Astronauts announced earlier today that they have activated the right-handed Forrest Whitley From the injured list. Right-leaning Nick Hernandez Selected as Triple-A in the corresponding move.
The move sets the first expansion in Whitley's career Grand Slam. Whitley has been the 17th overall ranking for the Astros in 2016, and in the late 2010s, he finished the top ten prospects throughout the sport and was considered by many as the best emerging young pitcher in the minor league. Unfortunately, there are some things that started out from the track in the right that started there. He was suspended for 50 games for violating MILB's drug policy before the 2018 season, which was suspended, shoulder issues, and a canceled minor league season in 2020, where Tommy John's surgery resulted in Whitley throwing only 66 innings in minor league games in four years.
When he finally returned to the mound in 2022, the results were not good. Whitley struggled with 6.53 ERA in 40 innings, distributed among minors in three levels, including 7.09 ERA on Triple-A. The following year, he struggled again with a 5.70 ERA in 30 innings before being stressed by Lat, but he insisted on making his major league debut last year. Last year, he threw only three innings in the Grand Slam but didn’t surrender once, and also performed a great 1.89 ERA, with 32 appearances after moving to the bullpen last year at 31.9%.
Whitley's bone bruises on his left knee prevented him from knocking out the Astros this year, but the problems didn't keep him on for a long time. Since Whitley has no choice, he must be designated as a mission or join the Astronauts' major league roster once he is ready to activate him from the injured roster. Houston chooses to bring him back to professional Josh Hard And the top-level settings Bryan Abreu. Brian King Looks good because there is another potentially high leverage arm on the left to complement Hard, but Whitley's approach has barely stopped him from becoming the club's second highest leverage arm from the right after the offseason Ryan Media Trade frees up roles.
That being said, the right will need better control than he showed in Triple-A's latest mission. Whitley beat 26.3% of his opponents in the latest recovery mission, but he also left with an impossible 21.1% of the batsmen. Fortunately, that was a sample of four appearances. It’s not hard to imagine a player with Whitley’s talent and prospects finally being able to blend together in this year’s Grand Slam, especially now that he has moved to the bullpen full time, which should help minimize the risk of injury.
Hernandez's departure is to make room for Whitley in the Astros' active roster, who will head to Triple-A Sugar Land for the next chance. Hernandez left the roster without showing up this year, despite seven appearances in his career 9.00 ERA since his debut with San Diego in 2023. Cowpent.
