Astros' Joe Espada Announces Big Yordan Alvarez News on Sunday

Astros' Joe Espada Announces Big Yordan Alvarez News on Sunday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Houston Astros have spent the entirety of the 2025 season short-handed, weathering a wave of key injuries across both the starting rotation and position player group.

No absence has loomed larger than that of Yordan Alvarez, who has been sidelined with a lingering right-hand issue since May 5.

The 28-year-old slugger has seen his return timeline repeatedly pushed back as the season has unfolded—first when the initial diagnosis revealed a fracture rather than a strain, and later when inflammation became so severe he couldn’t grip a bat without pain.

Despite his prolonged absence, the Astros have continued to thrive, a testament to the depth and resilience of their roster. Houston enters Sunday with a 69–54 record and a 1.5-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the AL West.

Astros' Joe Espada Provides Big Update on Yordan Alvarez

Still, Alvarez’s eventual return looms as a pivotal boost to the lineup, especially as the Astros look to solidify their postseason position down the stretch.

On Sunday, manager Joe Espada announced a huge update on the left-handed slugger: Alvarez will begin a rehab assignment with the team’s Double-A affiliate in Corpus Christi on Tuesday.

"Yordan Alvarez will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday, Joe Espada said," wrote The Athletic's Chandler Rome.

Yordan Alvarez will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday, Joe Espada said.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) August 17, 2025

Alvarez's Astros Legacy

This comes just one day after he took eight live at-bats at the team’s training facility in Florida, and it seemingly went well as he will head on a rehab assignment and build back up.

Alvarez’s cemented himself as a franchise legend in Houston despite only appearing in seven seasons for the franchise so far.

• Rookie Explosion (2019): Hit 27 home runs in 87 games and was named the American League Rookie of the Year unanimously

• Peak Power (2022): Won the World Series, finished third in American League Most Valuable Player voting, and earned a Silver Slugger Award
• Elite Consistency (2022–2024): Selected to three consecutive All-Star Games, maintained a batting average above .290, posted an OPS over .950, and hit at least 30 home runs in each season

Alvarez’s impact has been huge for the Astros and he’s been the centerpiece of the franchise’s success over the last decade.

His eventual return will provide a major boost for Houston’s second half run as the team attempts to secure a fifth consecutive AL West division title.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 17, 2025, where it first appeared.