Astros Rookie Pitcher Imai Sent Back to Houston with Arm Fatigue

Imai struggled in his third start, lasting just one out and allowing three runs before being pulled.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:11am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the motion of a baseball pitcher's throwing arm, with sharp planes of navy, crimson, and gold colors conveying the physical intensity of the sport.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the physical strain of a young pitcher's arm as he struggles with fatigue on the mound.Seattle Today

The Houston Astros have sent rookie pitcher Tatsuya Imai back to Houston to be examined by team doctors after he experienced right arm fatigue following his start against the Seattle Mariners on Friday. Imai, a 27-year-old right-hander, signed a $54 million, three-year contract with the Astros in the offseason but has struggled in his first three MLB starts, posting a 7.27 ERA.

Why it matters

The Astros have already placed two other pitchers, Hunter Brown and Cristian Javier, on the injured list due to shoulder issues, so Imai's arm fatigue is an additional concern for the team's pitching depth early in the season.

The details

In Friday's 9-6 loss to the Mariners, Imai recorded just one out while allowing three runs on one hit, three walks, and a hit batter. He threw 37 pitches before being pulled from the game. Astros manager Luis Espada said Imai mentioned the arm fatigue to trainers after speaking with reporters following the game.

  • On April 11, 2026, Imai struggled in his third start of the season against the Seattle Mariners.
  • The Astros placed Imai on a flight back to Houston on April 12, 2026 to be examined by team doctors.

The players

Tatsuya Imai

A 27-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Houston Astros who signed a $54 million, three-year contract in the offseason.

Luis Espada

The manager of the Houston Astros.

Hunter Brown

A right-handed pitcher for the Houston Astros who was placed on the 15-day injured list last Sunday due to a right shoulder strain.

Cristian Javier

A right-handed pitcher for the Houston Astros who was placed on the injured list on Friday due to a similar shoulder ailment as Hunter Brown.

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What they’re saying

“Yesterday, he expressed some arm fatigue, so once we heard that we decided to just send him home to be seen by our doctors.”

— Luis Espada, Manager, Houston Astros

“Hopefully there is nothing wrong. Just not good news.”

— Luis Espada, Manager, Houston Astros

What’s next

The Astros will wait for the results of Imai's examination by team doctors in Houston to determine the next steps for the rookie pitcher.

The takeaway

Imai's arm fatigue is the latest injury concern for the Astros' pitching staff, which has already seen two other pitchers land on the injured list. The team will need to closely monitor Imai's condition and determine if he requires further rest or treatment to address the issue before he can return to the mound.