Proper-hander Penn Murfee started a rehab project final week however made only one look and can now be shut down. Per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, the righty has been returned from that rehab project because of what the workforce calls “a reoccurrence of proper elbow discomfort.”
Murfee, now 30, bought out to a powerful begin in his main league profession. He made 80 appearances for the Mariners over the 2022 and 2023 seasons with a 2.70 earned run common. He posted a powerful 27.9% strikeout fee in that point, together with his 8.5% stroll fee near league common.
The latter of these two seasons was minimize brief halfway via, as he underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in July of final yr. Within the offseason, the M’s put him on waivers and he was claimed by the Mets after which Atlanta. The latter membership non-tendered him, re-signed him to a cut up deal after which put him again on waivers, at which level the Astros claimed him.
Houston was undoubtedly hoping Murfee might present a second-half jolt to their bullpen as soon as he recovered from his surgical procedure, however that’s trying much less possible now. “It’s not supreme,” supervisor Joe Espada mentioned. “It sucks as a result of I do know he’s labored actually arduous. He desires to get on the sphere, he desires to pitch for us this season. I nonetheless anticipate him to do it. It’s simply, we’re going to should sluggish him down somewhat bit right here and see how he feels. It’s day after day proper now.”
It appears Espada nonetheless left the window open for Murfee to come back again this yr, however it’ll be tight simply primarily based on the calendar. Every time he’s cleared to restart his rehab, he’ll presumably want a number of outings to get into sport form after a lot down time. The Astros have taken the lead within the West division and will maybe enhance the probabilities of Murfee enjoying a job in the event that they handle to play deep into October but once more.
Even when that doesn’t come to cross, Murfee might play a job on the membership sooner or later. He got here into this season with one yr and 169 days of service time. Gamers on the key league injured checklist gather service time, so he’ll end this yr at 2.169 so long as he’s not activated after which optioned within the subsequent few weeks. He’ll qualify for arbitration as a Tremendous Two participant this winter however gained’t be capable to command an enormous elevate after a lot missed time. The Astros can management him for 4 further seasons past this one.
In one other little bit of Astros information, Chandler Rome of The Athletic relays on X that the membership goes to offer Alex Bregman some reps at first base. He just lately missed a number of video games because of proper elbow irritation however has been within the final two contests because the designated hitter. Shay Whitcomb has been protecting the recent nook of late whereas Bregman’s elbow is stopping him from making robust throws throughout the diamond, however maybe he might deal with first, the place the throwing calls for are decrease.
Whereas the membership is unquestionably glad to have Bregman’s bat again within the lineup, it presently makes for a barely awkward match because it forces Yordan Alvarez to play the sphere day by day. The membership has additionally given some DH time to Yainer Diaz this yr, preserving his bat within the lineup every time Victor Caratini is catching. If Bregman might slot in at first now and again, it might give Espada a bit extra flexibility in setting the lineup, getting Alvarez and Diaz a lighter workload as they strategy the postseason.
First base has been a bit gap for the membership this yr, with José Abreu having been launched after his immense struggles. Jon Singleton has largely taken over, with Zach Dezenzo additionally factoring in currently and Diaz transferring there every so often as nicely. Singleton is hitting .234/.314/.369 this yr for a wRC+ of 97, nearly league common however a bit beneath the expectations for a primary baseman. Dezenzo has hit .188/.235/.313 in a small pattern of 34 plate appearances. Bregman has hit .261/.319/.448 this yr for a 117 wRC+ however has been even higher currently. After chilly begin to the season, he has hit .296/.351/.512 for the reason that begin of June for a 145 wRC+.
