Astros' Tatsuya Imai impresses in live BP, Paredes celebrates birthday

Imai feels at home in first MLB live batting practice, while Paredes' future with Astros remains uncertain

Feb. 20, 2026 at 9:40pm

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Tatsuya Imai, a Japanese pitcher in his first spring training with the Houston Astros, impressed in his first live batting practice session, facing stars like Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa. Meanwhile, infielder Isaac Paredes celebrated his 27th birthday with the team, despite ongoing trade rumors surrounding his future with the club.

Why it matters

Imai's successful transition to the major leagues is crucial for the Astros' pitching depth, while Paredes' uncertain status highlights the challenges of roster management for a team with an infield surplus.

The details

Imai acknowledged being nervous before facing Altuve and the other Astros hitters, but he settled in and impressed with his fastball and slider. Pitching coach Josh Miller said Imai looked 'at ease on the mound' and 'natural.' Meanwhile, Paredes, one of two Mexican players on the Astros' roster, had a birthday celebration in the clubhouse, complete with a mariachi band performance, despite ongoing trade discussions surrounding his future with the team.

  • Imai threw his first live batting practice session on Friday.
  • Paredes celebrated his 27th birthday on Wednesday.

The players

Tatsuya Imai

A Japanese pitcher making his first spring training appearance with the Houston Astros.

Jose Altuve

A star infielder for the Houston Astros.

Carlos Correa

A star infielder for the Houston Astros.

Isaac Paredes

An infielder for the Houston Astros who is the subject of trade rumors.

Josh Miller

The pitching coach for the Houston Astros.

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What they’re saying

“As soon as I started facing Jose, I was like, 'Oh shoot, I'm actually in the big leagues.'”

— Tatsuya Imai

“The split is the pitch (that) I was like, 'Wow, that's going to play big time.' It blends in with the fastball real well. It comes out hard and (when) it's time to make a decision, it just drops down.”

— Carlos Correa

“He's making himself feel right at home.”

— Carlos Correa

What’s next

The Astros plan to hold a 'goals meeting' with Imai soon to discuss potential tweaks or changes to his pitching approach.

The takeaway

Imai's successful transition to the major leagues and Paredes' uncertain future with the Astros highlight the challenges and opportunities facing the team as they look to defend their World Series title. The Astros' focus on player development and roster management will be crucial in the coming season.