FORREST WHITLEY NEWS

Gets positive news on shoulder Astros general manager James Click said Wednesday that Whitley sustained no structural damage to his right shoulder after exiting his most recent start for Triple-A Sugar Land on S...

Impact Whitley was diagnosed with inflammation in the shoulder immediately after his departure, and that looks to be the extent of the right-hander's injury after follow-up tests revealed nothing else concerning. Click said he's hopeful that Whitley will be ready to resume throwing after a 7-to-10-day shutdown period, so the right-hander is still likely to land on Sugar Land's 7-day injured list. Once he's cleared to resume throwing, Whitley will likely need at least a few days to ramp back up before Sugar Land clears him to return to game action.

JULY 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Managing right shoulder issue Whitley exited Sunday's start at Triple-A Sugar Land due to right shoulder inflammation, Mark Berman of Fox 26 reports.

Impact Whitley appeared to be favoring his throwing arm as he left the field Sunday, and he's apparently dealing with inflammation. It's not yet clear whether the issue will require a trip to the injured list.

JULY 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Exits Triple-A start Whitley was removed from Sunday's start at Triple-A Sugar Land due to an apparent right arm injury, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Whitley was activated from the injured list Monday after recovering from Tommy John surgery, so it's somewhat concerning to see him favoring his throwing arm as he exited Sunday's matchup in the top of the second inning. The exact nature and severity of his injury aren't yet clear.

JULY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Activated from injured list Whitley (elbow) was activated from the injured list Monday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Whitley made a few rehab starts in recent weeks, but he has officially completed his comeback from Tommy John surgery and is ready to pitch regularly again. Whitley was assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land, where he will work on building up his pitch count. He could be an option for the big club at some point in the second half, but the Astros have a lot of capable starters, so they have little incentive to push him over the remainder of the campaign.

JULY 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Promoted for next rehab start Whitley will make a rehab appearance for Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Whitley is nearing the end of his rehab from Tommy John surgery. The former top prospect is unlikely to start games for the Astros this season barring multiple injuries, as the big-league rotation will have seven reliable options once Jake Odorizzi (leg) and Lance McCullers (forearm) return.

JULY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Throws two innings Whitley (elbow) allowed one hit and struck out two across two scoreless innings in a rehab appearance with Single-A Fayetteville on Wednesday,Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle...

Impact Whitley made his second rehab appearance as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery. He threw 21 of his 29 pitches for strikes. Whitley will continue to ramp up with a couple more rehab starts before being activated from the injured list, when he will likely enter the Triple-A Sugar Land rotation.

JUNE 23, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Joins full-season affiliate Whitley (elbow) is scheduled to make his second rehab start Wednesday for Single-A Fayetteville, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact After making a two-inning rehab start June 16 with the Astros' rookie-level Florida Complex League in his first game action of 2022, Whitley will report to a full-season affiliate as he continues his ramp-up program. Since he hasn't pitched since the 2019 season while recovering from March 2021 Tommy John surgery, Whitley will likely require at least a couple more starts with Fayetteville or another lower-level affiliate before eventually slotting into Triple-A Sugar Land's rotation.

JUNE 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Makes rehab start in FCL Whitley (elbow) struck out two over two innings and was charged with three earned runs on three hits and two walks in a rehab start Thursday with the Astros' rookie-level Florida C...

Impact Whitley's numbers are indicative of some rust, but that was to be expected after he hadn't made an appearance in affiliated ball since Sept. 2, 2019. Arm troubles prevented him from joining the Astros during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, and he missed the entire 2021 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery last March. Now 15 months removed from surgery, Whitley should gradually work deeper into his rehab starts and ideally show improved command before likely settling into the Triple-A Sugar Land rotation. The Astros will be careful to monitor Whitley's workload carefully this season coming off surgery, so if he gets a call to the big leagues in 2022, he may be tasked with a relief role.

JUNE 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to minors Whitley (elbow) was optioned to minor-league camp Sunday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Whitley is recovering from Tommy John surgery undergone in March 2021 and never had a chance of breaking camp on the big-league roster. The 24-year-old has been throwing off a mound, though it's unclear where exactly he currently stands in his rehab work, but he could be ready for game action sometime in June.

MARCH 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Astros notes: Lance McCullers won't be ready for Opening Day; rehab updates on Jake Meyers and Forrest Whitley The start of formal team workouts came with the news that the Astros will be down one of their best starting pitchers to begin the season.

MARCH 14, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Throwing off mound Whitley (elbow) posted a video Sunday on his personal Instagram account featuring him throwing off a mound.

Impact As a player on the Astros' 40-man roster, Whitley wasn't able to work out at the organization's minor-league camp while the MLB lockout was in place, but now that labor peace has been reached, he'll have his rehab from March 2021 Tommy John surgery overseen by the Houston staff. Now that he's nearly a full year removed from the procedure, Whitley could advance to facing hitters by the end of camp in early April, though he won't be ready to go for the start of the minor-league season. Once the Astros are comfortable with Whitley pitching in games, he'll likely report to one of the organization's lower-level affiliates before settling into the Triple-A Round Rock rotation. Houston still appears intent on developing Whitley as a starter long term, though he could make his MLB debut as a reliever at some point in the second half of the 2022 season if he looks sharp in his initial minor-league appearances.

MARCH 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Will begin throwing Whitley (elbow) reported to the Astros' spring training facility this week to begin a throwing program, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Whitley underwent Tommy John surgery in March and still has another 6-to-8 months before getting into game action. That will unfold in the minors, as the right-hander has thrown just 86 innings of affiliated ball since 2017. The one-time elite pitching prospect has tumbled down the rankings since the beginning of 2018, when he was suspended 50 games for violating MLB drug policy. An oblique injury, a mechanical adjustment that led to a 12.21 ERA in 2019 and an arm injury that prevented him from participating in the abbreviated 2020 season then served to further derail him.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Correa hits RBI double in 10th, Astros rally past M's 5-4

Carlos Correa drove in the winning run in the 10th inning after Alex Bregman tied it in the ninth, and the Houston Astros rallied for a 5-4 win over the Seattle Mariners

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Undergoes surgery Whitley underwent Tommy John elbow surgery Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact Whitley felt discomfort in the elbow while throwing live batting practice earlier this month and could not avoid surgery. He faces a 12-to-14 month recovery period and could possibly pitch during the second half of 2022.

MARCH 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Astros LHP Framber Valdez gets positive update on injury

The Houston Astros received a positive update on left-hander Framber Valdez on the same day Forrest Whitley had season-ending surgery on his right elbow

MARCH 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Houston’s Whitley has Tommy John surgery; Valdez improving Top Houston Astros prospect Forrest Whitley had Tommy John surgery on Wednesday and left-hander Framber Valdez is improving after breaking a finger this spring.

MARCH 17, 2021 • WASHINGTONTIMES.COM

Houston's Whitley has Tommy John surgery; Valdez improving

Top Houston Astros prospect Forrest Whitley had Tommy John surgery on Wednesday

MARCH 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sent to Triple-A The Astros optioned Whitley (elbow) to their minor-league camp Sunday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

Impact Whitley's demotion was merely procedural, as the right-handed pitching prospect is already slated to miss the entire 2021 season due to his impending Tommy John surgery. Due to the timing of his procedure, Whitley will more than likely miss the first half of the 2022 campaign as well.

MARCH 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Elects Tommy John surgery Whitley will undergo Tommy John surgery, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Impact Whitley was told by a doctor over the weekend that he'd require Tommy John surgery, and manager Dusty Baker revealed Wednesday that he received a second opinion that confirmed the prognosis. Whitley won't pitch until 2022 as a result, and the right-hander has thrown just 86 innings since the start of the 2018 campaign due to a suspension and various injuries.

MARCH 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Forrest Whitley to have Tommy John surgery Astros top pitching prospect Forrest Whitley will undergo Tommy John surgery, manager Dusty Baker announced on Wednesday. Whitley, 23, began...

MARCH 10, 2021 • MLB.COM

Astros top prospect Whitley to have Tommy John surgery HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros top prospect right-hander Forrest Whitley will have Tommy John surgery.

MARCH 10, 2021 • OLEANTIMESHERALD.COM

Astros top prospect Whitley to have Tommy John surgery Houston Astros top prospect right-hander Forrest Whitley will have Tommy John surgery.

MARCH 10, 2021 • WASHINGTONTIMES.COM

Astros top prospect Whitley to have Tommy John surgery

Houston Astros top prospect right-hander Forrest Whitley will have Tommy John surgery, manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday

MARCH 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Indians minus Ramírez, Reyes after they break virus protocol

The Cleveland Indians have broken COVID-19 protocols for the third time in less than a year, this time costing them third baseman José Ramírez and slugger Franmil Reyes

MARCH 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Astros: Former top prospect Forrest Whitley gets brutal injury update The Houston Astros pitching staff cannot catch a break, and it extends from their potential ace down to the farm system. Astros pitcher Forr...

MARCH 7, 2021 • FANSIDED.COM