The Houston Astros have run into an injury bug while experiencing a midseason slump in the week of the MLB trade deadline.
Key players who are currently rehabbing injuries on the injury list include outfielder Yordan Alvarez, third baseman Isaac Paredes, as well as pitchers Cristian Javier and shortstop Jeremy Pena.
Heading into the Astros series against the Washington Nationals on Monday, Houston was able to give an update on Jeremy Pena, who's been rehabbing a small rib fracture he sustained after getting hit by a pitch against the Chicago Cubs on June 27.
According to The Athletic's Chandler Rome, Pena hit against live pitching at the Astros' Florida Complex over the weekend and will be returning to practice in Houston before their series against the Nationals.
Astros injury report. Jeremy Peña is back in Houston pic.twitter.com/R7E8O2pp1y
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 28, 2025
This is great for the Astros as they haven't been able to find the same success in July as they did in previous months. They have a record of 10-12 this month.
Before Jeremy Pena went down with the injury, he was having the best season of his young career. He was elected as a 2025 All-Star while posting a .322 batting average, .278 on-base percentage, .867 OPS, and 4.5 WAR, hitting 11 home runs and 40 RBI through 82 games this season.
Houston hasn't made a set time for Pena to return to the lineup, but he's expected to come back before the end of the month.