The wait is over. Josh Hader is set to be activated from the injured list June 2 and will be back in the Astros bullpen.
The Astros have been dealing with countless injuries since the 2025 season. They can't seem to catch a break and are frequently losing key players. But this week brings some genuinely good news. The closer they have been missing all season is finally back.
Hader has been on the 60-day IL since the start of the season with left biceps tendinitis. He has not stepped on the big league mound since August 2025. After almost two months of rehabilitation across Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land, he is ready to return.
During his rehab he was dominant: six-plus innings, one run allowed, one walk, and nine strikeouts across seven appearances.
Bryan Abreu, who stepped up to fill the gap in the bullpen, has been struggling in the closer role. The bullpen has been one of the biggest weaknesses on the team and has undergone a lot of wear and tear due to the starters' struggles. Hader's return could not come at a better time.
When Hader was last healthy in 2025, he posted a 2.05 ERA with 28 saves in 52.2 innings, per MLB. Having Hader gone has been a major blow to the bullpen all season.
The Astros are currently on one of their best stretches of the season, winning seven of their last ten games. Adding Hader back into the mix gives this team a legitimate late-inning weapon at exactly the right time.
And it does not stop there. Hunter Brown is expected to return from his rehab assignment soon, Cristian Javier is scheduled to throw for Double-A Corpus Christi this week, and Jose Altuve is very close to facing live pitching. The Astros' pitching staff and lineup could look completely different by mid-June.
For a team that has been fighting through injuries all season, the cavalry is finally arriving. With Hader back in the bullpen and more reinforcements on the way, the Astros are starting to look like a completely different team. The only question is: can they keep up the momentum and utilize their key returning players?
