WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Astros right-hander José Urquidy, who’s set to start out the season on the injured record due to a forearm pressure, was relieved to seek out out an MRI carried out on his proper arm just lately confirmed no structural harm to his ulnar collateral ligament. Urquidy stated he received opinions from a number of docs and everybody was on the identical web page.
“We took a have a look at every thing contained in the elbow and the ligament was high quality, very regular,” he stated. “A part of the muscle seems to be type of white, which implies irritation. … I’ve to take out the irritation and begin doing rehab workout routines with my fingers and throw a medication ball this weekend and see how I really feel. I’m proud of that.”
Urquidy was identified with a forearm pressure and hopes to have the ability to decide up a baseball and resume throwing in 10-15 days, which was a best-case situation for him. That also received’t be sufficient time for him to prepare for the common season and he’ll start the 12 months on the injured record.
Throughout a Minor League recreation on March 15, Urquidy stopped throwing after 43 pitches as a result of he felt tightness in his forearm. He flew to Houston a day later to bear an MRI.
“The whole lot was high quality,” he stated. “There was a whole lot of irritation within the forearm. I’m doing very exhausting therapy proper now with the medication and I’m feeling means higher than three days in the past. If I’m nonetheless like that, I’m planning to throw a medication ball this weekend and begin throwing subsequent week.”
Urquidy went 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA in 16 video games (10 begins) within the common season final 12 months and spent three months on the injured record with proper shoulder discomfort. He had been throwing properly this spring, permitting one earned run throughout 9 innings with six strikeouts to no walks and 9 hits in 4 Grapefruit League begins.
Astros stay excessive on Cabbage
Amongst Tuesday’s roster cuts at Astros’ camp was infielder/outfielder Trey Cabbage, acquired from the Angels in a late January commerce. Cabbage was 4-for-36 with one homer and 17 strikeouts (no walks) in Grapefruit League play. He was optioned to Minor League camp and can begin the season at Triple-A, the place he excelled final 12 months within the Pacific Coast League.
“In the direction of the tip, [his at-bats] had been higher,” supervisor Joe Espada stated. “I want there have been higher outcomes, however my conversations with him went properly. He understands and he is aware of that he simply wants daily at-bats. We imagine in him, his means, his velocity, energy. Versatility is one thing we actually like and giving him daily at-bats to attempt to faucet into that expertise is one thing that we have to do.”
Cabbage, a left-handed hitter, was battling for a spot on Houston’s bench with Jon Singleton and Grae Kessinger, who’s been shut down due to a hamstring pressure. In 22 video games with the Angels final 12 months, Cabbage hit .208/.232/.321 (.553 OPS) with one homer, three doubles and 7 RBIs.
Cabbage turned heads, although, along with his efficiency at Triple-A Salt Lake within the hitter-friendly PCL. He slashed .306/.379/.596 (.975 OPS) with 30 homers, 89 RBIs, 25 doubles and 32 stolen bases, exhibiting off a power-speed mixture that intrigued the Astros.
Bielak rises in depth chart as accidents pile up
Astros pitcher Brandon Bielak threw 62 pitches in Tuesday’s recreation towards the Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Seashores, permitting one earned run and 4 hits in 4 innings. Bielak stated he felt robust sufficient to have pitched one other inning on a cool evening.
Bielak has a 5.56 ERA in 11 1/3 innings this spring and is getting stretched out in case the Astros want him as a starter. He’s out of choices this 12 months, that means he’d should clear waivers if he’s optioned to the Minor Leagues, serving to his possibilities of making the membership.
“To be sincere, I’m simply type of pitching for a job nonetheless,” he stated. “I’m undecided if it’s going to be within the bullpen or as a starter. Earlier than Spring Coaching began, they advised me, ‘Hey, we wish you coming in as a reliever, however issues can occur in Spring Coaching and we are able to construct you again up.’ Right here we’re.”
With Urquidy and Justin Verlander set to start out the season on the injured record, Bielak is rising on the group’s pitching depth chart. He’s nonetheless in all probability pegged as a protracted reliever, however he’s additionally an choice to make some begins.
“To have the ability to do each, I believe it’s a plus for me, truthfully, to have the ability to fulfill each roles, [when] they want a spot begin or begin all 12 months,” he stated.
Bielak’s focus this spring is on throwing first-pitch strikes, which he didn’t do very properly final 12 months. Of pitchers with at the very least 50 innings final 12 months, he was second-to-last within the Main Leagues with 51.1 % first-pitch strikes.
“Clearly, strike one is crucial pitch,” he stated. “It units you up for a very good at-bat, in order that’s in all probability the largest one I’m centered on this spring.”