Astros Outfielder Closing In On Chance To Start Injury Rehab

More than three months after his last rehab assignment was cut short, Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley may be ready to try again.

Is it, perhaps, finally, Michael Brantley time for the Houston Astros — or at least injury rehab time?

That’s what Astros general manager Dana Brown hinted at during a pre-game appearance with Sports Talk 790-AM in Houston.

Brown said that it was possible that the veteran outfielder could start a rehab assignment “in the next week or so.”

That’s great news for both the Astros and the outfielder, whose recovery from a shoulder injury has had fits and starts.

The Astros lost Brantley last August when he had right shoulder surgery for a torn labrum. At the time, Brantley was batting .288 and had a .370 on-base percentage, which was ranked second on the team. This came after four straight seasons in which he hit .300 or better. Despite losing Brantley, the Astros were able to win their second World Series in six years.

The Astros re-signed Brantley in the offseason, knowing that he would need a good portion of the 2023 season to be ready to play.

He started a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land in late April, but a setback caused the Astros to transfer him on the 60-day injured list in June. That was shortly before Astros manager Dusty Baker said that Brantley need to take a break from preparing to return, as he had “plateaued.”

That no longer seems to be an issue. If Brantley is able to start a rehab assignment sometime in the next week, that could put Brantley in position to be activated sometime this month, assuming he has no setbacks.

But, because he’s had a setback already this season, his progress during the rehab assignment is worth watching.

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