Astros Lose Key Pitcher for 2024 Season

Tough news for the Houston Astros as it’s been announced that key bullpen piece Kendall Graveman will likely be out for the entire 2024 season after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Astros reliever Kendall Graveman underwent right shoulder surgery last week. He’s expected to miss the 2024 season, the team announced.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 16, 2024

Graveman, who has extensive experience as a high-leverage reliever, and was being counted on at the back end of the Astros bullpen this season, came to Houston in a trade with a Chicago White Sox in 2023. In 22 innings with the Stros he posted a 2.42 ERA along with 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

A shoulder injury caused the 33-year-old to sit out the playoffs last year, but at the time, surgery wasn’t on the table. Doctors had suggested rest, followed by rehab to get him ready for spring training. That ramp-up, in fact, had progressed to the point of having him throwing from flat ground recently. But that’s when Graveman complained of discomfort once again in the shoulder, and after examination, it was determined that surgery was the only option.

In nine seasons, with the Oakland A’s, Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox, and the Astros, Graveman has posted a solid 3.95 ERA along with a 1.33 WHIP, while recording 24 saves along the way. He acted as a co-closer in Seattle in 2021 and fashioned a similar role with the White Sox at the beginning of the 2023 season.

The Astros still have a solid back end of the bullpen heading into the season, featuring closer Ryan Pressly (31saves) and the hard-throwing Bryan Abreu, who notched 100 strikeouts and a 1.75 ERA in 72 innings last season.

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