WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Almost two years after he underwent Tommy John surgery, Houston Astros starter Luis Garcia has been shut down with a recurrence of elbow soreness, manager Joe Espada said Thursday morning.
Garcia, who has not appeared in a major-league game since May 1, 2023, was scheduled to face hitters Thursday for the first time this spring. According to Espada, head trainer Jeremiah Randall “mentioned that (Garcia’s) elbow is sore” Wednesday afternoon.
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Garcia will visit team doctors soon for further analysis, Espada said. It’s unclear what caused Garcia’s pain, though the 28-year-old right-hander did throw a bullpen session earlier this week in preparation for facing hitters Thursday.
Garcia’s comeback from Tommy John surgery has been riddled with setbacks, again calling into question the Astros’ “return to play procedure” that former general manager James Click promised to review prior to his dismissal in Nov. 2022.
Houston had five pitchers last season suffer a setback while rehabbing injuries — including Garcia, who made two minor-league rehab starts before reporting elbow soreness and being pulled back.
Click’s successor, Dana Brown, acknowledged the team rushed starter J.P. France back from a shoulder injury last spring. France underwent season-ending surgery in July and isn’t expected to pitch until after the All-Star break this season.
Asked last June whether it would still be prudent to examine the club’s return to play procedure, Brown said, “I don’t think it’s anything that we’re doing.”
Garcia faced hitters in live batting practice sessions during the Astros’ playoff run last October, offering optimism he may be ready to rejoin Houston’s rotation at the beginning of 2025. A mysterious setback this winter stopped his throwing program and put him behind schedule entering spring training.
Now, it’s unclear whether Garcia will contribute this season at all. The Astros are equipped to absorb his absence, but will rely more on minor-league depth pieces like Ryan Gusto, AJ Blubaugh and Colton Gordon.
Garcia finished as the runner-up to Randy Arozarena in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2021 and boasts a 3.61 ERA across 352 major-league innings.
(Photo: Troy Taormina / Imagn Images)
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