Jul 24, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros third baseman Luis Valbuena (18) celebrates with second baseman Jose Altuve (27) after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Houston Astros third baseman Luis Valbuena will undergo surgery to repair a right hamstring tendon and will miss the remainder of the season, manager A.J. Hinch announced Tuesday.
Rookie Alex Bregman has overcome a sluggish start and stepped up in the absence of Valbuena, who was been sidelined since July 26.
“(Valbuena) tried to play through it and see if he could rehab it,” Hinch said. “Turns out he couldn’t. Surgery is the next consideration, and he’ll miss the remainder of the season.”
Valbuena batted .260 with 13 homers and 40 RBIs in 90 games this season. The 30-year-old Venezuelan has hit .232 with 83 homers and 269 RBIs in 798 career contests with the Seattle Mariners, the Cleveland Indians, the Chicago Cubs and the Astros.
Bregman endured a rough start to his major league career before finding his rhythm at the plate. The 22-year-old rebounded from a 1-for-32 stretch in his first eight games to bat .312 with four home runs, 14 RBIs and 15 runs in his past 18 contests.
