The Astros optioned Whitley to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Whitley allowed two unearned runs while striking out five over 2.2 innings in a couple appearances this week. He threw 48 pitches in Wednesday's blowout loss to the Reds, so the Astros will swap him out for a fresh arm.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Up with big club
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The Astros recalled Whitley from Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.
Whitley will receive his first look in the majors since mid-April, when he allowed a hit and a walk in a scoreless two-thirds of an inning during his MLB debut. The right-hander has been an effective bullpen piece at Sugar Land this season with a 2.17 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 40:9 K:BB across 29 innings.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Activated from minor-league IL
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Whitley (elbow) was reinstated from the minor-league injured list Sunday, returning to Triple-A Sugar Land's roster, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Whitley will be back on the active roster at Triple-A following a nearly two-month absence with right elbow soreness. The 26-year-old has made five appearances with Sugar Land in 2024, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out eight batters over five innings. Whitley will look to get into a groove at Triple-A in order to potentially earn a promotion to the major-league roster down the road.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Resumes throwing at Triple-A
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Whitley (elbow) has resumed a throwing program at Triple-A Sugar Land, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Whitley landed on the 7-day injured list at Sugar Land in late April with a sore right elbow but is finally beginning the ramp-up process. He most recently threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session, so the right-hander wouldn't appear too far off from a return.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Lands on minor-league IL
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Whitley was placed on the minor-league injured list Saturday with right elbow discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Whitley made his major-league debut with the Astros on April 16, allowing one hit and one walk but no runs over two-thirds of an inning against Atlanta. He was sent back to Triple-A Sugar Land after that outing, and he has thrown two scoreless innings while striking out four over his last two appearances in the minors.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Sent back to minors
Rotowire
The Astros optioned Whitley to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Whitley will return to Triple-A just one day after being recalled for his MLB debut. He allowed one hit and one walk but did not surrender a run through two-thirds of an inning against Atlanta on Tuesday. The 26-year-old's departure opens a spot on the active roster that will presumably be given to Justin Verlander (shoulder) when he returns Friday.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Officially recalled from minors
Rotowire
Whitley was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land by the Astros on Tuesday.
It's the first stint in the big leagues for Whitley, who has permitted four runs with a 4:2 K:BB over three innings for Sugar Land this season. The former top prospect has moved to relief this season following years of injuries and control problems.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Summoned to big-league bullpen
Rotowire
The Astros will recall Whitley from Triple-A Sugar Land prior to Tuesday's game versus Atlanta, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Whitley was once one of the top pitching prospects in baseball before his career got sidetracked by numerous injuries and control problems. He got a late start to the season at Sugar Land because of a finger injury but returned to make three appearances, allowing four runs with a 4:2 K:BB over three innings. Whitley will work as a reliever for a bullpen that's in need of a fresh arm.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Faces hitters Monday
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Astros manager Joe Espada said that Whitley (finger) threw a live batting practice session at minor-league camp Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Before he was optioned to the minors March 10, Whitley hadn't made any Grapefruit League appearances for the Astros while he contended with right middle finger inflammation. Whitley's ability to face hitters suggests the injury is mostly behind him at this point, though it's unclear if he'll be ready to go when Triple-A Sugar Land begins its season Friday. Once viewed as one of the top pitching prospects not only in Houston's organization but in all of the minors, Whitley is slated to work in a relief role at Sugar Land after numerous setbacks on the health front in recent years derailed his development as a starter.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Sent to minor-league camp
Rotowire
The Astros optioned Whitley (finger) to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Whitley has been battling finger inflammation for the past couple weeks, and it appears to have cost him a chance at making Houston's Opening Day roster. According to Kawahara, the right-hander recently resumed playing catch and will continue building up as a reliever in minor-league camp. Whitley has primarily worked as a starter throughout his minor-league career but was limited to just 30 frames at Sugar Land last season due to a lat strain, and he wasn't particularly effective prior to the injury with a 5.70 ERA and 5.1 BB/9.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Restarting throwing program
Rotowire
Whitley (finger) is scheduled to play catch Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander has been shut down for the past week due to middle finger inflammation, but he's poised to start up his throwing program again Tuesday. Whitley will need to build his arm back up after the shutdown period and is likely at least a couple weeks away from game action.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Shut down for one week
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Manager Joe Espada said Sunday that Whitley (finger) has reduced inflammation but won't throw for the next week, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander was scratched from his bullpen session Saturday due to the right middle finger injury, and he'll be shut down for a week as a result. Whitley will need to ramp things back up after the shutdown period, so he likely won't be game-ready until at least mid-March.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Scratched from bullpen session
Rotowire
Whitley did not participate in his scheduled bullpen session Saturday due to middle finger soreness, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Whitley experienced soreness when warming up for his bullpen session and will be evaluated by doctors. An extended absence could severely impact his chances of landing a relief spot with the Astros to start the season. Whitley appeared in eight Triple-A games in 2023 and registered a 1-2 record with a 5.70 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a 32:17 K:BB over 30 innings.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Healthy, will be used in relief
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Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday that Whitley is healthy and will report to spring training as a reliever, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Whitley didn't make an appearance at Triple-A Sugar Land after late May because of a right lat strain, but he's been throwing this offseason without issue. While the former top prospect will have a chance to win a bullpen job out of spring training, he could be sent back to Sugar Land after the Astros were awarded a fourth option year.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: May serve as reliever once healthy
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Astros general manager Dana Brown confirmed Sunday that Whitley (lat) could be an option to join the major-league squad as a reliever once he's healthy and activated from Triple-A Sugar Land's 7-day injured list, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Though he's been regarded as one of the Astros' top pitching prospects for more than a half decade, Whitley has yet to make his MLB debut, with multiple setbacks on the health front having stalled his development. Now on the mend from a right lat strain that's expected to keep him shelved for around 3-to-4 months, Whitley likely won't have enough time to get stretched back out for a starting role at Triple-A even if he meets the short end of that recovery timeline. The Astros still believe the 25-year-old right-hander possesses the sort of arsenal that can make him an effective weapon out of the bullpen, so if he's quickly able to reclaim command and velocity upon returning from the injury, he could make his long-awaited MLB debut at some point during the final month of the season.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: To miss up to four months
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Whitley (lat) is expected to miss 3-to-4 months, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Whitley was placed on the injured list last week at Triple-A Sugar Land after suffering a right lat strain, and now the Astros have provided an estimated recovery timeline for the oft-injured 25-year-old former top prospect. It's possible Whitley won't pitch again this season if his recovery extends into September.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: More shoulder issues at Triple-A
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Whitley was removed from Thursday's start at Triple-A Sugar Land with discomfort in his right shoulder, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The Astros are saying his removal was precautionary, but Whitley just recently missed a couple weeks of action with shoulder issues and he ended last season with a shoulder problem, as well. Whitley has been inconsistent with Sugar Land this season, posting a 5.70 ERA and 32:17 K:BB over 30 innings.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Healthy at Triple-A
Rotowire
Whitley (shoulder) gave up one run on two hits and one walk while striking out four in four innings Saturday for Triple-A Sugar Land.
Shoulder discomfort resulted in a two-week gap between starts for Whitley, but he never landed on the minor-league injured list. The Astros' rotation depth has been tested early this season, and if Whitley can stay healthy while performing well, he could make his big-league debut this summer. The 6-foot-7 righty has lacked consistency while pitching in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, but he has gone at least four innings in all six appearances and has 26 strikeouts in 25 innings.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: First hiccup of season
Rotowire
Whitley gave up five earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out six in 4.2 innings Tuesday against Triple-A Las Vegas.
This was Whitley's first stumble of the year, as he gave up just one run while striking out 11 in eight innings over his first two appearances. He was done in by the long ball in his third start of the year, as he gave up two home runs at home for Sugar Land. Despite this hiccup, Whitley has put himself squarely back on the dynasty and redraft radar with a 0.95 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 12.2 innings.
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Astros' Forrest Whitley: Sent to minor-league camp
Rotowire
The Astros optioned Whitley to minor-league camp Sunday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Whitley has made a pair of appearances in Grapefruit League games, throwing four innings and allowing two runs with a 3:1 K:BB ratio. Once ranked as the top pitching prospect in all of baseball, Whitley has struggled with injuries and command and also dealt with a PED suspension, but the 25-year-old has a good chance to make his MLB debut at some point this summer with Houston.
