While the team hasn't specifically stated that the players have been placed on the COVID-19 injured list, it appears as though the players are currently in MLB's health and safety protocols. All Rights Reserved. His knees are already rather poor for a player who's merely 23 years old, however, as they limited him to two games last season. The Astros placed Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, Martin Maldonado and Robel Garcia on the injured list due to MLB's health and safety protocols. Right? Given Alvarez's past knee issues, the Astros are expected to limit his defensive work throughout the spring, and if he does get on the field, he'll most likely play first base rather than the corner outfield. Alvarez's return was much anticipated, given that the 2019 Rookie of the Year only recorded eight at-bats in 2020 while dealing with injuries. We're just trying to get him on the field as the DH first.". He only had eight at-bats over two games due to his knees, which both required surgery that shut him down for the remainder of the season. Alvarez has just three hits in 21 at-bats this spring, but Baker said he’s impressed with the contact Alvarez is making with the ball. Alvarez didn’t make his season debut last year until Aug. 14 after testing positive for COVID-19. The 23-year-old will make his spring debut after being limited to two games last season and ramping up his rehab work through the first few weeks of camp. The Astros will be shorthanded on star … Alvarez and four of his teammates were placed on the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday. Alvarez isn't expected to see any work in the outfield this season due to the knee issues, so he could operate exclusively as a designated hitter. The Astros are bringing him along cautiously this spring, but he's at least trending in the right direction and could get into game action with two weeks to spare before the start of the regular season. Alert: Prince Philip's coffin is lowered into the Royal Vault as his... 2 in critical condition after car splits in half in crash in front of... Turner agrees with recommendation to raise Houston's water rates, Alex Bregman, wife sue resort over lost $80K wedding deposit, Texas House approves bill for ‘constitutional carry’ of pistols, Astros insider: The artistry of Zack Greinke, Astros edge Mariners to end six-game losing streak, Houston boxer Efetobor Apochi takes down Deon Nicholson, Lance McCullers Jr. questionable for next turn in Astros rotation. Astros manager Dusty Baker suggested that it's "very unlikely" that Alvarez (knees) will play in the outfield this season, even if it's just for a game or two per week, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. Alvarez will make for a very tricky evaluation in 2021 redraft leagues, as he has shown his immense potential when healthy, but he is still a high-risk player given his large frame and multiple knee procedures. Alvarez made his Grapefruit League debut Sunday and went 0-for-3 in a game against Washington. Ryan Herrera is a sports intern at the Houston Chronicle for the spring of 2021. Alvarez already enters this season as a DH-only player, and while this news isn't really a surprise, it reinforces that he won't likely gain eligibility at another position this season. But we know something for sure: Pitchers are afraid of Yordan Álvarez. Astros need their superstars to actually play like it in 2021, Solomon: Baylor's title a shining moment for all of Texas, McClain: Lovie Smith is finally with the Texans, Rockets embracing unconventional rebuilding plan. The Houston Astros will be without four starting players in the foreseeable future. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Likely out at least five games, Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Placed on injured list, Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Blasts first homer Saturday, Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Makes spring debut, Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Making spring debut, Astros' Yordan Alvarez: On track for Sunday, Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Could play early next week, Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Takes batting practice Wednesday, Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Increases workload, Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Could work at first base, Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Outfield work very unlikely, Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Not cleared for on-field work, Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Progressing through running program, Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Expected back for spring training, Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Shifts to 45-day IL. On June 9 of that year, Alvarez made his major league debut, and over 87 … Alvarez (knee) participated in on-field batting practice Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. Nationals outfielder Victor Robles dives and takes away a hit from Yordan Alvarez during his first spring at-bat Tickets. Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez… However, Alvarez is still working his way back from a lost season in 2020 and a late start to spring training. The 23-year-old slugger will be making his long-awaited spring debut in what marks his first game action since mid-August after a lengthy recovery from bilateral arthroscopic knee surgery. Relative to the general manager half of Bill O’Brien, the franchise has a no-nonsense leader with a long-term plan, Smith: Rockets' John Wall experiment isn't working. Yordan Alvarez burst on the scene as a rookie for the Astros in 2019. On June 9 of that year, Alvarez made his major league debut, and over 87 games that season, he hit 27 home runs and recorded a 1.067 OPS. He will begin physical therapy immediately and is expected to make a full recovery, per the press release. Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, Martin … Latest on Houston Astros left fielder Yordan Alvarez including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN ... 5 players on IL due to health and safety protocols. It's not clear whether Alvarez has tested positive for the virus, but manager Dusty Baker said Friday that all five of the players on the COVID-19 IL will likely be sidelined for at least the next five games. Alvarez's incredible .313/.412/.655 slash line in his 87-game debut back in 2019 indicates the massive boost he could provide both the Astros and fantasy teams if he can just stay on the field. The Astros will likely ramp up Alvarez slowly throughout the spring with the goal of having him ready to serve as the club's everyday designated hitter when Opening Day arrives. It's possible the Astros are simply treating him with extreme caution with Opening Day still over a month away, and it's a positive that he's at least able to participate in some activities, but it's hard to be too confident in his health until he gets into game action. Aledmys Diaz could serve as the team's primary designated hitter in Alvarez's absence. Neither the Astros nor Alvarez have issued a formal update on where he stands in his recovery from Aug. 28 arthroscopic surgery on both of his knees, but his ability to do some running -- albeit with mechanical aid -- is seemingly encouraging. Alvarez (knee) stretched and ran with his teammates Thursday but did not take batting practice, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. Alvarez (knees) posted a video of himself running the bases on his personal Instagram account Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. Yordan Álvarez hit a three-run homer and the Astros earned a third straight win against the rival Oakland Athletics, 9-1 on Saturday. "Who knows? “And then he got the late start now. So long as his bat rebounds however, the 23-year-old will have more than enough fantasy value to compensate for any loss of roster flexibility. Issues with both knees slowed Alvarez's introduction to game action and will likely limit him to DH-only duties in 2021. In the fall of 2020, Ryan spent four months teaching both English and journalism at Rolling Meadows High School (Ill.) as a student teacher, earning his degree in secondary English education. The 23-year-old is slashing .333/.364/.667 in the heart of a dynamic Astros lineup, and if he can stay healthy, he should be in line for a huge campaign. As expected, Alvarez slotted in at designated hitter while batting fifth in the order. The team said the five position players were placed on the injured list due to MLB's health and safety protocol. We are living unprecedented and uncertain times. This has become familiar territory for the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner — … Because he played exclusively as a DH in his brief 2020 campaign, Alvarez may not carry eligibility in the outfield in certain fantasy leagues. Yordan Álvarez hit a three-run homer and Houston kept thriving through all the boos, slugging its way to a third straight win in a 9-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday. With the Astros up 2-1 in the fifth inning, Alvarez smashed a Lou Trivino offering over the wall in left-center field to provide some insurance. OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Yordan Álvarez hit a three-run homer and Houston kept thriving through all the boos, slugging its way to a third straight win in a 9-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday. If he's healthy, Alvarez will be Houston's primary designated hitter. While the team will test him out at first base once again this spring, it's not yet clear whether he'll be considered to play the position at any point during the regular season in 2021. The Astros are certainly happy to have the 23-year-old's potential pop return to an already explosive lineup. Aledmys Diaz and Ronnie Dawson should continue to fill in at designated hitter while Alvarez is sidelined. Alvarez's knee issues limited him to just two games last season, and the fact that they're still limiting him to start camp this year doesn't seem like a good sign. Alvarez (COVID-19 protocols) is unlikely to return during the Astros' current five-game road trip, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports. Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run homer and the Astros earned a third straight win against the rival Oakland Athletics, 9-1 on Saturday. Though Alvarez had a slow start to his spring training, Baker said he mostly looks to have gotten his timing down in a hurry. Alvarez’s performance earned him the 2019 American League Rookie of the Year by unanimous vote, and manager Dusty Baker would like to have his bat near the top of the order to give him as many plate appearances as possible. As Houston’s designated hitter, Alvarez has less of a chance of suffering a setback due to spending less time in the field. Houston has outscored Oakland 26-7 in three games against the defending AL West champion A's, who were eliminated by the Astros in a four-game AL Divsion Series last fall. It's unclear how long Alvarez will be under such restrictions or whether this was simply Baker exercising an overabundance of caution. Alvarez (knees) will serve as the Astros' designated hitter and will bat fifth in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. What’d he have last year, five at-bats? Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Blasts first homer Saturday 13D ago • Alvarez went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 9-1 win over the A's. Two games?” Baker said. Alvarez is quickly making up for lost time after an injury-plagued 2020 and already has one homer and six RBI through two games to begin the season. He expected Alvarez to need more time to even get close to finding the sweet spot. We're a long way from making that determination, I think. The 23-year-old was running on an anti-gravity treadmill in mid-October, and he's continued to progress his running program over the past couple months. Alvarez cracked his second homer of the season in the sixth inning against Cole Irvin. Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez watches his three-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, April 3, 2021. Covering the impact of coronavirus on the sports world. ... Yordan Alvarez is an imposing figure in the batter’s box. Yordan Alvarez, DH, Houston Astros, stats and updates at CBSSports.com. Alvarez, who made his spring debut Sunday, has been dealing with sore knees, so the manager didn't want to expose him to back-to-back contests this early. Houston manager Dusty Baker said Alvarez (knee) has increased his workload since joining the team last week for on-field practices, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. Alvarez has not yet taken batting practice or fielding practice, although the Astros don't plan to use him in the field often. Solomon: Texans are in better shape with Nick Caserio. Alvarez was one of five Astros who were placed on the injured list Wednesday. Astros season preview: Why Yordan Alvarez and the health of his knees are the keys for Houston in 2021. Alvarez (knee) will spend some time at first base during spring training if he's healthy, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports. The Houston Astros have placed Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, Martín Maldonado and Robel García on the injured list due to health and … © 2004-2021 CBS Interactive. You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ryan_a_herrera. The Astros announced Wednesday that five players including Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, Martin Maldonado and Robel Garcia are being placed on the IL due to the league's health … The 23-year-old enters the season as a DH-only player and is "very unlikely" to play in the outfield this year, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. Dusty Baker leaning toward Jose Altuve for Astros'... Jake Odorizzi takes rough spring debut for Astros in stride, Astros, Lance McCullers Jr. reach deal on contract extension. The three players were added to the list due to “health and safety protocols.” In total, five Astros players landed on the IL before Wednesday’s game against the Tigers. Alvarez underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees in late August, and it's a good sign to see him on the basepaths with no obvious limitations. The Mets ace is 0-1 this year despite allowing just one run in 14 innings, striking out 21 with two walks. Biden administration rescinds billions in Medicaid funding for... Houston attorney charged in $225 million tax fraud, Migrant children to be moved from shelter in Houston, feds say. Alvarez was placed on the injured list for an unspecified reason Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. Alvarez made just nine plate appearances in 2020 before being shut down with the dual knee injury. "It's shown in the past that whenever [Alvarez] plays in the outfield, he's hurting for two or three days, you know what I mean?" Astros' lineup vs. Mets offers likely preview of regular... Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez (44) throws during spring training workouts for the Astros at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, Friday, February 26, 2021. “That’s why I’m batting him down in the order,” Baker said Thursday. It's not yet clear whether Alvarez has tested positive for COVID-19, but he'll be able to return as soon as he's clears the protocols that pertain to his specific situation. Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo homer in Thursday's victory over the Athletics. We will get through this together. He missed all but two games in 2020, but Alvarez was productive in a mostly-DH role in 2019, when he won Rookie of the Year honors after posting a 1.067 OPS with 27 home runs over 369 plate appearances. The Rockets should be smarter and more efficient than this. At AD&V, we are committed to the health and well-being of our team, our clients, our colleagues and most importantly, the community at large. Ryan was accepted into the Sports Journalism Institute, where he was a member of the class of 2020 and will also be a member of the upcoming class of 2021. Houston Astros have placed second baseman Jose Altuve, third baseman Alex Bregman, designated hitter Yordan Álvarez, catcher Martín Maldonado and … Alvarez went 1-for-3 with three RBI in Thursday's victory over the Athletics. Errors, typos in Deshaun Watson case show legal scramble, More Houston neighborhoods push to remove racist deed language. Still, Baker has moved him around in the order to help him get his timing back and to limit his running while his knees continue to recover. Yordan Álvarez hit a three-run homer and the Astros earned a third straight win against the rival Oakland Athletics, 9-1 on Saturday. Alvarez went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 9-1 win over the A's. Ryan was previously the Mizzou beat writer for Rock M Nation, where he covered Mizzou football, men's basketball and baseball. Six at-bats? Dusty Baker still sorting out his bullpen. Alvarez underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees Wednesday and is expected to be ready for spring training. Yordan Alvarez drills an RBI single to right field and Martín Maldonado slides into home safely to give the Astros a 5-3 lead He's thus slated to enter the upcoming season as a utility-only player in fantasy leagues, and those investing in Alvarez in early drafts may have to have some blind faith that his offseason rehab program remains setback-free. Yordan Alvarez, DH, Houston Astros, stats and updates at CBSSports.com. The Houston Astros have placed left fielder Yordan Alvarez, third baseman Alex Bregman and second baseman Jose Altuve on the injured list. Houston added pitcher Chase DeJong to the 40-man roster as a replacement for Alvarez. The Astros placed Alvarez (knee) on the 45-day injured list Sunday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. “I know you’re used to seeing him up in the order, but I figured his timing is going to be off for a while, and also I don’t want him running the bases a whole bunch.”. Baker suggested that Alvarez was being held out of workouts in a pre-planned arrangement as he recovers from the arthroscopic procedures he required on both of his knees in August, so the 23-year-old isn't believed to be dealing with any sort of setback. Per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, manager Dusty Baker said he expects Alvarez to receive only 2-to-3 plate appearances Sunday before checking out of the contest, but the 2019 American League Rookie of the Year should be able to play a full game by the time the Astros' Grapefruit League slate concludes. He also spent time working as both an assistant sports editor and high school sports reporter for the Columbia Missourian, and he interned at the Columbia Daily Tribune in the summer of 2018. Astros manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday that Alvarez (knees) has not yet been cleared for on-field work at spring training, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. Nats TicketFinder: Chat ... Chat with a Nationals Representative 2021 Ticket Plans 2021 Suites & Premium Seating Current Season Plan Holders 2021 Health & … That's very speculative as to how much he's going to play or how he's going to feel. With his early performance at the plate, the Cuban slugger has cleared any possible doubt about his health … I’m surprised that he’s making contact as much as he is.”. Alvarez has been increasing his workload over the past several days, and he participated in batting practice for the first time this spring. 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