Yordan Alvarez 'very close' to returning to Astros - Houston Chronicle

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Yordan Alvarez’s return appears imminent.

Alvarez is “very close” to returning to the major league team, manager Dusty Baker said on Wednesday, intimating the reigning American League Rookie of the Year could be back “in a couple days.”

Alvarez is working out at the Astros’ alternate training site in Corpus Christi. He was cleared to resume baseball activities on July 23 and remains on the injured list for undisclosed reasons. Baker and general manager James Click said Alvarez had “a condition that prevented him from reporting to the field.”

Alvarez’s return could afford the Astros lineup the jolt it so desperately needs. The offense remains reeling in the wake of George Springer’s wrist injury and Jose Altuve’s continued ineffectiveness.

“I think with him in the lineup, a lot of things can happen,” said Springer, who returned to the starting lineup on Wednesday. “All of us got a pretty good glimpse at the stuff he could do last year. He’s a very, very impactful bat. To have a guy in there like that, hopefully that can lengthen out the lineup a little bit and add a spark or two.”

Alvarez took four plate appearances in an intrasquad game at Whataburger Field on Wednesday. He’s received 19 plate appearances since the team started intrasquad games last weekend. Alvarez has five doubles and a home run.

When Alvarez does return, Baker does not envision playing him on defense. Alvarez started nine games in left field last season, but dealt with persistent knee pain that lingered all season and into spring training. Alvarez ran the bases during Wednesday’s game at Whataburger Field.

Alvarez’s return will send Michael Brantley back to left field — though that doesn’t arrive without trepidation. Brantley is still recovering from a quad strain suffered against the Dodgers last month.

“We tried to have Yordan play the field in spring training and his knees got sore and he couldn’t play for a couple days,” Baker said. “That’s why we got to try to get Michael back well enough for him to play the field.”

Brantley’s soreness, coupled with Alvarez’s absence, has made him the team’s everyday designated hitter. Baker acknowledged on Wednesday he “doesn’t know” when Brantley may be healthy enough to play left field again.

Wednesday, he was not. Springer started at designated hitter and Brantley sat the bench. Baker was hopeful that with the scheduled off day on Thursday, consecutive rest days could help Brantley.

“We’re exchanging one guy with a bad hand for a guy with a bad leg,” Baker said.

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