Injuries plagued the Houston Astros last season, and with Shawn Dubin injuring his shoulder in camp, could history repeat itself? On Monday, Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters that reliever Shawn Dubin will return to Houston to undergo testing on his right shoulder. According to Espada, the 29-year-old right-hander experienced shoulder discomfort playing catch on his first day at camp and again Sunday. Before Sunday, the Astros training staff shut Dubin down from throwing, giving his shoulder a few extra days of rest. When he was allowed to start throwing again, his shoulder reacted poorly, leading the Astros to order an MRI.
Astros Injury Woes Continue With Reliever Out
After playing various roles last season, Dubin was expected to take on a middle-relief role for Houston out of camp. He recorded a 4.17 ERA and 1.57 WHIP over 45 ⅓ innings for the Astros while splitting time between Houston and Triple-A Sugar Land in 2024. While the extent of the injury is unclear, it sounds like he could be headed for a long-term absence.
This is just the latest obstacle for an Astros bullpen already lacking depth going into the new season. Free agency already claimed relievers Caleb Ferguson and Kendall Graveman, while long-man Seth Martinez was designated for assignment in November. Houston also parted ways with longtime closer turned set-up man Ryan Pressly in a trade with the Chicago Cubs.
Should Dubin be forced to miss an extended amount of time, right-hander Kaleb Ort could take his place after he returns from an oblique injury. Bryan King and former top prospect Forrest Whitley could also be in line for a larger role this season. One dark horse candidate who could break camp in the Astros bullpen this season would be 26-year-old righty Logan VanWey. VanWey went 9-1 with a 3.22 ERA over 72 ⅔ innings in Triple-A last season and looked sharp, tossing a scoreless 1 ⅔ innings in Spring Training.
Main Photo Credits: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
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