{"id":151332,"date":"2026-02-10T17:06:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T17:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=151332"},"modified":"2026-02-10T17:06:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T17:06:20","slug":"astros-star-josh-hader-sparks-major-concern-with-alarming-spring-training-setback-fans-left-in-panic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=151332","title":{"rendered":"Astros Star Josh Hader Sparks Major Concern With Alarming Spring Training Setback \u2013 Fans Left in Panic"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

IMAGE: Imagn Images<\/div>\n

Josh Hader\u2019s Health a Key Question Mark as Astros Open Spring Training<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Houston Astros are back in camp, but the ghosts of last season\u2019s injury woes-especially on the mound-are still looming. And right now, all eyes are on Josh Hader.<\/p>\n

The Astros\u2019 high-priced closer isn\u2019t yet at full throttle as pitchers and catchers report to Florida. Hader, who landed on the injured list last August with a shoulder strain that ended his season, is still easing his way back.<\/p>\n

According to reports, he\u2019s been throwing lightly and only on flat ground, with the team expecting more clarity on his status later this week. That\u2019s not exactly the kind of update Astros fans were hoping for.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s be clear: there\u2019s no panic button being pushed just yet. But with Opening Day on the horizon and Houston planning to roll with a six-man rotation to start the year, any uncertainty in the bullpen becomes magnified. If Hader isn\u2019t ready to go, that\u2019s a big piece missing from the back end of the Astros\u2019 relief corps.<\/p>\n

Hader was the crown jewel of Houston\u2019s 2024 offseason, signing a five-year, $95 million deal to anchor the bullpen. And when he was healthy last year, he was every bit the shutdown closer the Astros paid for-posting a 2.05 ERA, striking out 76 over 52 \u2154 innings, and locking down 28 saves. But that shoulder strain cut his season short, and now, as he enters Year 3 of the deal, the big question is whether he\u2019ll be ready when the games start to count.<\/p>\n

If Hader isn\u2019t available out of the gate, Bryan Abreu is the logical next man up. He was quietly one of the most reliable arms in the pen last season, with a 2.28 ERA across 70 appearances and seven saves to his name. He\u2019s got the stuff and the temperament to close, and he\u2019s done it before.<\/p>\n

Behind Abreu, the Astros have a mix of lefties and swingmen who could help bridge the gap. Bryan King and Steven Okert are likely to make the Opening Day roster, while Bennett Sousa and Tom Cosgrove are still in the mix.<\/p>\n

All four are left-handers, and all bring different looks and strengths. King and Okert have the inside track, but Sousa and Cosgrove will get their shot this spring.<\/p>\n

Houston\u2019s bullpen depth was tested last year-and not always with great results. Injuries across the board forced the Astros to get creative, and several arms, including Colton Gordon and Jason Alexander, were called on to step into high-leverage spots.<\/p>\n

Both of them, along with the rest of the bullpen, recorded at least one save last season. That kind of experience could come in handy again if Hader\u2019s shoulder isn’t ready for the grind of April.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also been some change behind the scenes. After a 2025 season that saw too many pitchers sidelined, the Astros made adjustments to their training staff this offseason. It\u2019s too early to know how much of an impact that\u2019ll have, but the hope is that a new approach to player health and recovery can keep the team\u2019s arms on the field and off the IL.<\/p>\n

For now, the Astros are in wait-and-see mode with Hader. But make no mistake-his health is one of the biggest storylines of this spring.<\/p>\n

If he\u2019s right, Houston\u2019s bullpen is a weapon. If he\u2019s not, the ripple effects could be felt all season long.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

IMAGE: Imagn Images Josh Hader\u2019s Health a Key Question Mark as Astros Open Spring Training The Houston Astros are back in camp, but the ghosts of last… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":151329,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-151332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nAstros Star Josh Hader Sparks Major Concern With Alarming Spring Training Setback \u2013 Fans Left in Panic - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=151332\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Astros Star Josh Hader Sparks Major Concern With Alarming Spring Training Setback \u2013 Fans Left in Panic - 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