WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — For the first time this spring, Yordan Alvarez is scheduled to step into the batter’s box when the Houston Astros host the Washington Nationals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches later today.
It marks Alvarez’s return to game action after an injury-ravaged 2025 season in which he appeared in just 48 games, the fewest of his seven-year career and a major factor in Houston missing the postseason for the first time since 2016.
The Lost Season
What was expected to be another dominant year quickly unraveled.
On May 5, Alvarez was placed on the 10-day injured list with right hand inflammation. An MRI revealed a small muscle strain, but the issue failed to respond to rest. By May 30, imaging showed a small fracture in the fourth metacarpal.
Alvarez was shut down July 1 after renewed soreness during rehab and transferred to the 60-day injured list the following day, effectively erasing four months of his season.
He returned August 26 and showed encouraging signs across 18 games, flashing the plate discipline and power that have made him one of the league’s most feared hitters. Then, on September 15 against the Rangers, disaster struck again.
After scoring from first on an errant throw, Alvarez slipped crossing home plate while trying to avoid a tag. His left ankle twisted awkwardly, and he left the game in a protective boot. An MRI confirmed a significant ankle sprain. He was placed back on the injured list September 16 and did not return.
His final 2025 line: .273/.367/.430 with six home runs and 27 RBIs in 48 games—career lows across the board.
What It Cost Houston
From 2021 through 2024, Alvarez was one of baseball’s most dominant hitters, trailing only Aaron Judge in wRC+ (165) during that span while posting a .295/.392/.584 slash line with 124 home runs.
When healthy, Alvarez transforms Houston’s lineup. He changes how pitchers attack the order, protects hitters around him, and delivers in high-leverage moments.
Without him for most of 2025, the Astros ranked 21st in runs scored (662) and finished 87–75, narrowly missing the playoffs. The consensus was simple: a healthy Alvarez likely swings that outcome.
The Plan for 2026
General manager Dana Brown indicated last fall that Alvarez was progressing well, and by January the team reported he was at full strength with no lingering concerns.
Manager Joe Espada confirmed that Alvarez will primarily serve as designated hitter in 2026. Limiting his time in left field is designed to reduce wear and tear, which is particularly important for a player who underwent double knee surgery in 2020 and has battled oblique and ankle issues since.
The Astros are prioritizing preservation. Alvarez’s value is his bat. Keeping him healthy is the objective.
What to Watch
Alvarez turns 29 in June, squarely in what should be the prime of his career. The question is durability.
When he is on the field, few hitters match his combination of discipline, power, and contact ability. But recurring injuries have now shadowed multiple seasons.
Today’s appearance will likely be brief—a couple of plate appearances at most—as Houston eases him into action. The buildup will be gradual, and caution will define the approach.
The Bigger Picture
Houston’s competitive window remains open, but the margin is thinner. The core is aging, the pitching staff is adjusting post-Framber Valdez, and the offense cannot afford another extended absence from its most dangerous hitter.
If Alvarez returns to 30-plus home runs and a .900-plus OPS over 140 games, the Astros immediately re-enter contender status. If health continues to be inconsistent, the lineup ceiling drops considerably.
Today’s spring debut will not answer those long-term questions. But it represents the first tangible step in determining whether 2025 was a fluke season lost to bad luck or the start of a more complicated chapter.
First pitch Sunday is 12:05 p.m. ET at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.
Photo by thatlostdog via Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0.