Astros DH Yordan Alvarez dealing with fracture in hand

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Houston Astros designated Yordan Alvarez has a “very small fracture” in his right hand that is 60 percent healed, general manager Dana Brown announced on Saturday.

Brown said the fracture wasn’t discovered in initial imaging on May 6 because there was too much inflammation and fluid.

“The immediate plan for him right now is to just let it rest,” Brown said. “And he’ll still continue to do other baseball activity like the running, he could probably go out in the outfield and catch. He can do everything else except for pick up a bat. And so, we don’t even want him hitting off tees even though he feels good enough to hit off a tee. Just let it heal completely and then you’ll be back.”

Alvarez remains on the injured list retroactive to May 3.

Alvarez, who was previously on the injured list for right hand inflammation in July 2022, has gotten off to a slow start this season. He is batting .210 with three home runs and 18 RBIs in 29 games.

The 27-year-old has a career batting average of .295 with 167 home runs and 484 RBIs in 658 games, all with the Astros. Last season he was an All-Star selection for the third consecutive year and topped 30 homers for the fourth straight season.

Also on Saturday, the Astros placed outfielder Chas McCormick on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain and recalled infielder Shay Whitcomb from Triple-A Sugar Land.

The move is retroactive to Friday for McCormick, who is batting .256 with two RBIs in 36 games this season.

McCormick, 30, is a career .250 hitter with 55 homers and 193 RBIs in 472 career games with the Astros.

Whitcomb, 26, is batting .275 with a Pacific Coast League-leading 18 homers and 38 RBIs in 53 games this season with the Space Cowboys.

He batted .220 with five RBIs in 20 games last season with the Astros.

–Field Level Media