Houston Astros pitcher’s journey back to the big leagues has hit another detour. The team announced that veteran star, who has been sidelined since May 2023 due to Tommy John surgery, experienced a setback in his recovery. An MRI revealed persistent inflammation in his right elbow—an issue he initially reported in mid-March. As a result, the Astros shut him down on March 20. After consulting with team physicians, he also sought a second opinion, per manager Joe Espada.
According to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, he will be re-evaluated in four weeks. There is currently no timeline for how many minor league rehab outings he might need before rejoining the major league roster. Garcia was instrumental to the Astros’ recent run of success, posting a 26-16 record with a 3.60 ERA and 3.8 bWAR between 2021 and 2022. His standout 2021 season included an 11-win, 3.48 ERA performance that earned him two first-place votes for AL Rookie of the Year.
The right-hander also contributed in the postseason, surrendering just one run across 5.2 innings in 2022 to help Houston capture its second World Series title in six years. While the Astros initially anticipated Garcia’s return late in the 2023 season, his rehab was derailed after a tough Double-A outing in which he gave up four runs over just 1.1 innings.
Garcia, now 28, has compiled a 28-19 record with a 3.61 ERA over 69 major league appearances (63 starts) since his 2020 debut. He remains under team control with one year of arbitration left before he’s eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2027.