Opening Spring Training with a Positive Injury Update, Astros Pitcher
On the first day of Spring Training, the Houston Astros starter provided a positive update on his injuries.
The Houston Astros had a mixed bag of injury news on Wednesday.
On the one hand, they received unsatisfactory news on Justin Verlander, their ace. Opening Day status is in doubt for the three-time Cy Young champion, who has been suffering with a shoulder ailment and is several weeks behind schedule in his throwing regimen.
However, another pitcher in the Astros starting rotation who has similarly struggled with a shoulder injury provided an upbeat update.
Thankfully for Houston, J.P. France sees a better prognosis for his injury than does Verlander.
Speaking with media on Wednesday, the opening day of Spring Training, France disclosed that two weeks ago, during a bullpen session, he first experienced soreness in his right shoulder. After an MRI revealed inflammation, he had to take a week off from throwing.
Fortunately, France feels his injury is not too significant and is back to throwing off flat ground.
“We’re feeling terrific again. After tossing over the previous several days, he stated, “We’re just taking it slow, playing it safe.”
In response to the question of whether missing Opening Day troubled him, France said, “I’m not worried about anything.”
In addition, he said that his wound was “just a little inflammation.”
Although France is going cautiously to avoid any setbacks, it appears like his shoulder is healing. If he continues to make development during Spring Training, he should be prepared for the season to begin.
For the Astros, who want to have France back as a vital cog in their rotation in 2024, this is excellent news. After pitching 136 1/3 innings last year and finishing 11-6 with a 3.83 ERA, the 28-year-old righty is coming off a fantastic rookie year.
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