Overview
- The Astros reinstated Jose Altuve from the injured list and optioned outfielder Zach Dezenzo to Triple-A after Friday night’s game.
- Altuve had been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain but returned to the starting lineup about 20 days after the injury, well inside the typical four-to-six-week recovery window for that injury.
- He progressed through an accelerated, stepwise rehab plan that included early batting practice roughly 10 days after the injury and two days of live pitching sessions before rejoining the club.
- Altuve said he is taking things one day at a time and feels close to 100 percent, and his return is seen as a potential short-term boost for a team trying to rebound from a 28-36 start.
- The organization emphasized staged testing and medical clearances for recoveries, a protocol it plans to apply to other injured players as it manages roster timing and re-insertions.