CLEVELAND -- Forrest Whitley was the first to admit the Astros gave him a long runway throughout his career to reach the Major Leagues, which he finally did last season more than eight years after the club took him in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft.
Ultimately, the hard-throwing right-hander’s potential was never reached in Houston and, needing to open a spot in their pitching staff, the Astros designated Whitley for assignment Sunday, likely ending his time with the organization. The Astros have seven days to trade him, release him or place him on waivers.
“Very difficult decision based on how hard he’s worked to get to the big leagues, the battle through injuries, but this is the part of the business that we’ve got to make tough decisions, and that was a tough one,” Astros manager Joe Espada said.
The Astros recalled left-hander Brandon Walter from Triple-A Sugar Land to start their 4-2 loss to the Guardians on Sunday at Progressive Field. He struck out five over six innings of two-run ball.
Whitley, 27, hadn’t pitched since giving up five earned runs, four hits and two walks in two innings in relief in a 16-3 loss to the Rays on May 31. In five games with the Astros this year, he has allowed 10 earned runs, nine hits and six walks while striking out eight batters in 7 1/3 innings (12.27 ERA).
“The stuff is really good, but we’re taking into consideration who’s [in] our bullpen and the way they’re performing, and performance does matter,” Espada said. “It was just a move that we needed to make at this time -- a very difficult one.”
Whitley, who was converted from starter to reliever last year, was in line to make Houston’s Opening Day roster this year before a left knee bone bruise in Spring Training derailed him. He missed the first 19 games before being reinstated April 19, only to land back on the IL from April 27-May 21 with a left knee sprain.
The injuries were the latest in a long line of ailments that plagued the hard-throwing right-hander in his career, including Tommy John surgery in 2021.
The Astros moved him to the bullpen last year and he made his Major League debut in April -- pitching in one game -- before returning briefly to the big leagues in September for two appearances. Whitley had his best season as a professional last year, posting a 1.89 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings with Sugar Land.
“His career is not over,” Espada said. “I think he has a ton of potential, and I think he could use this time to reset. I would not be surprised to see somebody claim him. He’s talented. Right now, in the situation we’re in, there’s just no fit. We wish him the best, because I think this kid, once he figures it out, could be a weapon.”