DENVER -- The Astros received what they considered “encouraging news” on slugger Yordan Alvarez following his examination on Wednesday by a hand specialist, with an additional MRI exam showing the pain in his right hand is due to inflammation and not because of the fracture that put him on the injured list.
Alvarez, who’s been out since May 2 and had a setback in his rehab earlier this week, received two injections into his hand on Wednesday to help reduce inflammation and he won’t be able to swing a bat for a few days. The team said Alvarez has received injections in his hand previously while on the injured list this season.
“We’re encouraged that it’s not related to the fracture,” general manager Dana Brown said prior to the Astros' 7-6 loss to the Rockies on Thursday at Coors Field. “To us, this is good news and we’re looking forward to him at least holding a bat once the inflammation goes down before we can tell you any more. Once he starts to hold the bat, we’ll have a lot more information in terms of a timeline.”
Alvarez took batting practice on the field Saturday at Daikin Park and reported to West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sunday to ramp up his rehab with live batting practice. He took some dry swings with the bat on Monday and reported to the facility on Tuesday with more pain in his hand, prompting the visit to a hand specialist.
Astros manager Joe Espada said Alvarez is in good spirits.
“I talked to him a little bit and he sounds happy. He sounds very encouraged about the news,” Espada said. “If he’s happy, I’m happy.”
Alvarez said he originally hurt his hand swinging the bat in a game in late April, but he kept playing through the pain because he’s dealt with similar injuries in the past. He was scratched from the Astros’ lineup prior to the May 3 game against the White Sox in Chicago and went on the 10-day IL on May 5 (he was transferred to the 60-day IL on Wednesday).
Alvarez was originally diagnosed with a muscle strain in his right hand following a May 6 MRI exam, and Brown said the swelling and inflammation in the hand prevented the team from seeing what turned out to be a fracture of the fourth metacarpal. The team announced on May 31 that Alvarez had a fracture that was 60 percent healed, calling it a “small fracture.”
The injury played a role in the slugger’s .210/.306/.340 slash line with only three homers and 18 RBIs in 121 plate appearances. The Astros are 36-20 without Alvarez in the lineup, with a comfortable lead in the American League West. The club is hoping to be able to get Alvarez for the stretch drive of the season.