The Houston Astros had no choice but to put Forrest Whitley on the 15-day injury list (IL) as injuries once again haunt the former top prospect. Whitley has appeared in just one game this season, putting his total number of big-league appearances at four after he pitched in three games last season.
Astros Taking a Cautious Approach With Forrest Whitley
Houston’s manager, Joe Espada, pointed out that Whitley’s two injuries are likely linked. While he began the season on the IL due to a bone bruise in his left knee, he found himself on the IL due to a left knee sprain. Regardless, the organization will conduct more testing on Whitley to determine how long he’ll be out.
With both injuries likely being linked, it’s no surprise that they immediately shut Whitley down after he told the team of soreness during a throwing session on Saturday, April 26. At 27 years old, the former 17th overall draft pick has his work cut out for him. Whitley was drafted in 2016, but numerous injuries and a 50-game PED suspension have held him back from appearing in the big leagues.
Last season, Whitley made a big-league appearance in April and two more in September. His debut with the Astros on April 16 was not flawless, but he only gave up one hit in 0.2 innings of work, issuing a walk in the process. He would give up a pair of runs against the Cincinnati Reds in his last outing of the season, neither of which was earned.
Sporting a 0.00 ERA through his first four big-league appearances, walks have been an issue. Whitley walked one batter in all three games last season, but he didn’t walk anyone in his appearance last Monday, April 21. Whitley went a career-long two innings, throwing 32 pitches and striking out a pair. He didn’t give up a hit against the Blue Jays.
Whitley has a four-pitch arsenal, relying heavily on his sinker. The sinker is thrown 56.3% of the time, with an even mix of the slurve and curveball (18.8% each). His four-seamer is thrown just 6.3% of the time, but it clocks in at the same speed as his sinker. There is a large difference between his sinker (96.2mph) and his curveball (82.6mph). Those were the two pitches with which he recorded strikeouts in 2025.
Injuries have halted his big-league career, but Astros fans can’t ignore the numbers he was putting up in AAA. Last season, Whitley pitched 33.1 innings for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, coming out with a 4-1 record and 1.89 ERA. He finished his 2024 campaign with seven holds, giving up only seven earned runs. Opposing hitters hit just .203 against Whitley, who recorded a 45:15 strikeout-to-walk ratio.