Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Slated for designated hitter duty
Rotowire
Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that he would like Alvarez (ankle) to "spend most of his season" at designated hitter, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Alvarez started 32 games at DH and 15 in left field during his injury-shortened 2025 campaign, and Houston wants to limit his time in the field in hopes that it will help keep him healthy. While it makes sense for the Astros to do everything they can to keep Alvarez's bat in the lineup, it makes for a difficult lineup construction for Espada, especially when it comes to where Isaac Paredes (hamstring) slots in. Alvarez's 2025 season ended prematurely due to a severe left ankle sprain, but general manager Dana Brown said Monday that the slugger will be ready to go for the start of spring training.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Will be full-go for start of spring
Rotowire
Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Alvarez (ankle) will be "full go" for the start of spring training, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Alvarez went down with a severe left ankle sprain late in the regular season. Brown said nearly a month ago that Alvarez had resumed jogging at roughly 70 percent intensity, and while it's unclear how much, if at all, the slugger has progressed with his running since then, Alvarez is not expected to be limited at the start of spring training. Additionally, manager Joe Espada added that his preference is for Alvarez to spend most of his time at designated hitter in 2026, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. The 28-year-old will remain an injury risk heading into the 2026 campaign, however, after being limited to only 48 contests in 2025, mostly due to a fracture in his right hand.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Resumes jogging
Rotowire
General manager Dana Brown said Wednesday that Alvarez (ankle) has begun jogging at roughly 70 percent intensity, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Alvarez suffered a severe left ankle sprain during the final weeks of the regular season. Brown's comments indicate that the 28-year-old is coming along nicely in his recovery, and the GM added that he expects Alvarez to be ready to go by the start of spring training. The righty-hitting slugger also missed significant time in 2025 due to a fracture in his right hand and finished the season with just a .797 OPS across 199 plate appearances.
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Out for rest of regular season
Rotowire
Alvarez said through an interpreter Sunday that he's progressing more quickly than expected in his recovery from a left ankle sprain, but he's not yet taking part in baseball activities and won't join the Astros for their season-ending six-game road trip during the upcoming week, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Alvarez will finish his seventh big-league season with a .273/.367/.430 slash line to go with six home runs, one stolen base, 27 RBI and 17 runs in just 48 games, as a small right hand fracture cost him significant time before he sprained his ankle in this past Monday's win over the Rangers. Houston isn't yet ruling Alvarez out from contributing during a potential postseason run, but a timeline for his return won't be mapped out until he starts swinging a bat and running the bases again. According to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Alvarez has resumed walking with a protective boot on his left foot, but he said that he needs to wait for the swelling in his ankle to subside before he's able to take part in baseball activities.
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Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Moved to injured list
Rotowire
The Astros placed Alvarez (ankle) on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Sept. 16, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Alvarez suffered a significant left ankle sprain earlier this week, and he'll officially be placed on the injured list Friday. The move opens up a spot on the active roster for Isaac Paredes (hamstring), who's coming off the IL. Alvarez will be eligible to return Sept. 26, which coincides with the start of Houston's final regular-season series. It's unclear if he'll be healthy enough to play before the end of the regular season, but manager Joe Espada said on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM on Friday that Alvarez's ankle is "getting better."
Manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Alvarez has a "pretty significant" left ankle sprain and will be "out for a while," though the Astros won't be placing him on the injured list, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The description of the injury makes it sound as though Alvarez could be done for the rest of the regular season, but Houston apparently wants to keep their options open with the slugger rather than place him on the IL. Should the Astros change their mind and backdate an IL move, Alvarez might still be able to play in a series against the Angels on the final weekend. Regardless of the 28-year-old's roster status, Alvarez won't be back in the lineup in the immediate future.
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