Astronaut's right-handed Haydn Wesniski Manager Joe Espada will tell reporters this afternoon (including Chandler Rome of Track and Field). Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle said the Astronauts expect him to return sometime during the 2026 campaign. It was not until after the program that he knew that his return schedule was more specific, and Dr. Keith Meister was expected to take place in Dallas later this week. Anyway, he will miss the rest of the 2025 season and at least at least the first half of 2026.
The news suddenly ended Vesniski's first season in Houston. The 27-year-old was awarded from the Cubs and the All-Star Third Baseman Isaac Paredes and top prospects Cam Smith In a transaction to transport long-term space stars Kyle Tucker Return to Chicago in December. Wesniski was originally drafted by the Yankees in the sixth round of the 2019 draft and was traded to the Cubs in exchange for right-handed reliefists Scott Effross On the 2022 trade deadline and continue on the north side as part of a swingman. Wesneski has made a total of 190 innings in 22 games, with the Cubs having 46 reliefs from 2022 to 2024, and during that time he posted considerable pedestrian numbers, with an ERA of 3.93 ERA (106 ERA+) and 4.74 FIP. His 23.0% strikeout rate and 7.6% walk rate are both stable, but his production is usually favored by allowing home runs.
Of the pitchers who have worked at least 180 innings in the past three years, Vesniski has the ninth highest home run rate. This is certainly not ideal, and the tendency toward long balls prevents Wesneski from reaching the upper limit that many assessors regard as mid-spin ceilings on the mid-spin ceiling with the Cubs. However, the Astronauts saw what they liked because they were not only part of the Tucker deal, but also gave him an opening day rotation. The correct ones are available, but shockingly, six starts with 4.50 ERA and 4.79 FIP, both of which are a little worse than the league average. Wesneski continues to have home run issues, but the reduced walking ratio of 4.6% is enough to improve some of his advanced metrics, such as 3.68 Siera, which is much lower than his career.
However, whether he can push his actual output to a range closer to these peripheral numbers has become a question. Nine days ago, the right-handed was placed on the injured list with elbow discomfort, and the initial elbow test of the elbow did not clearly state the problems Vesnisky faced until a follow-up date with Meister confirmed that the right person would need to be done under the knife. While the Astros have said Vesniski is expected to return next year, Roma noted that he qualifies for arbitration for the first time in his career during the offseason, suggesting that if he does not expect to make a lot of contributions in 2026, it could make him a potential non-treatment candidate, just like former Astro Jose Urquidy The past winter.
Meanwhile, Astronauts will stay on the spin mixture, which is slightly lower in depth in 2025. Framber Valdez,,,,, Brown Hunter,,,,, Ronel Blancoand Lance McCullers Jr. Currently joined by rookies Colton Gordon In rotation, there Ryan Gusto In the bullpen as a swing option. Spencer Arrighetti,,,,, Louis Garciaand Christian Javier The injury roster is expected to provide more reinforcements sometime this season, but the schedule for all three remains blurry.
