Astros: Max Stassi injured and Garrett Stubbs called up

Astros’ catching prospect Garrett Stubbs just got one heck of a birthday gift. He’s been called up to replace the injured Max Stassi as the backup catcher.

Stassi left the game prior to the fifth inning of last night’s Astros victory over the Boston Red Sox. He apparently stepped on first base awkwardly while running out a grounder injuring his left knee. He looked in pain and limped back into the dugout. Stubbs will be called up from AAA Round Rock to fill in as the backup catcher for Robinson Chirinos.

The extent of Stassi’s injury is not yet known and but he’ll be placed on the 10-day Injured List. He’s currently considered day-to-day. According to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle, Stubbs got his first call-up to the Majors, on his birthday no less.

Stassi has had a rough start to the season slashing .167/.237/.222 only contributing three runs and three RBIs in his 18 appearances. He is last on the team with a .460 OPS and an OPS+ of 26. In his 54 at-bats, he’s collected only one extra-base hit, a home run.

Garrett Stubbs was an eighth-round pick in the 2015 June Amateur Draft. The 26-year-old had a productive 2018 season with AAA Fresno hitting .310, scoring 60 runs and knocking in 38 in the 84 games he appeared in.

He has played in 28 games for the Round Rock Express and has a .250/.364/.440 slash line and an .804 OPS. He has 14 runs and seven RBIs and four homers. He’s also swiped five bases in six attempts. Stubbs is scheduled to make his Major League debut Tuesday against the Cubs catching for Corbin Martin.

In other injury news, Jose Altuve will be starting his rehab assignment today with the Round Rock Express in Nashville. He will then participate in at least one of the doubleheader games on Monday depending on how he feels.

George Springer‘s diagnosis wasn’t as bad as they had feared, saying he has a grade 2 hamstring strain. He’s on the 10-day IL and is expected to probably miss at least two weeks.

The Astros seem to have caught the injury bug lately, but fortunately, nothing has been too serious.  Stubbs will join other recent call ups Martin and Derek Fisher on the roster. Hopefully, within a few weeks, the team will be back up to full strength.