Houston optioned Loperfido to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday.
Both Loperfido and Jake Meyers have been sent down to Triple-A, moves that correspond with the Astros recalling Zach Dezenzo from Sugar Land and reinstating LaMonte Wade (hamstring) from the 10-day injured list. With Loperfido no longer on the 26-man roster, that opens up more reps in the outfield for Wade, Dezenzo and Brice Matthews. Loperfido has a .647 OPS with one steal, 12 RBI and nine extra-base hits across 119 plate appearances in the majors this season.
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Astros' Joey Loperfido: On bench Tuesday
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Loperfido is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Twins.
Loperfido will head to the bench Tuesday after he had started in each of the Astros' last five matchups versus right-handed pitchers. With Loperfido taking a seat, Houston will go with Isaac Paredes at designated hitter and Yordan Alvarez, Taylor Trammell and Cam Smith as its outfield trio.
Loperfido went 1-for-1 with a home run and four RBI in Tuesday's 9-7 extra-innings win over the Blue Jays.
Traded from Toronto back to Houston over the winter, Loperfido came off the bench for a revenge game. The 27-year-old outfielder pinch hit for Jake Meyers and was credited with an RBI as part of a ninth-inning rally on a bases-loaded catcher's interference call, before slugging a game-winning, three-run homer off Braydon Fisher in the top of the 11th. The long ball was Loperfido's first of the season in 32 big-league games, and while he's batting just .154 (4-for-26) since returning to the 26-man roster in early June, three of the four hits have gone for extra bases and he's drawn six walks.
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Astros' Joey Loperfido: Exiting starting nine
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Loperfido is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest versus the Blue Jays.
The left-handed-hitting Loperfido had started each of the last four games against righties, but he will take a seat Tuesday as Toronto sends righty Shane Bieber to the bump. Taylor Trammell will play left field.
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Astros' Joey Loperfido: Taking seat Saturday
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Loperfido isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Guardians.
Loperfido will grab a seat on the bench after logging an extra-base hit in each of Houston's last two games. While he sits, Brice Matthews will patrol left field and bat ninth.
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Astros' Joey Loperfido: Activated, staying in minors
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The Astros reinstated Loperfido (quad/foot) from the injured list Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Sugar Land, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Loperfido has been on the IL since mid-April with a right quad strain, though he also suffered a foot injury while playing in a rehab game at Double-A Corpus Christi. Now fully recovered from both injuries, the Astros will keep the 27-year-old at Triple-A for now, giving him more time to ramp up before the team welcomes him back to the active roster. He's gone 7-for-23 (.304) with two RBI and two runs in six games since moving his rehab to Sugar Land.
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Astros' Joey Loperfido: Will go through baseball activities
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Astros manager Joe Espada said that Loperfido (quadriceps) will do some baseball activities Monday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Loperfido is with the team in Cleveland for its brief three-game road trip, which is a good omen for his prospects of a quick return. He will be eligible for activation from the 10-day injured list April 28.
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Astros' Jayden Murray: Back in big leagues
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The Astros recalled Murray from Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.
The right-hander was optioned to Sugar Land last week but will rejoin the Astros with Joey Loperfido (quadriceps) landing on the injured list. Murray allowed two runs over two innings with a 3:3 K:BB in his lone appearance for Houston this season
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Astros' Joey Loperfido: IL move official
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The Astros placed Loperfido on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a right quadriceps strain.
The 26-year-old sustained the quad injury during Friday's 9-4 loss to the Cardinals. Loperfido will be eligible to be reinstated April 28, and Astros general manager Dana Brown said during a radio appearance Sunday that he's optimistic that the 26-year-old outfielder will be ready to return at that time, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. In the meantime, the Astros will likely lean on Brice Matthews, Dustin Harris and Shay Whitcomb to pick up reps in left field in Loperfido's absence.
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Astros' Joey Loperfido: Idle for series finale
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Loperfido is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners.
Loperfido started in center field in Friday's series opener versus Seattle after Jake Meyers (oblique) was placed on the injured list prior to that game, but Taylor Trammell has manned that position in each of the subsequent three contests. Even if the Astros proceed with Trammell as their primary center fielder in Meyers' absence, Loperfido should still see regular reps against right-handed pitching as Houston's left fielder. Shortstop Jeremy Pena's (hamstring) move to the IL on Monday should free up playing time on the left side of the infield for both Carlos Correa and Isaac Paredes in the short term, enabling Yordan Alvarez to serve as a designated hitter on a full-time basis rather than poaching starts from Loperfido in left.
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Astros' Joey Loperfido: On bench against LHP
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Loperfido isn't part of the lineup for Friday's game against the Angels.
Loperfido will avoid a matchup with left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, which means Yordan Alvarez will draw a start in left field and Isaac Paredes will DH. Loperfido went 2-for-4 with a double on Opening Day.
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Astros' Joey Loperfido: Heading back to Houston
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The Astros acquired Loperfido from the Blue Jays on Friday in exchange for Jesus Sanchez.
It's a return to his original organization for Loperfido, who broke into the big leagues with the Astros before being dealt to Toronto as part of the Yusei Kikuchi trade in July 2024. Loperfido hasn't gained a foothold yet in the majors, but he did hit well over 104 plate appearances last season, slashing .333/.379/.500 with four home runs. The 26-year-old will be in the mix for reps as part of a largely unproven outfield in Houston, but he also has a minor-league option remaining and will be behind Cam Smith and Zach Cole in the battle for a corner OF spot.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Added to ALCS roster
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Loperfido was added to the Blue Jays' ACLS roster Thursday.
Loperfido will take the place of Anthony Santander (back) on the active roster. Loperfido has yet to appear in a playoff game this season, and he's likely to serve primarily as a bench bat or defensive replacement.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Checking back into lineup
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Loperfido (knee) will start in left field and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Loperfido was limited to a bench role in each of the previous three contests while he managed a bruised right knee, but his ability to make pinch-hitting appearances Friday and Saturday suggested that he was never at any real risk of requiring a stint on the injured list. With the 26-year-old stepping back into the starting nine for the series finale in Los Angeles, Davis Schneider will retreat to the bench.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: X-rays clean
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X-rays on Loperfido's right knee came back negative following Tuesday's victory over the Rockies, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Loperfido made an early exit from Tuesday's game after getting hit on the knee by a pitch. The Jays are officially labeling his injury as a contusion, and the team will determine his availability on a day-to-day basis for now. If the 26-year-old ends up needing to miss a start or two, Davis Schneider and Myles Straw could pick up some extra playing time.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Exits after HBP
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Loperfido was removed from Tuesday's game against the Rockies after getting hit on the knee by a pitch, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Loperfido had to be helped off the field after taking a 98-mph fastball off his right knee in the sixth inning of Tuesday's contest. He will almost certainly head in for X-rays to determine whether he suffered any structural damage, and the Blue Jays should offer an update on his status in the near future. Myles Straw entered the game as Loperfido's replacement in the outfield and may be in line for regular starts if the latter ends up needing to miss time.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Three more hits in win
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Loperfido (thumb) went 3-for-5 with a run scored in Wednesday's win over the Orioles.
Getting the start in right field and batting leadoff against right-hander Dean Kremer, Loperfido proved the thumb issue he picked up during Tuesday's twin bill wasn't a serious concern. The 26-year-old outfielder has produced four multi-hit performances in his last eight games, a stretch in which he's batting .500 (12-for-24) with two solo home runs, a steal and two additional runs scored. The Blue Jays could have a logjam in the outfield once Daulton Varsho (hamstring) comes off the injured this weekend with Loperfido, Nathan Lukes, Davis Schneider and Myles Straw all making contributions at the plate.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Cleared to start Wednesday
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Loperfido (thumb) will start in right field and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game against the Orioles.
During the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader with Baltimore, Loperfido jammed his left thumb on a play at the plate in the fourth inning, though he was able to finish out the contest. The Blue Jays opted to hold him out of the lineup for their 3-2 loss in the second game of the twin bill, but the young outfielder will be ready to go for the series finale. Loperfido has produced a strong 1.017 OPS over 53 plate appearances with Toronto this season, but he could nonetheless be at risk of losing out on a regular role if Daulton Varsho (hamstring) returns from the injured list this weekend as anticipated.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Swipes first bag of season
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Loperfido went 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 6-2 win over the Tigers.
Getting the start in left field and batting seventh, Loperfido did his part in a balanced Blue Jays 13-hit attack that saw every starter except Will Wagner collect at least one knock. The steal was Loperfido's first in the majors this season in 14 contests, but it might be his last -- with Daulton Varsho (hamstring) closing in on his return, the 26-year-old might be battling with Davis Schneider to avoid getting bumped back to Triple-A Buffalo. Loperfido has made a strong case to stick around, batting .351 (13-for-37) with two homers and seven RBI since his early-July promotion.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Smacks second homer
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Loperfido went 2-for-5 with a solo home run during Thursday's 11-4 win over the Tigers.
Loperfido was one of three Blue Jays to leave the yard Thursday. It was the second time he's homered since being called up to the majors in early July. Since being recalled from Triple-A Buffalo, the outfielder has been hot at the plate, slashing .324/.361/.529 with seven RBI in 34 at-bats.
