Houston Astros closer Josh Hader threw his first bullpen session of spring training on Tuesday, but his readiness for the March 26 season opener remains uncertain due to ongoing recovery from injuries. Hader, who has been sidelined by biceps tendinitis following a shoulder strain last season, reported feeling good after the session. The team is monitoring his progress closely as time runs short.
In West Palm Beach, Florida, Astros closer Josh Hader participated in his first bullpen session since arriving at spring training camp, throwing about 15 fastballs. This comes after he was diagnosed with biceps tendinitis at the start of February, leaving him "a few weeks behind," as he noted when camp opened a month ago. Hader, who missed the final two months of the 2024 season due to a left shoulder capsule strain, reached 87 mph during the session but was instructed to dial back to 81-84 mph.
"I had a little bit of momentum down the mound, so I felt good," Hader said. "I felt like my body was in sync."
Pitching coaches Josh Miller and Ethan Katz observed the session, with general manager Dana Brown watching nearby. "The ball was coming out easy," Miller said. "It was his first normal bullpen in a while and he had the governor on for a while, but he looked good."
Manager Joe Espada added, "He said he felt really good. We'll see how he feels tomorrow. I think tomorrow will be a good indication of where he goes from here."
Hader landed on the 15-day injured list in August 2024 after reporting left shoulder discomfort following an Aug. 8 outing against the New York Yankees, where he threw two innings. He completed rehab in November, resuming throwing in January at 85-87 mph without capsule issues, but felt biceps discomfort during his fourth bullpen while throwing a changeup.
Last season, Hader saved 28 games for the Astros and earned his sixth All-Star selection. In June, he was named American League Reliever of the Month, going 4-1 with a 1.98 ERA, converting all nine save opportunities in 14 appearances, with 22 strikeouts and a 0.51 WHIP.
Regarding the March 26 opener against the Los Angeles Angels, Hader said he is taking it day by day. Miller avoided speculation: "Don't want to speculate on that. There's going to be some ramp-up time. He'll need to throw off the mound at least a handful of times and face some hitters. We are getting close to the end here. I don't know how likely that is, but it's not my place at this time to make the call."
If Hader starts the season on the injured list, setup man Bryan Abreu could handle closing duties, as he did late last year. The Astros added depth with Ryan Weiss, Peter Lambert, and Kai-Wei Teng, who have performed well this spring and could serve as multiple-inning relievers. However, the team performs best with Hader in the ninth inning.
