Josh Hader's arm has been monitored from the beginning of Spring Training. He was throwing from flat ground and was not showing signs of improvement. However, things are looking up for the closer.
There is now some positive momentum in his recovery, and Hader recently threw his first bullpen session of camp. The outing marked an important step forward after weeks of limited throwing activity.
Hader is currently dealing with left biceps inflammation and tendinitis that surfaced during offseason workouts. After the bullpen session, the velocity and movement on his pitches looked good, and the outing was a positive sign in his recovery process.
The Astros will likely take a cautious approach with the veteran reliever as Spring Training continues. With Opening Day approaching, rushing Hader to the mound is not the right move; making sure he is fully healthy is key.
Hader is coming off a strong 2025 season in which he appeared in 48 games and was a key piece of the Astros bullpen.
In 2025, Hader posted a 2.05 ERA with 76 strikeouts over 52⅔ innings, continuing to show why he has been one of baseball’s most dominant late-inning relievers, per MLB.
His ability to lock down the ninth inning has been a major asset for Houston, and the team will be hoping he can return to full strength before the regular season begins.
While Hader’s latest bullpen session is an encouraging step, his availability for Opening Day remains uncertain as the Astros continue to monitor his progress.