Josh Hader gives Astros fans a little hope about his return to the mound

Josh Hader is dealing with a shoulder issue, which he said he knew was coming the day after a recent outing. The Houston Astros will now have to survive without him, but the team won’t have to wait until next season for his return.

According to a report from Brian McTaggart, Hader is already working on his shoulder, giving Astros fans hope for a possible return for the postseason. This is news that could lift the spirits of not only the fans but his teammates as well.

“Josh Hader said it would take him three weeks to build up after not throwing for the next three weeks, so don’t expect to see him in the regular season. Playoffs remain a possibility,” McTaggart reported on X.

When Was Hader Injured?

Hader explained that his recent shoulder soreness stemmed from a high-intensity 28-pitch outing against the Yankees on August 8. While he initially felt good when throwing again on Sunday, his body failed to recover properly, which led him to seek medical attention.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 08: Josh Hader #71 of the Houston Astros pitches during the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 08, 2025 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

“I threw 28 pretty intense pitches that second inning [in New York],” Hader said. “So when I woke up the next day, I knew for a fact that I’m going to feel sore. So I got in on Sunday, started throwing and felt good. Sunday I got warmed up, and the next day just still didn’t recover very well.”

So far this season, Hader has a 6-2 record, making him a very efficient closer for the Astros, who will now have to find a temporary replacement. He holds a 2.05 ERA and has pitched 52.2 innings over 48 games.

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