Astros’ Tyler White is OK After Being Hit By the Pitch

Tyler White Is Off to a Great Start Despite Scare for the Astros

With the history of the Houston Astros’ first basemen recently, you can understand why Houston is embracing the former 33rd round pick from the 2013 MLB draft, Tyler White. With his rise through the minor league system in 2015, he has become a story all across the MLB. He clearly beat out Jon Singleton and to a point A.J. Reed this spring to be the first baseman, but the Astros decided to go with the surprise Marwin Gonzalez instead for game one starter versus Tanaka.

Manager A.J. Hinch tipped this hand yesterday as to the strategy that he will use with Preston Tucker as the designated hitter until Gattis came back. In the later innings when the Astros are facing a left-handed pitcher, they will bring either White or Matt Duffy in to pinch hit for Tucker and stay in as DH. This is what happened in White’s debut yesterday, as he singled as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning. Yes, White got the ball.

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This gave Astros fans a preview of what could come with White at first base, but all the excitement changed to worry when he took a pitch off his hand. He stayed in the game but went to get x-rays after the game, so thankfully he was able to be in the starting lineup, as reported by Jake Kaplan. With the Astros history with Jeff Bagwell breaking his hands several times, it was easy to have a little deja vu.

Even though tonight’s game was a laugher for the Astros, who are losing 16-6 at the moment, White is hitting a cool .600 at the moment getting his first double of the season. White looks as advertised, a guy with a high contact rate despite striking out tonight. The double he hit tonight looked like it had a chance to get out, so I think White is okay.

Next: Houston Astros: Now Pitching, Your Closer, Luke Gregerson.

Bright spots in tonight’s game, Carlos Correa with two home runs, George Springer with a grand slam, and the Astros did not give up 20 runs to the Yankees with the way the game went. No worries, one game out of 162, we play again tomorrow, but will White be in the lineup?

**Stats from MLB.com**