The Houston Astros have once again had to erase a minor-league move after learning a pitcher was hurt, and this time it’s right-hander Mike Burrows.
Burrows was placed on the major-league 15-day injured list Monday with what the club called right elbow neuritis. Houston did not offer a timetable for his return or any further detail on the injury. The Florida Orthopedic Institute says neuritis can be inflammation or compression of the ulnar nerve.
Burrows had been sent to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, but that assignment will now be nullified, with his injured list clock starting from that date instead. He cannot be activated until July 22.
The injury does not change the Astros’ trade deadline priorities - they are still focused on adding a left-handed outfield bat - though it could sharpen the need for pitching help. At minimum, Burrows had been the kind of arm who could have provided rotation depth if he found the right fixes at Triple-A.
That possibility looked remote after a rough run in Houston. Burrows posted a 5.99 ERA in 94 2/3 innings, spent a short stretch in the bullpen for a “breather” and gave up 21 home runs in 18 appearances. His worst outing came July 6 against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, when he lost a five-run lead and allowed 10 runs.
Burrows was one of Dana Brown’s biggest offseason swings. In December, Brown sent two highly regarded prospects, right-hander Anderson Brito and outfielder Jacob Melton, to the Astros in a three-team deal involving the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays. At the time, Brown said Burrows could become a future pillar of Houston’s rotation.
When Burrows was optioned last week, Brown said: “It’s difficult because we feel like he’s a big part of our future. But we have to get more action in the (strike) zone to his stuff.” Brown also pointed to “uncharted territory” for Burrows, who has never thrown more than 128 1/3 innings in his professional career.
After that start against Washington, Burrows was asked about the workload and said: “I actually feel good. I know I’ve thrown a good amount of innings, but I feel good at this point. Nothing bad to say about that.”
There’s a clear parallel here with Kai-Wei Teng, another Brown offseason pickup who was demoted last month. Teng, like Burrows, was on pace to blow past his previous career high in innings, and manager Joe Espada said the club sent him down partly to manage that workload.
Three days after Teng’s demotion, Houston nullified his option and put him on the injured list with a right knee sprain. Espada said the team learned of the injury after the demotion and that it would not affect Teng’s throwing program. Teng is now at the team’s complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., working through rehab.
Burrows’ case may not be as simple, though, because the injury involves his arm.
It also adds to a troubling pattern for Brown’s offseason pitching haul. Four of his six major-league pitching additions - Burrows, Teng, Tatsuya Imai and Nate Pearson - have spent time on the injured list.
The other two, Ryan Weiss and Roddery Muñoz, were designated for assignment and are no longer on the Astros’ 40-man roster. Collectively, that group has a 5.73 ERA in 260 2/3 major-league innings.
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