Houston Astros starting pitcher Jose Uriquidy will begin the 2024 regular season on the injured list with a right forearm strain.
Manager Joe Espada confirmed the news Monday following an MRI.
Uriquidy removed himself from Friday’s Grapefruit League game after 43 pitches and complained of discomfort in his pitching elbow. According to MLB.com reporter Brian McTaggart, he was scheduled to throw 60 pitches as he continued to build up for the start of the regular season.
Urquidy has been diagnosed with a forearm muscle strain and won’t throw for a few days, manager Joe Espada said. He’s likely to start season on IL.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) March 18, 2024
The Astros immediately flew him to Houston for testing with team doctors after he arrived at camp on Saturday still bothered by his arm.
Uriquidy joins a growing IL list for the Astros that already includes Justin Verlander (shoulder), Lance McCullers Jr. (right forearm surgery), and Luis Garcia (Tommy John surgery).
José Urquidy is flying back to Houston to see team doctors, Joe Espada said. Urquidy’s elbow pain had not subsided when he reported to the complex today.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) March 16, 2024
The Astros are forcing Urquidy to take a few days off from throwing which is slowing his progression going into regular season. His addition to the IL gives Framber Valdez the Opening Day start against the New York Yankees on March 28 and Cristian Javier will take the ball on March 29.
He was throwing well this spring before going down with an injury, only giving up one earned run on nine hits to go with no walks and six strikeouts in nine innings across three starts.
Urquidy went 3-3 with a 5.29 ERA in 16 games (10 starts) in the regular season last year and spent three months on the IL with right shoulder discomfort.
Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Before the injury, the Astros’ starting rotation was projected to look like Valdez, Javier, Urquidy, Hunter Brown, and J.P. France. Now, there has to be a next-man-up mentality.
Ronel Blanco would likely be the first choice to fill any vacant spot followed by Brandon Bielak, who is out of options and was hoping to start the season as a long reliever.
The third option is top pitching prospect Spencer Arrighetti, who is expected to make his big league at some point this season. It just might be sooner than anyone planned. He made two spring starts with the big league club before he was reassigned to minor camp.
Regardless of how the rotation looks to begin the season, it won’t look the same by mid-April when Verlander is expected to return.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.