Astros Relievers Hader and De Los Santos Dealing with Injuries

Key bullpen arms face setbacks as spring training continues

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Houston Astros relievers Josh Hader and Enyel De Los Santos are both dealing with injury concerns during spring training. Hader has a biceps issue, while De Los Santos has a knee injury. The Astros will need both pitchers healthy to find success in the 2026 season after missing the playoffs in 2025.

Why it matters

The Astros have been one of the best teams in baseball over the past decade, but injuries and underperformance led to them missing the playoffs in 2025. Hader and De Los Santos are key bullpen pieces, so their health will be crucial to the team's chances of bouncing back in 2026.

The details

According to Astros manager Joe Espada, both Hader and De Los Santos will throw bullpen sessions on Tuesday, an encouraging sign in their recovery process. Hader, 31, is one of the top closers in MLB, while the 30-year-old De Los Santos joined the Astros in 2025 and appeared in 22 games out of the bullpen.

  • On Tuesday, Hader and De Los Santos will throw bullpen sessions.

The players

Josh Hader

A 31-year-old relief pitcher and one of the best closers in MLB. He pitched well but was limited by injury in 2025, recording a 2.05 ERA and 28 saves.

Enyel De Los Santos

A 30-year-old relief pitcher who joined the Astros in 2025 and appeared in 22 games, posting a 4.03 ERA.

Joe Espada

The manager of the Houston Astros.

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What they’re saying

“Both relievers will throw bullpens on Tuesday, an encouraging update amid the pitchers' injury recoveries.”

— Joe Espada, Astros Manager (MLB.com)

What’s next

The Astros will continue to monitor and provide updates on Josh Hader and Enyel De Los Santos' injury statuses as they become available.

The takeaway

The health of the Astros' bullpen, particularly key relievers like Hader and De Los Santos, will be crucial to the team's chances of bouncing back and returning to the playoffs in 2026 after missing out in 2025.