Yordan Alvarez has remained on the Houston Astros’ 10-day injured list since May 3 due to inflammation in his right hand, with expectations that he could return to the lineup soon. However, team general manager Dana Brown revealed that Alvarez has been sidelined from swinging after a very small fracture was identified in the ring finger of his right hand.
The fracture was detected following a live batting practice session last Friday, during which Alvarez experienced discomfort. Imaging tests showed that the injury is already approximately 60 percent healed, and surgery will not be necessary, according to Brown.
Ongoing Hand Issues Add Complexity to Recovery Timeline
Although Dana Brown expressed hope that Alvarez may return in the near future and can continue with baseball activities aside from hitting, this structural injury complicates his recovery period. Historically, Alvarez’s hand troubles have involved inflammation and soreness rather than fractures or other structural damage, marking this as a more serious setback for the three-time All-Star.
Before being placed on the injured list, Alvarez was struggling offensively, posting a .210/.306/.340 slash line across 121 plate appearances, a significant drop from his career standards. Alvarez, known for usually starting seasons slower, had a career March and April average slash line of .265/.350/.488, indicating this year’s performance well below his typical production early in the season.
Astros Manage Despite Injuries, Still Leading AL West
Despite Alvarez’s absence and underperformance from other key players such as Christian Walker and Brendan Rodgers, the Astros have maintained a middle-of-the-pack offensive output. Even with several pitchers on the injured list, Houston leads the American League West and remains a strong contender for the playoffs. The team’s potential success in the postseason depends heavily on getting its full roster, including an effective Alvarez, back to health.
However, it is now clear that Alvarez’s time on the injured list will extend into June, complicating the Astros’ plans for the remainder of the regular season.
Parallels Drawn to Kyle Tucker’s Drawn-Out Injury
Matt Kawahara from the Houston Chronicle noted similarities between Alvarez’s injury and last season’s experience with Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker. Initially believed to be a bone bruise, Tucker’s shin injury was later identified as a small fracture following advanced imaging, which led to an absence exceeding three months.
Dana Brown explained that extensive inflammation masked Alvarez’s fracture in early imaging scans. An MRI at first diagnosed only a muscle strain, delaying the recognition of the bone injury.
“I think you don’t see the calcium buildup until like five weeks or so and that’s part of the problem,”
—Dana Brown, Astros General Manager
“And then when you do these imagings and you have so much fluid and inflammation, it’s very, very difficult to diagnose these. And this is for the professionals that do it, it’s very difficult. And even with multiple opinions, it’s very difficult to see.”
—Dana Brown, Astros General Manager
Implications for Astros and Alvarez’s Future Availability
The discovery of a structural fracture in Alvarez’s hand alters expectations for his near-term availability and highlights the challenges of diagnosing subtle injuries obscured by inflammation. The Astros face ongoing concerns as they attempt to navigate this period of key player absences while competing for a playoff spot.
Securing Alvarez’s return at full health will be crucial for the team’s offensive strength and postseason aspirations. For fans and analysts alike, his delayed comeback creates uncertainty surrounding Houston’s lineup for the next months of the season.