Astros manager Joe Espada confirmed Wednesday that Hader will begin the season on the injured list.
The positive momentum on Josh Hader's shoulder recovery process was short-lived. He is now officially set to start the 2026 season on the injured list, a disappointing result for both the team and the player.
The Astros had hoped the veteran closer would be ready to anchor the bullpen when the regular season began, but unfortunately, someone else will have to step up to close out the game.
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 were looking up for the closer after his first bullpen session.
However, it is better to miss a few games than to further exacerbate the injury and miss a chunk of the season. Not rushing him back to the mound and making sure he is 100% healthy is more important in the long term.
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.
However, as predicted, the Astros are taking a cautious approach, and he will be on the injured list for Opening Day.
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 EPSN.
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.
With Hader out indefinitely, Bryan Abreu is expected to handle closing duties until Hader returns. Abreu has become one of Houston’s most reliable late-inning relievers. His high-velocity fastball and sharp breaking pitches generate strikeouts in key moments.
As of now, there is no official return date, but the focus remains on building his arm strength gradually as the regular season approaches. While he may not be ready for Opening Day, hopefully, the clutch closer will be back on the mound sooner rather than later.