THAT WAS QUICK
Lingering injuries for Astros slugger starting to cause concern
Mar 6, 2025, 1:13 pm
Christian Walker has a history of oblique injuries. Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images.
New Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker was scratched from the lineup for a spring training game Wednesday because of soreness in his left oblique.
Walker missed more than a month last season with Arizona because of a strained left oblique muscle. He joined the Astros on a $60 million, three-year contract during the offseason.
In his first four spring training games for Houston, Walker was 4 for 8 with three doubles. He also had two walks.
Adding a first baseman over the offseason was a priority for the Astros after struggling José Abreu was released less than halfway through a $58.5 million, three-year contract.
Walker, who turns 34 on March 28, hit .251 with 26 home runs and 84 RBIs in 130 games for the Diamondbacks last season. He won his third consecutive Gold Glove at first base.
In 832 big league games, Walker has hit .250 with 147 homers. All but 13 of those games came with Arizona over the past eight seasons, after his MLB debut with Baltimore in 2014 and 2015.
Walker had two stints on the injured list because of right oblique issues in 2021. He played 160 games in 2022 and 157 in 2023, hitting 69 homers and driving in 197 runs combined over those two seasons.
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With voluntary OTAs resuming Tuesday, questions have continued to surface about quarterback C.J. Stroud's limited involvement, as he's still not throwing while dealing with what the team describes as “general soreness.”
“There's no concerns with C.J. It's just general soreness. We're taking extra precaution with him, but he'll be good to go. No concerns on my end there,” Ryans told the media.
ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime asked Ryans if Stroud would be ready to throw when mandatory minicamp begins on June 10. Ryans basically dodged the question and did not discuss a timeline.
#Texans HC DeMeco Ryans says the #Texans are taking “extra precaution,” regarding CJ Stroud as he’s dealing with “general soreness.” pic.twitter.com/qp6MwzQMyQ
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) June 3, 2025
It seems we won't have any concrete answers about Stroud until we are able to see his level of participation when minicamp starts next week. It is worth noting that Ryans told the media not to ask any more questions about Stroud, sticking to his original talking points.
That's definitely something that will have some fans nervous until Stroud is back throwing again.
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