovery is going well. I feel pretty good.”
León had been in minor league camp with the Astros prior to Tuesday. He played center field for the last two innings against the Cardinals, which the Astros consider to be his best defensive position, though he has also played second base in the past.
“He was looking pretty good,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “I mean, he's moving well. He'd been having some ABs over there and, yeah, he was looking pretty good. So as long as he's healthy, that's what counts.”
As far as which position or positions he expects to play this upcoming season, León said, “It's one of those things, it's probably not one of my decisions. But for me, I'm willing to do whatever is asked of me.”
Ranked the Astros’ No. 4 prospect by MLB.com, León slashed .228/.365/.431 at Class AAA Sugar Land last season. But he has sustained various injuries over his career: a fractured finger in 2021, a facial fracture last season and then the hernia operation.
Baker said he isn’t sure what the team’s plan for León will be for the remainder of spring training.
“I think the goal for me every single time is just continue working on my weaknesses, continue to work on my craft and obviously the ultimate goal is going to be play at the highest level — make it to the majors,” León said. “Probably not necessarily any specific deficiency at the moment, or weakness. I think right now it's just continuing to work on everything just to continue improving.”
Danielle Lerner
Injuries may pave way for Gage to earn spot
Parker Mushinski is “probably not” going to be ready for opening day, thrusting late addition Matt Gage into prime position to grab a spot in the Astros bullpen to start the season.
Baker always is searching for a lefthanded reliever, although he won his first World Series without calling on a lefty from his bullpen during last year's postseason. If he wants to open the season with a southpaw reliever, his options are being narrowed for him since Mushinski and Blake Taylor both have yet to throw in a spring training game.
The 27-year-old Mushinski, who made his big league debut last season and allowed three earned runs in 7.1 innings over seven appearances, suffered lower back spasms early this spring and flew back to Houston for evaluation. He's been back in camp for two weeks, but isn't likely to get ramped up in time for the March 30 opener.
Gage, who new general manager Dana Brown picked up by giving him a rare signing bonus after the Toronto Blue Jays placed him on waivers last month, has thrown three scoreless innings this spring.
The 30-year-old Gage made his major league debut last season, appearing in 11 games, allowing two earned runs with 12 strikeouts in 13 innings.
Matt Young
McCullers’ forearm showing progress
Doctors and trainers who have looked at and tested Lance McCullers’ strained forearm have given good reports. The 29-year-old righthander has his own test, which also produced encouraging results.
“I can always tell when I'm getting close when I can pick up my daughter without any elbow pain,” McCullers said Tuesday of his 3-year-old daughter.
McCullers strained a muscle in his forearm during a Feb. 14 bullpen session. On Saturday, he resumed playing catch for the first time since the injury. He threw again Monday and will throw every other day as he slowly builds up his arm. The morning after his second session of playing catch, McCullers reported that he's “pain-free.”
Even better news, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the surgeon who performed McCullers’ Tommy John surgery in Nov. 2018, reviewed McCullers’ latest MRI and confirmed that there's no issue with his patient's elbow.
“It's a strained forearm muscle. Very low grade, they were hesitant to even call it a strain,” McCullers said. “I threw a bullpen, maybe too much intensity here at camp. Maybe did a little bit too much, too soon. I wasn't ready for it, I guess. I thought I was, but I guess I wasn't. It was just grabbing me a little bit.”
Matt Young