Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker has been absent from big league games since suffering a leg injury on June 3, when he fouled a ball off his right shin. Initially placed on the 10-day injured list with a right shin contusion, the injury was expected to be minor. However, as weeks turned into months with no clear progress, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reveals that Tucker actually sustained a fractured shin, a detail that was not previously disclosed to the media.
Despite the club’s description of the injury as a “deep bruise of the bone” or a “shin contusion,” the term “fracture” was never used. General Manager Dana Brown recently admitted that after extensive medical imaging, a small fracture was suspected. He explained that Tucker’s extended recovery time is due to the need for the surrounding muscles to regain strength after the fracture heals. Brown confirmed that Tucker has been working diligently to return and is expected to contribute in September and the postseason.
This update sheds light on why Tucker’s recovery has been prolonged but raises questions about the delay in diagnosing the fracture and the decision to withhold this information. Media frustration has been growing over the club’s lack of transparency about player injuries. Previously, former manager Dusty Baker cited HIPAA laws to justify the lack of updates, even though other teams frequently share such information. Rome has reported that the team’s trainer is not made available to the media and that there are inconsistencies in the club’s communication practices.
Despite these issues, Tucker is nearing a return. According to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, manager Joe Espada noted that Tucker is running the bases at approximately 85% intensity and could rejoin the team soon.
Before his injury, Tucker was having a standout season, with a .266/.395/.584 slash line and a 175 wRC+ over 60 games, despite a low .245 batting average on balls in play. In his absence, the Astros have rotated several players in right field, including Chas McCormick, Ben Gamel, and others. Gamel is the only one who has performed notably well, thanks in part to a high .410 BABIP in his limited plate appearances. Tucker’s return will be a significant boost for the Astros.