HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Less than two months after undergoing surgery to repair the right thumb he fractured during the World Baseball Classic, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve will make his 2023 debut on Friday night, the team announced with a Twitter video.
Friday's announcement punctuates a remarkably fast recovery. The original timetable set for by the Astros after Altuve underwent surgery on March 22 said he'd be able to resume baseball activities in two months, The Astros second baseman started throwing in early May and took batting practice on the field for the first time two weeks ago in Seattle. He started a rehab assignment last Friday, appearing in five games with two affiliates.
Altuve fractured his thumb when he was hit by a pitch from Daniel Bard during the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. Mauricio Dubon has filled in admirably in his absence, but the Astros enter Friday's game bottom five in slugging and OPS.