In early July of the 2024 season, Houston Astros pitcher J.P. France was placed on the IL. Tests revealed that the hard-throwing righty had torn a right shoulder capsule and would need surgery to help fix the issue.
The surgery was quite costly, resulting in him missing the remainder of the 2024 season and a significant portion of the 2025 season as well. He has been busy rehabbing this year in hopes of returning to the mound and helping his club maintain its first-place status in the American League West.
That time has now come as Houston has activated him from the IL. However, he will not immediately help the big-league club. They have decided to option him to Triple-A Sugar Land to provide depth, via The Athletic’s Chandler Rome.
This is not all bad news for France. According to Rome, he will work out of the bullpen to prepare him for a possible role with the big-league club. They do not want to rush him up, especially with the uncertainty regarding Josh Hader’s status this season.
J.P. France has work to do before the Astros can confidently call him up
J.P. France has struggled a bit during his rehab starts. He does not have the level of control he would like, posting 15 strikeouts while walking 13 batters and plunking two.
During his two-year career thus far, he has only hit three batters. France will have to tighten up his control in Triple-A if he wants to get out of the minors this season.
