Astros Halt Yordan Alvarez Rehab After Fresh Hand Setback

The Houston Astros have halted designated hitter Yordan Alvarez’s rehabilitation program after the 28-year-old felt renewed pain in his fractured right hand during dry swings at the club’s West Palm Beach, Florida, facility on Monday, 1 July.

General Manager Dana Brown said Alvarez will meet a hand specialist this week to determine whether the injury—first diagnosed as a small fracture near the fourth metacarpal and responsible for his placement on the injured list on 5 May—requires surgical intervention. “It’s a tough pill to swallow, but his health is the most important thing,” Brown told reporters in Denver, adding that the team had hoped to activate Alvarez as early as next week.

Brown insisted the setback will not alter Houston’s trade-deadline plans. The Astros, 16 games above .500 and holding a six-game lead in the American League West, still intend to pursue a left-handed bat to bolster a lineup that has managed a 34-19 record without Alvarez.