Astros' Josh Hader Gets Bleak Injury Recovery Timeline As October Looms

Newsweek

2 days ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Houston Astros closer Josh Hader had never been seriously injured before as a big-leaguer. Now, he's out indefinitely at the worst possible time.
Hader last pitched last Friday, in a two-inning, 36-pitch outing against the New York Yankees. His throwing shoulder was bugging him, he was unavailable for the rest of the weekend, and he wound up being placed on the injured list on Tuesday.
It's Hader's first-ever trip to the IL, save for a bout of COVID in 2021, and it leaves the Astros without their six-time All-Star. It's especially notable that the injury came after a multi-inning outing, which Hader famously refused to do before he got his second contract.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 08: Josh Hader #71 of the Houston Astros pitches during the tenth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 08, 2025 in the Bronx borough...
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 08: Josh Hader #71 of the Houston Astros pitches during the tenth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 08, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by)Now, Hader's prognosis is a bit more clear, and it appears he'll be frantically working against the clock to have any hope of returning during the regular season.
On Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported that Hader has what the Astros termed a "left shoulder capsule strain." He will not throw for approximately three weeks, and then next steps will be determined.
If we assume it's three weeks on the dot, that means Hader won't throw a baseball until the first week of September. Optimistically, that would put his likely return sometime in mid-to-late September even with an accelerated rehab.
Hader has a 2.05 ERA in 52 2/3 outings this season, striking out 76 and racking up 28 saves. He is in the second season of a five-year, $95 million contract.
The Astros are fortunate to have a second closer-worthy reliever in Bryan Abreu, but there's no doubt Hader is a huge loss. It's not just Abreu who will have to step up, of course; anyone in a medium-leverage role will likely have to take on high-leverage innings now.
In the meantime, the best thing Hader can do for now is rest, and he and the Astros have to hope the shoulder heals itself quickly.
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