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The Houston Astros reinstated outfielder Kyle Tucker from the 60-day injured list on Friday, three-plus months after suffering an injury that turned out to be a small fracture in his right shin.
In corresponding roster moves, the Astros optioned infielder Zach Dezenzo to Triple-A Sugar Land and designated left-hander Parker Mushinski for assignment.
An All-Star in each of the past three seasons, Tucker has been out of action since June 3, when he fouled a ball off the shin. On Monday, he revealed to reporters that although he was listed on the IL with a shin contusion, he had actually sustained a small fracture.
After ramping up during training this week, Tucker will be back in the lineup Friday in time for the Astros’ opener of a three-game home series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“It’s just kind of day to day to see how he feels,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “But it’s not going to be like pencil him in days in a row, we’re just going to have to wait and see how he feels.”
Espada was asked what he expects from Tucker when he does play right field.
“Defensively we don’t know yet until he goes out there, but running you’ll see 75-80%,” he said.
Tucker, 27, was batting .266 with 19 home runs and 40 RBIs in 60 games before the injury. In 615 career games for Houston since making his debut in 2018, Tucker is a career .272 hitter with 121 homers, 133 doubles and 408 RBIs.
Dezenzo, 24, made his major league debut Aug. 6 and went 11-for-52 (.212) with one home run and six RBIs in 17 games.
Mushinski, 28, had a 6.55 ERA through 10 relief appearances this season. He has a career 5.45 ERA with no decisions, 26 strikeouts and 12 walks through 31 games (33 innings) since debuting in 2022.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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