THE APEX TIMES
Houston begins the next step of its injury recoveries with Lance McCullers Jr. facing live batting practice hitters and Ronel Blanco working through a rehab assignment that included five strikeouts.
The Astros took another measured step toward getting key pitching back on the field on Friday, with Lance McCullers Jr. moving into live batting practice at Daikin Park. The team said it had been about a month since McCullers was scratched from his scheduled start in Minnesota due to right shoulder inflammation, and the live session marked his first time facing hitters since the injury pause.
McCullers threw 25 pitches during the session, with teammates Taylor Trammell and Brice taking turns as the hitters. The details underscore how Houston is handling the recovery process, progressing from earlier preparation into a setting that more closely resembles game stress, without yet implying that a return to a full, regular workload is immediate.
Alongside McCullers’ progression, Houston also reported continued work from Ronel Blanco in his rehab assignment. The right-hander struck out five batters during the assignment, a performance the club presented as part of his development through the return-to-action process rather than a standalone milestone.
Taken together, the two updates highlight the Astros’ immediate management of their pitching depth. When starters miss time with shoulder-related issues, teams often prioritize a gradual ramp that reduces risk while tracking mechanics and control in progressively harder environments. By putting McCullers into live batting practice, Houston is indicating that his shoulder is handling baseball-specific stress more favorably than it did when the Minnesota start was pulled.
Daikin Park was the stage for McCullers’ next checkpoint, and the scheduling is practical. Home-based rehab work can keep a player within the team’s day-to-day medical and performance routines, while also giving Houston a clearer picture of what kind of innings structure might be possible later. The reported pitch count of 25 is notable because it frames the session as a contained step, not a substitute for a full start.
For Blanco, the five-strikeout detail gives a concrete benchmark in the middle of a rehab plan. Strikeouts in a rehab appearance can reflect both form and command, but the Astros’ framing matters here: the point is progress within the assignment, not a confirmation that he is already ready to resume a major-league role on a specific date.
What to watch next for Houston is how quickly each pitcher builds confidence in the next phase. For McCullers, the transition from live batting practice to whatever comes after it will be the clearest indicator. For Blanco, his continued rehab outings will likely determine when he can be activated and how the club structures his workload after time away.