Astros Reliever Makes Injury Progress

Houston Astros reliever Ryne Stanek was scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park as he continues to work his way from a right ankle sprain he suffered on Sept. 4.

The Athletic reported the news of the bullpen session.

The Astros moved Stanek to the 15-day injured list the following day and he is eligible to return as soon as next week.

The bullpen session is the next step for the right-hander to get back on the mound and determine just how much progress his ankle has made.

At the time, Stanek’s injury had the potential to be gruesome.

Stanek was covering first base on a deep ground ball down the first-base line by Rangers outfielder Leody Taveras. Astros first baseman Jose Abreu made a great play, but he was too far from the bag to make the play himself.

So he tossed it to Stanek, who covered the bag and made the force out. As he caught the ball and his right ankle landed on the bag, he appeared to land awkwardly and his foot came up almost immediately off the bag.

He landed on the ground in obvious pain. Trainers came out immediately. After a few minutes of talking with trainers and manager Dusty Baker, Stanek was helped onto a medical cart and he was taken from the field, still in obvious pain.

The Astros reported the next day that there was no serious damage to Stanek’s ankle and moved him to the 15-day injured list.

Stanek has been one of the Astros’ most reliable relievers this season, as he boasts a 3-1 record with a 3.88 ERA in 52 games, one of four Astros pitchers that have appeared in at least 50 games this season. He has pitched 48.2 innings, giving up 21 walks and 49 strikeouts.

He joined the Astros in 2021 after spending 2017-21 with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Miami Marlins and was one of the biggest pieces of the bullpen puzzle for Houston as they won the World Series last season.