Third base coach Gary Pettis will rejoin team for the regular season

Astros third base coach Gary Pettis will be ready for the regular season.

On Thursday, the Houston Astros released a statement on the overall wellness of Gary Pettis. The Astros third base coach is recovering well from his bout with multiple myeloma, and he will be back for the regular season after missing extended regular season time and the postseason in 2020.

“I’m doing very well, but my doctors felt that due to some potential logistical issues caused by the ongoing pandemic, it made sense for me to continue with my treatments here at home,” Pettis said. “They are being cautious with me, which I understand. I’m doing great and will be back with the ballclub, but it will be later than we had thought.”

This will be Pettis’ seventh season on staff for the Astros, and after leaving the team in late September, he still traveled to San Diego to cheer on his ballclub from box seats. He attended games 6 and 7, as the Astros were pushing for another World Series appearance.

“While it’s disappointing for all of us not to have Gary reporting to camp as anticipated, we’re encouraged by his progress thus far,” General Manager James Click said. “Undertaking the workload of a Major League schedule – especially when compounded by a pandemic – is a lot for any of us and obviously Gary’s health is paramount. We’re going to continue to keep him fully engaged with our team while he’s away and we can’t wait for him to rejoin us in person.”

As one of the most beloved coaches in Astros history, it will be good to have his windmill of an arm sending runners home in 2021. In a world full of so much change, that is one constant that can bring joy to many fans.

Along with the expected return of Pettis, Manager Dusty Baker received both shots for the COVID-19 vaccine, after being on the fence of getting it. He advises those that were in the same position as him to get it.