An uneventful first week of spring training gave way to a nightmare first week of Grapefruit League games for the Astros. On March 2, in only the team’s third exhibition game, Framber Valdez fractured the ring finger on his pitching hand on a routine comebacker from Francisco Lindor. The same week, Forrest Whitley complained of an arm issue after throwing a simulated game. Tests revealed a sprained ulnar collateral ligament for Whitley, a diagnosis that could lead to season-ending Tommy John surgery.
Valdez’s status is still somewhat shrouded in secrecy, as the Astros have yet to offer an update on a course of action or a timeline for his return.