Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Set to face hitters soon
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Astros manager Joe Espada said Friday that Arrighetti (thumb) is expected to complete one more bullpen session before he faces live hitters, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Arrighetti completed 15- and 20-pitch bullpen sessions June 24 and June 27, respectively, so he'll presumably build on that pitch count while mixing in all of his offerings during his next side session. The right-hander will likely need to throw multiple live batting practice sessions before then heading out on a rehab assignment, perhaps shortly after the All-Star break. Arrighetti appears to be tracking toward a late-July or early-August return from the 60-day injured list, but a more precise target date won't come into focus until he's out on the rehab assignment.
Arrighetti (thumb) completed another bullpen session Friday, his second since landing on the injured list April 8, MLB.com reports.
The team didn't provide any further details about the session, but it's a significant step forward in Arrighetti's recovery. He's without a definitive target date for a return from the IL, though if Arrighetti remains free of setbacks as he makes his way through his throwing program, he could be ready to rejoin the Houston rotation shortly after the All-Star break.
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Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Looks ready for mound work
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Astros general manager Dana Brown said that Arrighetti (thumb) could throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
If Arrighetti does complete a side session Tuesday, it would be his first time stepping back on the mound since early April, when he was placed on the injured list after he fractured his right thumb when it was struck by a ball during batting practice. The right-hander will presumably need to complete multiple bullpen sessions while incorporating all his pitches before he advances to facing live hitters. After that, Arrighetti will likely require at least a couple of minor-league rehab starts to build up his pitch count, so he shouldn't be expected to make his return from the 60-day injured list until after the All-Star break.
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Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Transferred to 60-day IL
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Houston transferred Arrighetti to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Arrighetti broke his right thumb after being hit by a ball during batting practice in early April and had been on the 15-day IL since. The move to the 60-day IL doesn't affect the hurler's timeline to return -- early July remains a best-case scenario -- but it does open a spot on the team's 40-man roster. Arrighetti will likely need a minor-league rehab stint before he's ready to rejoin Houston's rotation.
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Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Playing catch from 70 feet
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Arrighetti (thumb) played catch from 70 feet while traveling with the team during its weekend series against Cleveland, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Arrighetti has made slow progress since breaking his thumb in early April. The injury is now completely healed, but he is building back up as if it were spring training. As a result, Arrighetti is not expected to return until July.
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Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Plays catch
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Manager Joe Espada said Arrighetti (thumb) played catch Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Arrighetti has officially resumed a throwing program, playing catch for the first time since suffering a fractured right thumb April 7. It's an encouraging step in his recovery, and certainly one welcomed by the Astros, who just lost Ronel Blanco (elbow) for the season. Still, Arrighetti isn't expected to be reinstated until July.
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Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Not expected back until July
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Astros general manager Dana Brown said in a recent interview that he hopes to get Arrighetti (thumb) back "somewhere in the month of July," Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Arrighetti has had the cast on his fractured right thumb removed and has begun strengthening exercises. However, he has not yet started up a throwing program, and once he does he will nearly be building up from scratch after suffering the injury April 7. Arrighetti is currently on the 15-day injured list but is a candidate to be shifted to the 60-day IL if the Astros need to free up a spot on their 40-man roster.
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Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Imaging shows thumb is healing
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Arrighetti got imaging on his fractured right thumb Monday that showed the bone is healing properly, Will Kunkel of FOX 26 Houston reports.
Arrighetti was able to shed his cast, but he is still not able to do any throwing. Instead, he will focus on strengthening his legs until he is cleared to begin a throwing program. A timetable for Arrighetti's return to the Astros' rotation won't be established until he ramps up his throwing.
Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Won't need surgery on thumb
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Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Arrighetti will not require surgery to repair his fractured right thumb, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Arrighetti will be in a cast for two to two and a half weeks before having imaging to see how the thumb has healed. The Astros expect to have a better idea at that point what Arrighetti's timetable for a return will look like, though general manager Dana Brown said in a radio appearance Wednesday that he anticipates that the young right-hander will be out "six weeks or so," per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. The hurler was injured when he was struck by a line drive while playing catch in the outfield before Monday's game in Seattle.
Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Placed on injured list
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The Astros placed Arrighetti on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a fractured right thumb, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Arrighetti was struck by a line drive while playing catch in the outfield before Monday's game in Seattle, and the freak accident will likely result in the 25-year-old spending at least a month or two on the IL. Luis Contreras will take the open spot on the roster to provide Houston with some extra bullpen depth, though the Astros haven't yet determined who will fill the open spot in their rotation.
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Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Suffers broken thumb
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Arrighetti was diagnosed with a fractured right thumb after being struck by a ball during batting practice Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The 25-year-old right-hander was the victim of a freak accident prior to Monday's game in Seattle, as he was in the outfield playing catch before being drilled by a line drive. A timetable for Arrighetti's return has yet to be established, though he'll presumably miss at least a month, and possibly longer depending on whether surgery is required.
Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Struck by ball during BP
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Arrighetti was struck in the right hand by a batted ball during the Mariners' batting practice ahead of Monday's contest, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Arrighetti appears to be on the wrong end of a tough break, taking a ball off his pitching hand while playing catch in the outfield. Manager Joe Espada said that the 25-year-old is undergoing tests to determine if he suffered an injury of significance or not. Arrighetti is currently projected to pitch Friday against the Angels and it's unclear if his start is in doubt at this point.
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Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Early exit in Minnesota
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Arrighetti (1-1) took the loss Saturday, coughing up five runs on three hits and three walks over 3.2 innings as the Astros fell 6-1 to the Twins. He struck out three.
All the damage against the right-hander came in the fourth inning, as 10 men came to the plate for Minnesota. Arrighetti got the hook in the middle of that sequence, tossing 42 of 70 pitches for strikes before he left the mound. It was a disappointing stumble after he delivered a quality start in his 2025 debut, and Arrighetti will take a 5.59 ERA and 8:5 K:BB through 9.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Angels.
