Nova (knee) is participating in the Astros' minor-league camp and was available off the bench for Houston's 6-0 win over St. Louis in the Grapefruit League last Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The 23-year-old infielder looks to be fully healthy again after missing the majority of the 2022 season while recovering from September 2021 surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. Nova was able to make three rehab appearances in the rookie-level Florida Complex League in late June, but he didn't see any action after that, either due to a setback or due to the Astros taking a cautious approach with his recovery. Now that he's further removed from surgery and taking part in minor-league camp, Nova will likely open the 2023 campaign at High-A Asheville or Single-A Fayetteville.
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Astros' Freudis Nova: Rehabbing in FCL
Rotowire
Nova (knee) began a rehab assignment with the Astros' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate July 25 and has gone 3-for-6 with a home run, a double and a walk over his first three games.
The 22-year-old shortstop is nearing the finish line in his recovery from a torn ACL in his left knee, an injury he suffered last September. Once he completes his assignment in the FCL, Nova is expected to report to High-A Asheville, where he's currently residing on the club's 60-day injured list.
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Astros' Freudis Nova: Outrighted off 40-man roster
Rotowire
Nova (knee) was outrighted off the Astros' 40-man roster Friday.
Nova had some prospect pedigree as a teen, but he's yet to produce in full-season ball. He recorded a 95 wRC+ at the Low-A level in 2019 and a 76 wRC+ in High-A this past season. He tore his ACL late in the year and is expected to be out until the middle of 2022, so it's unsurprising that he wasn't deemed worthy of a 40-man roster spot.
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Astros' Freudis Nova: Undergoes surgery
Rotowire
Nova underwent successful surgery to repair his torn left ACL on Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Nova landed on the 60-day injured list Monday, and he'll now shift his focus toward the lengthy recovery process. The 21-year-old is expected to be sidelined until sometime near the middle of the 2022 campaign.
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Astros' Freudis Nova: Placed on 60-day injured list
Rotowire
Nova landed on the 60-day injured list with a torn left ACL on Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The move ends Nova's season, and the nature of the injury means it's quite possible he misses a portion of next year as well. Nova will end the season having produced a disappointing .224/.301/.335 line in 73 games for High-A Asheville, striking out in 32.3 percent of his plate appearances.
Nova was added to the Astros' 40-man roster Friday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.
Nova isn't particularly close to being big-league ready, but the team invested seven figures in signing him back in 2016, and didn't want another team to scoop him up in the Rule 5 draft. Improving his approach and getting to his power and speed more in games will be a priority when he heads to High-A this season.
Astros' Freudis Nova: Opens in extended spring training
Rotowire
Nova will open the year in extended spring training, MLB.com's Jim Callis reports.
Nova has a chance to really break out this year, but considering he spent all of 2017 in the Dominican Summer League, it's not surprising to see the Astros wait until the short-season leagues open this summer to assign him to an affiliate. He will likely open the year in the Gulf Coast League before possibly earning a promotion to the New York-Penn League or Midwest League.
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