Houston Astros Stars Make Injury Rehab Starts at Sugar Land

Both Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez and pitcher José Urquidy made injury rehab appearances with the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys on Wednesday.

Alvarez was making his first injury rehab start while Urquidy was making his second.

While Urquidy was expected to pitch on Wednesday, Alvarez’s rehab start wasn’t announced until late Tuesday night.

Alvarez was a designated hitter and batted four times, finishing with a hit, a walk and a strikeout. He stranded three runners in his plate appearances before he was lifted from the game.

Alvarez got his hit during his first at-bat.

Wasting no time 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/YzjQXy4HVb
— Sugar Land Space Cowboys (@SLSpaceCowboys) July 19, 2023

Urquidy, meanwhile, threw three innings, giving up four hits, two earned runs and a walk while striking out two hitters.

Alvarez was set to report to Sugar Land on Friday to start an injury rehab assignment with the Space Cowboys. But, an illness set him back. Astros general manager Dana Brown said on Sunday that Alvarez was dealing with a head cold.

The 2023 American League All-Star was batting .277/.388/.589/.978 with 17 home runs and 55 RBI. The Astros placed Alvarez on the 10-day injured list with right oblique discomfort on June 9.

Urquidy’s first rehab start was on Friday, his first action since April 30, when he left a game against Philadelphia with what turned out to be right shoulder inflammation. He’s been on the 15-day injured list since May 1.

In that first rehab start, Urquidy pitched just two innings. He only gave up a hit but allowed two unearned runs.

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