The Astros outrighted France to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.
After the Astros designated him for assignment for the second time in just over two months this past weekend, France will once again end up sticking around in the Houston organization upon going unclaimed off waivers. He'll likely slot back into the rotation at Sugar Land, which lost three of its starters (Spencer Arrighetti, Colton Gordon and Peter Lambert) last week when the big club was in need of further reinforcement.
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Astros' J.P. France: Cut from 40-man roster
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The Astros designated France for assignment Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The move makes room on the Astros' 40-man roster for outfielder Dustin Harris, who was claimed off waivers from the White Sox in a corresponding move. France struggled out of the bullpen across three outings with Houston, allowing six runs on six hits and five walks while striking out four in 6.2 innings.
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Astros' J.P. France: Returns to big club
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The Astros recalled France from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.
Houston had optioned France to Triple-A on Saturday, but because the Astros placed Tatsuya Imai (arm) on the injured list in a corresponding move, France won't have to wait the required 15 days to rejoin the big club. With Imai becoming the third Astros starter in six days to land on the IL and with Cody Bolton (back) also at risk of hitting the shelf, France could be a candidate to move into the rotation if he's not needed in relief in the next few days. France is already on the same schedule as Imai, having covered 2.2 innings in long relief in Friday's loss to the Mariners after Imai recorded just one out before departing.
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Astros' J.P. France: Sent back to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Astros optioned France to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday.
France was promoted from Sugar Land on Friday but will now head back to the minors after giving up four earned runs in just 2.2 innings during his appearance against Seattle. Jayden Murray was recalled in a corresponding move to fill the void in Houston's bullpen.
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Astros' J.P. France: Won't make Opening Day roster
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France was informed that he will not make the Astros' Opening Day roster, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
France will remain in major-league camp for now, though he'll ultimately open the season with Triple-A Sugar Land. The 30-year-old France was a long shot to make the team out of spring training. The right-hander was limited to just 11.2 innings with Houston in 2025, posting a 3.86 ERA with 13 strikeouts before undergoing shoulder surgery. France could be an option should the Astros need reinforcements in their rotation in 2026.
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Astros' J.P. France: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
France cleared waivers Thursday and was sent outright to Triple-A Sugar Land, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
France will still receive an invitation to spring training, but he will have to pitch his way back onto the Astros' 40-man roster after missing the vast majority of 2025 recovering from shoulder surgery.
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Astros' J.P. France: Designated for assignment
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France was designated for assignment by the Astros on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
France missed most of the 2025 season while recovering from a torn right shoulder capsule. He returned to throw four innings out of the bullpen late in the year, but he'll now have to battle for a roster spot during spring training.
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Astros' J.P. France: Poised for recall
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The Astros are expected to recall France from Triple-A Sugar Land during their series in Toronto that runs through Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
France's last appearance with Sugar Land was a start, but his three outings prior to that came out of the bullpen, and he's expected to fill a multi-inning relief role with Houston. The right-hander missed the first half of this season while recovering from shoulder surgery and holds a 6.38 ERA and 23:20 K:BB over 24 innings during his time with Sugar Land.
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Astros' J.P. France: Reaches fourth inning in rehab start
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France (shoulder) struck out three batters and surrendered two earned runs on two hits and three walks over 3.2 innings in his rehab start Friday for Triple-A Sugar Land.
For the first time over his four rehab starts, France reached the fourth inning while building up to 63 pitches. While working his way back from last summer's surgery to address a right shoulder capsule tear, France has struggled to regain control of his offerings. He's recorded more walks (nine) than strikeouts (eight) over the first nine innings of his rehab assignment and has also hit two batters. France will likely need just one or two more rehab outings to get stretched out enough to handle a typical starter's workload, but given the poor form he's displayed on the farm thus far, the Astros may not be eager to open up a spot for him in the big-league rotation once he's activated from the injured list.
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Astros' J.P. France: Makes first rehab appearance
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France (shoulder) threw 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out two in a Florida Complex League rehab start Monday.
France has slowly ramped up his throwing intensity, most recently throwing live batting practice in mid-July. He's been sidelined the entire 2025 season, so he's likely to have a lengthy rehab stint. An exact timeline for his return has yet to be established, but France should debut at some point late in the season.
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Astros' J.P. France: Faces hitters
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France (shoulder) tossed a live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
France has been facing live hitters for nearly a month, but the Astros haven't yet provided an update on when he might be ready to embark on what will likely be an extended minor-league rehab assignment. The right-hander has been out all season while recovering from last July's surgery to repair a torn shoulder capsule.
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Astros' J.P. France: Tosses 26-pitch 'pen session
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France (shoulder) most recently tossed a 26-pitch bullpen session June 27, MLB.com reports.
France has been facing live hitters for nearly a month and had been scheduled to to do so on June 27, but poor weather prompted the Astros to alter those plans and have France throw a bullpen session instead. The Astros haven't indicated that France threw again in the week since that that 26-pitch side session, so the right-hander could be in the midst of a brief de-loading period as he works his way back from July 1, 2024 surgery to repair a torn right shoulder capsule. France is likely at least a couple weeks away from beginning a rehab assignment, and he's not expected to be ready to return from the 60-day injured list until late in the 2025 season.
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Astros' J.P. France: Set for another live BP
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France (shoulder) will throw another live batting practice session Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
France has already thrown a pair of live batting practice sessions in June and will be in line for a third. He threw 20 pitches last Friday and should increase that number this time around.
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Astros' J.P. France: Throwing live BP
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France (shoulder) threw 20 pitches in a live batting practice session Friday, MLB.com reports.
France is returning from a capsule tear in his right shoulder and has thrown two live batting practice sessions in June. He is not expected to return until late in the 2025 season.
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Astros' J.P. France: Slated for live batting practice
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France (shoulder) will throw a live batting practice session Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
It appears to be the first time France has faced hitters since he underwent surgery last July to repair a torn right shoulder capsule. He is not expected to be an option for the Astros until sometime after the All-Star break.
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Astros' J.P. France: Recalled, placed on 60-day IL
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The Astros recalled France (shoulder) from Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday and placed him on the 60-day injured list,
France had been on Sugar Land's 60-day IL after having season-ending surgery on his right shoulder in early July. The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of outfielder Ben Gamel, who was claimed off waivers from the Mets.
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Astros' J.P. France: Has surgery for capsule tear
Rotowire
France underwent surgery Monday to repair a capsule tear in his right shoulder.
It had been reported previously that France was set to undergo season-ending surgery, and the specifics of the procedure have now been revealed. France is on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Sugar Land but could be a candidate for the major-league 60-day IL should the Astros need to free up a spot on the 40-man roster.
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Astros' J.P. France: Away on paternity leave
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The Astros placed France on the paternity list Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
France will be allowed to miss up to three days as he welcomes a new addition to his family. Dylan Coleman was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move.
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Astros' J.P. France: Falls short of quality start
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France didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Yankees, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing three runs on six hits and one walk. He struck out five.
France came one out shy of notching a quality start in his 2024 debut and was pulled after retiring the first two batters he faced in the sixth at 94 pitches. While Sunday's performance was by no means a disappointment, the second-year big-leaguer will likely have to do more to stick in the Astros rotation once Justin Verlander (shoulder) and Jose Urquidy (forearm) are healthy. France's next start is tentatively scheduled to come during a road series against the Rangers.
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Astros' J.P. France: Throws off mound
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France (shoulder) threw off a mound Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The right-hander reported to camp with some inflammation in his shoulder and was initially limited to throwing on flat ground. He has since progressed to mound work, and France said Thursday that all went well. While it may be a while before we see him in Grapefruit League games, France has a realistic shot to be ready for Opening Day, barring a setback.
