HOUSTON -- The Astros got starting pitchers Cristian Javier and Spencer Arrighetti back from injury over the past week, and they could be close to adding Luis Garcia to their starting rotation.
Garcia, who’s been out since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2023, made his seventh Minor League rehab appearance (sixth start) Wednesday night -- and third for Triple-A Sugar Land -- giving up one run, six hits and one walk while striking out six batters in 4 2/3 innings against Sacramento.
A drop in velocity remains a concern for Garcia, who threw four scoreless innings for the Space Cowboys on Aug. 7 and topped out at 92.5 mph. He reached 94.7 mph on his fastball on Wednesday, but the velocity remained markedly lower on his cutter, curveball, sweeper and changeup when compared to pre-injury averages.
Garcia, who hasn’t pitched in a Major League game since May 1, 2023, has had a pair of setbacks. He started a Minor League rehab assignment in June 2024, but he suffered a setback and was shut down in August. He was shut down again in March of this year with right elbow soreness before throwing a live batting practice session at Spring Training.
Garcia, an international free agent from Venezuela, jumped from High-A Fayetteville to the big leagues during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and quickly became a workhorse starter. He appeared in 58 games in 2021-22, including 56 starts, and was 26-16 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP in 312 2/3 innings. He was injured in his sixth start in the 2023 season and had Tommy John surgery soon afterwards.