Astros Rumor: COVID-19 issues lead to minor league call ups

The Astros’ roster is making a few adjustments, as players are sidelined with health and safety protocols.

As the Houston Astros have dealt with their fair share of injuries and health and protocol issues this past offseason and in 2020, more news was released on the status of active players on the roster. Up to seven players have been reported to be out the lineup for the Astros on Wednesday due to protocol. Those included are Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Robel Garcia and Martin Maldonado, who have been added to the injured list.

With this in mind, players going to the injured list will be replaced by in-house talent from minor leaguers on and not on the 40-man roster. Alex De Goti, Taylor Jones, Garret Stubbs, Abraham Toro and Ronnie Dawson have joined the club for the final game of the series with the Detroit Tigers. While most of these players called up are currently playing at the alternate training site, this might look like the oddest Astros’ lineup of the past decade:

While Michael Brantley wasn’t feeling well on the field and Alex Bregman was resting his legs, the last two matchups with A.J. Hinch’s new team have been nothing but blow outs, as this team is surviving through injuries. Pitching injuries and now a possible positive COVID-19 case are plaguing this Astros’ team, that has a high level of potential.

During spring training, a positive COVID-19 case for Pedro Baez circled the clubhouse that held out a handful of pitchers, which is still holding back a few players today. As Baez is now on the injured list with a shoulder injury and Cristian Javier is working to get his endurance up, the pandemic is still hurting the organization.