Houston Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco will have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow next week and will miss the remainder of the 2025 season, manager Joe Espada said Wednesday.
The starter had sought a second opinion after being placed on the injured list last week with inflammation in the elbow. He last pitched on May 17.
The Astros said the 31-year-old Blanco — who is 3-4 with a 4.10 ERA, 48 strikeouts and 20 walks in nine starts this season — is anticipated to return at some point during the 2026 season.
“I know how hard he’s worked to get to this point and it stinks,” Espada said. “So the goal is now to get him healthy, get him back at some point next season.”
Espada said it’s a trying time for the Astros, who have a long list of starting pitchers on the injured list for the Astros. Right-hander Hayden Wesneski underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery last week, while right-hander Spencer Arrighetti has been out since April after breaking his right thumb in a batting practice mishap.
Houston is also without right-handers Luis Garcia and Cristian Javier, who are both still recovering from Tommy John surgery.
“It’s very, very hard,” Espada said. “We went through it last year. But as a team and as a leader of this team, I got to keep these guys focused on the goal … and this news means we’ve got to pick each other up and we’ve got to find someone else. Somebody will come up and step up and pick these innings up.”
Blanco is in his fourth major league season, all with the Astros. In 2024, he finished 13-6 with a 2.80 ERA in 30 games (29 starts). He threw his only career complete game in his season debut on April 1, no-hitting the Toronto Blue Jays in a 10-0 win.
The Associated Press and Field Level Media contributed to this report.
