Garcia (elbow) played catch at Daikin Park on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander was diagnosed with right elbow inflammation in early April, the latest in a series of setbacks suffered by Garcia as he comes back from May 2023 Tommy John surgery. Previous reports indicated that Garcia would remain shut down until early May, so it appears he might be a bit ahead of schedule. Still, it's way too soon for any sort of timetable for the righty to be established.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Moved to 60-day IL
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The Astros transferred Garcia (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Logan VanWey, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Sugar Land. Garcia's timetable is unchanged as a result of the transaction, as he will remain shut down from throwing until early May and isn't on pace to be ready to handle a starting role for the Astros until at least early June.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Shut down for four weeks
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Garcia will be shut down for four weeks after an MRI revealed right elbow inflammation, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
It's good that Garcia isn't dealing with any structural damage in his surgically repaired elbow. However, he's already been shut down for a couple weeks and will need at least another month before he's able to throw again. It's going to be a long ramp-up process after that, so Garcia probably isn't going to be an option for the Astros until at least June even in a best-case scenario.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Goes on IL
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The Astros placed Garcia (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Manager Joe Espada said the team got "decent news" from the first opinion on Garcia's right elbow, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. However, the medical staff and Garcia are still awaiting the results of a second opinion before a decision is made on how to proceed. Garcia was pulled off his throwing program last week after experiencing soreness in his surgically repaired elbow.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Seeking second opinion
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Garcia met with doctors Tuesday regarding his right elbow and will seek a second opinion, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Garcia was pulled off his throwing program Thursday after reporting soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow. There's no telling how long it will be before he's ready to start up his rehab again, but it's usually not a great sign when a player seeks a second opinion. More details should be available once another doctor takes a look at Garcia.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Shut down with elbow soreness
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Garcia has been shut down due to soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Garcia had been scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Thursday, but that's been scrapped and he will be evaluated by doctors. The right-hander has encountered multiple bumps in the road in his comeback from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, suffering a couple setbacks last season and now another.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Set for live BP on Thursday
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Garcia (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Garcia has been slow-played in the Astros' camp after he encountered multiple setbacks last season while working his way back from Tommy John surgery. At last check, he was still working on regaining some zip on his fastball, and it's not clear where his velocity currently stands. When Garcia might be able to appear in games is a bit of a mystery, but he's getting closer.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Nearing live BP
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Astros manager Joe Espada said Friday that Garcia (elbow) could throw a live batting practice session soon, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Garcia is still working on regaining his velocity following Tommy John surgery and multiple setbacks last year, but he hasn't had any hiccups so far this spring. There remains no timetable for when the right-hander might be ready to pitch in a game.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Close to facing hitters
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Astros manager Joe Espada said Friday that Garcia (elbow) hit 90 mph during a bullpen session Thursday and is getting close to facing hitters, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Garcia averaged 94 mph with his four-seamer during his last healthy season in 2022, but he's still ramping things back up following Tommy John surgery and multiple setbacks. The Astros have already ruled the right-hander out for Opening Day, but it's not clear whether he might be able to make some Grapefruit League appearances.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Won't return by Opening Day
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General manager Dana Brown said Saturday that Garcia (elbow) will not be ready for Opening Day, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Garcia missed all of last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2023, and he was pulled off a rehab assignment twice due to multiple instances of elbow soreness. He managed to resume throwing live batting practice by the end of the season and hasn't experienced any problems since then, but it seems the Astros are going to be extremely cautious in getting him ready for the 2025 campaign. It's unclear exactly how far the 28-year-old's absence will extend into the regular season.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Avoids arbitration
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Garcia (elbow) signed a one-year, $1.875 million contract with the Astros on Wednesday to avoid arbitration, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Garcia's salary won't change much from the $1.88 million he received last season, which makes sense considering he hasn't appeared in a big-league game since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May of 2023. However, the 28-year-old righty has been throwing live BP since September, so he figures to have a good chance at being ready for the start of spring training.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Facing hitters
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Garcia (elbow) threw live batting practice Tuesday, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Garcia has already been ruled out for the rest of the season as he continues to work his way back from a Tommy John procedure he underwent in May 2023. However, the fact he is back to facing hitters after having his throwing program paused in August bodes well for his availability to begin the 2025 campaign.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Ruled out for 2024
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Houston manager Joe Espada said Monday that Garcia (elbow) will not return from the 60-day injured list this season, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2023, Garcia was cleared to begin a rehab assignment in late June, but he made just two appearances before being pulled off the assignment shortly before the All-Star break. Garcia was cleared to resume throwing off the mound a couple weeks after being shut down, but he suffered another setback in late July that has now prompted the Astros to hold him out for the rest of the season. Though Houston is ruling out a return to game action for Garcia in 2024, the right-hander will resume his throwing program this weekend by playing catch. He'll shift his focus to returning to full health for the start of spring training.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Rehab assignment delayed
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Manager Joe Espada said that Garcia won't make a minor-league rehab start Sunday as planned due to right elbow soreness, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Garcia has now had his rehab assignment paused on two occasions as he continues to work his way back from May 2023 Tommy John surgery. The 27-year-old right-hander reportedly experienced the renewed soreness in his elbow Friday upon reporting to Minute Maid Park. The Astros remain optimistic that Garcia will be able to return from the 60-day injured list before the end of the season, but his latest setback will further delay his 2024 debut.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Throws two simulated innings
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Garcia (elbow) threw 30 pitches split across two simulated innings Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Garcia faced hitters Tuesday and was able to reach 93 miles per hour during the session, which is in line with his normal fastball velocity. While the right-hander will still require a rehab assignment, the expectation is that Garcia will join the Astros before the regular season ends.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Completes another bullpen
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Garcia (elbow) threw a bullpen session Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Garcia completed a 15-pitch bullpen Saturday and was able to jump up to 35 pitches in Friday's session. The right-hander could progress to facing live hitters soon before beginning what's expected to be a lengthy rehab assignment.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Throwing bullpen Saturday
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Garcia (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Saturday will mark Garcia's first time throwing off a mound since July 4, as the Astros opted to pull him off his rehab assignment following a rough outing in Double-A. He will likely need to throw a few additional mound sessions before resuming his rehab stint, at which point he'll require multiple starts as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Doesn't throw bullpen Saturday
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Garcia (elbow) threw from flat ground Friday instead of off a mound, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Garcia was roughed up in his rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi on July 4, allowing four earned runs on three hits and one walk while striking out two over 1.1 innings. Astros manager Joe Espada noted that Garcia "did not bounce back" as well as the team had hoped after that start, so the 27-year-old right-hander has been limited to playing catch since, per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: Moving up to Double-A
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Astros manager Joe Espada said on Tuesday in an interview with SportsTalk 790 that Garcia's (elbow) next rehab start will come Thursday at Double-A Corpus Christi, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Garcia threw one inning with the Astros' Florida Complex League affiliate this past Friday in his first rehab appearance. It's not clear what his targeted pitch count is for Thursday's outing, but Garcia will need a handful of rehab starts before becoming an option to join the Astros' rotation. He's making his way back from Tommy John surgery.
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Astros' Luis Garcia: On cusp of rehab assignment
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Manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Garcia (elbow) could begin a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League his weekend, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The 27-year-old threw a 32-pitch live bullpen session over the weekend and is just about ready for game action. Garcia will likely need to throw another bullpen session before being cleared for games, at which point he'll jump into a lengthy rehab assignment as he finishes up his recovery from May 2023 Tommy John surgery.
