The Houston Astros welcomed back outfielder Kyle Tucker from the 60-day injured list on a positive note, allowing him to return to the field after a break since June 3. To make room for Tucker’s comeback, the Astros decided to send infielder Zach Dezenzo to Triple-A Sugar Land and designate lefty reliever Parker Mushinski, thus creating a spot on the 40-player roster. (It’s important to note that players on the 60-day IL do not count towards the 40-player roster limit.)
Tucker, aged 27, endured his injury after an incident where he fouled a ball off his right shin during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Although the initial diagnosis indicated a contusion, Tucker revealed this week that further imaging revealed a fracture.
“After the swelling subsided, subsequent imaging showed a minor fracture in my shin,” Tucker mentioned in an interview with MLB’s Brian McTaggart. “I focused on my rehabilitation from that point onwards.”
Throughout Tucker’s time on the IL, the team had referred to his injury as a “deep bone bruise” and a “shin contusion.” It wasn’t until this week that general manager Dana Brown disclosed to The Athletic that Tucker had been dealing with a fracture.
“Following multiple rounds of medical imaging, we suspect there was a small fracture,” Brown explained. “As with all injuries of this nature, once the fracture heals, it takes time for the leg muscles to regain strength. Tucker has put in tremendous effort to return to the field and is now ready to contribute in September and the postseason.”
Prior to his injury, Tucker had been enjoying a stellar season. In 60 games, he boasted a batting average of .266/.395/.584 (175 OPS+) with 19 home runs and 10 stolen bases. His overall impact had been valued at an estimated 3.6 Wins Above Replacement, based on Baseball-Reference’s calculations. Despite his absence, he was selected to play in the All-Star Game, marking the third time in his career that he has received this honor.
In Tucker’s absence, the Astros utilized seven different players for at least four starts in right field, including recent acquisitions Jason Heyward and Ben Gamel. While the team faced challenges in replacing Tucker’s contributions, they managed to significantly improve their performance during his absence. Notably, the Astros were trailing the Seattle Mariners in the American League West by seven games on the night Tucker got injured, but he will now rejoin a team that currently holds a comfortable 4 1/2-game lead.
sentence: The cat sat lazily in the sun, soaking up the warmth.
The lazy cat lounged in the sun, basking in its warmth.