PHOENIX -- Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez took another small step Monday in his return from a fractured bone in his right hand when he hit some soft toss in the batting cage, in addition to hitting baseballs off a tee, which he has been doing for a few days. He said he’s swinging at 60-65 percent intensity and there is no timeline for a return.
Alvarez, who’s been out since May 2 and had a setback in his rehab in early July, said his hand is “feeling really well” and he’s “headed in the right direction.” Still, the Astros are taking the long road with Alvarez’s hand injury with hopes it won’t reoccur when he returns.
“We’re trying to be careful about this whole thing, trying to take it to the best point and then we’ll know when I can come back,” Alvarez said prior to Monday’s series opener against the D-backs at Chase Field.
Alvarez is one of 16 players on the injured list for the Astros, including five players who were in the Opening Day lineup. All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes landed on the IL on Saturday after sustaining a right hamstring strain running to first base the night before in Seattle.
All-Star shortstop Jeremy Peña, who suffered a broken rib when he was hit by a pitch June 27, is "really close" to hitting some live pitching in the next couple of days in Florida, manager Joe Espada said. Barring a setback, he’ll return before Alvarez.
“It’s not a secret that I’ve been out for more than a couple of months, but we want to do everything without rushing it,” Alvarez said. “It’s a delicate situation with the hand. It has been frustrating, but we’re being smart about this and we’re taking it to the point we’re progressing and that’s the most important part. That’s what’s going to help me come back and play.”
Alvarez received two injections into his hand on July 2 to help reduce inflammation and said Monday that the hand responded well to those. The team said Alvarez has received injections in his hand previously while on the injured list this season. Alvarez said surgery isn’t an option.
“I need to rest it,” he said. “I need to come back and play and I think I’m in the right direction right now to come back and play.”
Alvarez took batting practice on the field on June 28 at Daikin Park and reported to West Palm Beach, Fla., on June 29 to ramp up his rehab with live batting practice. He took some dry swings with the bat on June 30 and reported to the facility on July 1 with more pain in his hand, prompting the visit to a hand specialist.
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. 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 still leading American League West without Alvarez and the club is still hoping to be able to get Alvarez for the stretch drive of the season.