It’s been two months since Houston Astros star Kyle Tucker suffered a right shin contusion after fouling a ball off his leg. Since then, he’s been sidelined, making appearances on various injured lists without a clear timetable for his return. Astros manager Joe Espada has been transparent with the media and fans, offering updates on Tucker’s condition and progress.
Tucker, who had been boasting a .266 batting average, with 19 home runs and 40 RBIs before the injury, has seen little action on the field. Espada was cautious when asked about Tucker’s potential return before the end of August. According to The Houston Chronicle, Espada remarked, “It’d be great, but I’m not going to sit here and say that it’s going to happen. It’s kind of day to day, see how he feels and how we build him up. But it’d be too aggressive for me to say that we’ll have him by the end of the month. It’s a possibility, but not going to go there.”
Tucker’s recovery has mainly involved minimal activities, including playing catch, with little emphasis on hitting or running. As the Astros embark on a 10-day road trip to face the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, and Tampa Bay Rays, Espada mentioned that he would be discussing a plan of action with Tucker for the upcoming weeks. “He’s going to do some stuff inside today,” Espada said. “We are having a conversation with him [about] how we’re going to handle the next couple of weeks. I think he’s getting close for us to push him out to start doing more active, more intense stuff. We’re going to…talk about maybe staying back for the first half of the trip so he could do some intense stuff here or do we want to go to [Arlington] and do it on that turf?”
Espada emphasized that there are no plans to shut Tucker down for the season, despite the cautious approach to his recovery. The manager is keen on ensuring Tucker gets back to full strength without rushing the process, balancing between intense rehabilitation and Tucker’s readiness to rejoin the team.
The Astros and their fans eagerly await Tucker’s return, hoping he can contribute to the team’s efforts as they navigate the rest of the season. As Tucker continues his recovery, the team remains optimistic yet realistic about his return, keeping a close eye on his progress and readiness to get back on the field.
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