Could this be pitcher Lance McCullers Jr.’s last season with the Houston Astros, or even the final season of his Major League career?
Lance McCullers Jr. has been with the Astros longer than almost anyone in the organization. The 2026 season will mark his 12th season in Houston, just behind Jose Altuve, who will be entering his 15th season with the team.
While McCullers Jr. has not flat-out said this will be his final season, the 32-year-old has made remarks that allude to that possibility.
Even if he does retire sooner than fans would like, he will always be known as an Astros superstar. He is the second-longest tenured player with the Astros, right behind Jose Altuve. He was part of the golden era, making the playoffs eight consecutive years, and McCullers has seen the beginning of the Astros "Golden Era," making the playoffs in 2015 for the first time in a decade, and has been a major contributor in their 2017 and 2022 World Series runs. His consistency and ability to perform in high-pressure situations have made him a trusted arm in the Astros rotation for over a decade.
However, this Astros star has faced battle after battle with injuries, including 2018 Tommy John surgery, a flexor strain sustained in the 2021 postseason that carried into most of the 2022 regular season, and 2023-2024 surgery for a torn flexor tendon and bone spurs.