Forrest

Whitley

The Astros were expecting Whitley to start the season as a long relief option this season, but he suffered a bone bruise at the beginning of March. He has already been throwing and could push to get a bullpen spot in the next couple of weeks.

Whitley, once the best pitching prospect in all of baseball, has already transitioned to the bullpen after injuries sapped much of his upside as a starter. However, only four of Whitley’s 32 appearances for Triple-A Sugar Land last season featured more than three outs. The Astros hope to change that this season. “We’re going to slowly build him up,” said manager Joe Espada, “but I expect him to get us more than three outs ... If he can go out there and give us two-plus innings, that’s our goal.” Whitley is out of minor league options, so the team will likely carry him on the roster to start the season, and if he can regularly throw multiple innings out of the bullpen, that could give him fantasy value in deeper formats.

This is purely about needing a fresh arm in the bullpen. Whitley threw 48 pitches on Wednesday, allowing three hits and two runs, both unearned, in 1 2/3 innings. The former top prospect has not allowed an earned run in 3 1/3 innings out of the bullpen this season and should get another chance soon. Nick Hernandez was called up to take his place in the bullpen.

Hernandez was up with the Astros in June and will get another chance now. The 29-year-old has a 1.90 ERA in 23 2/3 innings in Triple-A with a 34:9 K:BB ratio. Forrest Whitley was sent down in a corresponding move.

Whitley made his MLB debut earlier this year, and now will have a chance to provide the Astros some added depth in the bullpen with rosters expanding to 28 players.

Whitley got to make his major league debut in April, but it was just one appearance, and soon after returning to Triple-A, he was shut down with a sore elbow, costing him seven weeks. Since returning, he’s been excellent, allowing just one earned run and amassing a 22/6 K/BB in 17 2/3 innings. He could get the call next time the Astros have a need in the pen.

It’s another blow to Houston’s pitching depth as Whitley finally made his long-overdue big-league debut earlier this month. The 26-year-old righty, who is currently on the minor league injured list at Triple-A Sugar Land, was one of the top pitching prospects in baseball just a few years ago, but his once-promising career has been derailed by an avalanche of injuries.

The 26-year-old hurler was recalled on Tuesday to provide some extra depth in the Astros’ bullpen, but he’ll be sent back out with Justin Verlander set to be activated from the injured list on Friday. Whitley will continue to bide his time at Triple-A until he’s needed once more.

The move is now official. Whitley was universally-regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball just a few years ago, but injuries and ineffectiveness have relegated him to afterthought status for fantasy managers. The 26-year-old righty will operate in a multi-inning relief role for Houston’s bullpen as they attempt to deal with their current pitching crisis. He’s unlikely to wind up making an impact for fantasy purposes, but it’s notable that he’s finally arrived in the big leagues after all these years.

Whitley, a former top prospect and first round selection in the 2016 MLB Draft, will finally get his first taste of the majors. The 26-year-old has dealt with multiple injuries during his career which included Tommy John surgery in 2021. He also missed several months with a lat strain during the 2023 season while with Triple-A Sugar Land. Whitley will get work as a reliever for a Houston’s bullpen that has been worked more than they would like in the early portion of the season.