Houston Astros' Ace Gives Worrisome Health Update as Spring Training Begins
As Houston Astros pitchers and catchers report for camp in Florida, ace pitcher Justin Verlander gave some troubling news on the state of his shoulder.
Per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle:
Justin Verlander said he’s “a couple weeks behind” in his buildup. Verlander said when he resumed throwing this offseason his “shoulder didn’t feel so great” so he was more diligent ramping up. He termed it a “hiccup” and said he has thrown three sessions off a mound.
It's good to hear that Verlander has thrown off the mound and that he only considers it a "hiccup," but it's still worrisome nonetheless.
Verlander is the ace of a team that has World Series expectations and is also 40 years old, so when you get to that age, every hiccup is worth monitoring.
One of the best pitchers in baseball history, Verlander is a no-doubt future selection for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He's an 18-year veteran who has pitched for the Detroit Tigers, Astros and New York Mets. He owns a lifetime record of 257-141. His 257 wins represent the active leader in Major League Baseball.
Lifetime, Verlander has a 3.24 ERA. He's won the Rookie of the Year Award, the MVP Award and three Cy Young Awards in his career. Furthermore, Verlander is a two-time World Series champion, helping Houston win crowns in both 2017 and 2022.
Alongside Verlander, the projected Astros rotation includes Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier and Hunter Brown. Jose Uquidy or JP France could potentially win the fifth starter spot under new manager Joe Espada.
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