HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610) -- Nine days after being put on the injured list due to health and safety protocols related to the coronavirus, Astros star second baseman Jose Altuve is clear to return.
Astros manager Dusty Baker announced Friday afternoon Altuve had cleared protocols and said he hoped to see Altuve at Minute Maid Park later in the day.
The Astros do not want to rush him back into the lineup, given he's missed so much time. They will allow him to field some groundballs and get a sense for his conditioning before Altuve returns to the lineup.
With Altuve out of the lineup, the Astros experimented with four different leadoff hitters between Myles Straw (three games), Kyle Tucker (two games), Chas McCormick and Carlos Correa (one game apiece).
The Astros will welcome Altuve's presence whenever they can get it. He was hitting .381 when the Astros put him on the injured list April 14.