Fastball

Cristian Javier's Return Timeline Coming into Focus as He Recovers From Tommy John Surgery

Houston Astros right-handed Cristian Javier is recovering from Tommy John surgery. Here's when he hopes to make it back this season:

Brady Farkas

Houston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier (53) walks out of the dugout and onto the field before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park in 2024.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier (53) walks out of the dugout and onto the field before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park in 2024. / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
In this story:

Houston Astros right-handed Cristian Javier is eyeing a return in the second half of the 2025 season, according to comments he made over the weekend.

Javier is recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent last season. He was part of a rash of pitching injuries the Astros suffered over the last two years with Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers missing the entire 2024 season and Justin Verlander, Jose Urquidy and JP France missing most of the year.

Javier made just seven starts in 2024 before going down with the elbow issues. He was 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA, striking out 27 batters in 34.2 innings.

The 27-year-old is 33-18 lifetime with a 3.59 ERA and he was an integral part of the Astros run to the World Series title in 2022. He went 11-9 in that season.

With Verlander gone in free agency, and McCullers, Garcia and Javier unable to start the season in the rotation, the Astros will have to piece some things together early. They will use Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown at the top of the rotation, while also giving valuable innings to youngster Specer Arrighetti.

The Astros, while always dangerous, also have questions in their position player group. After trading Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs, they appeared primed to lose Alex Bregman in free agency, but recent reports have indicated that the Astros could bring him back.

The team will report to spring training in Florida within the next three weeks and Opening Day is scheduled for March 27.

Related MLB Stories

DATE NIGHT: Pittsburgh Pirates star Paul Skenes accepted the National League Rookie of the Year Award on Saturday with Livvy Dunne right by his side. CLICK HERE:

IT's A BARBIE WORLD: The Fayetteville Woodpeckers, affiliate of the Houston Astros, are wearing Barbie-themed uniforms this year. CLICK HERE:

START 'EM YOUNG: The Milwaukee Brewers have the youngest prospect on the new MLB Top 100 in 17-year-old Jesus Made. CLICK HERE:

Follow Fastball on FanNation on social media

Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

Published
Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

Home/Injuries