Houston Astros outfield prospect Zach Cole is out indefinitely after suffering a broken toe on his right foot Sunday night, when he was hit by a pitch from Rangers reliever Mason Thompson in the fourth inning of a Triple-A Sugar Land game. Cole was removed immediately.
Manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that “it will take a little bit for him to get back on the field,” according to The Athletic’s Chandler Rome. Broken toes are typically considered manageable injuries, with a return often falling in the four-to-eight-week range depending on healing and pain tolerance.
Cole, the Astros’ No. 11 prospect, had a difficult spring, hitting .200/.340/.400 with 20 strikeouts in 50 plate appearances before being optioned to Triple-A. Strikeouts have been a consistent part of his profile, with rates above 30 percent at multiple levels.
The upside remains significant. Cole slashed .279/.377/.539 with 19 home runs and 16 stolen bases in the minors last season, then homered in his first major league at-bat in September. He finished his initial stint with four home runs, 11 RBI, and an .880 OPS across 15 games.
The injury does not immediately impact Houston’s current outfield alignment, with Jake Meyers in center, Cam Smith in right, and Joey Loperfido and Brice Matthews sharing time in left. With Zach Dezenzo on the injured list, Shay Whitcomb is the only healthy position player on optional assignment and would likely be next in line if needed.
Cole’s timeline will depend on recovery, but the Astros have shown patience with his development as he works to translate his tools into consistent production.
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