Houston Astros pitcher Forrest Whitley was the 17th overall pick (first-round selection) in the 2016 MLB Draft. The 27-year-old pitcher has been plagued by injuries throughout his career.
Whitley is also scheduled to make a rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday night. He is currently recovering from a left knee sprain. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 27. Whitley was on the injured list earlier in the 2025 MLB season with a left knee bone bruise. The Astros’ starting pitcher opened up about his struggles with his injuries during his MLB career.
Houston Astros Pitcher Forrest Whitley Talks About Injury History
The former first-round pick has had an issue with injuries throughout his baseball career, including the 2025 MLB season. He has only pitched in one game for the Astros. He has pitched in only two innings, allowed no hits, and struck out two batters. His WHIP is 0.00. The only team he pitched against was the Toronto Blue Jays on April 21.
Chandler Rome of The Athletic talked to Whitley about his injury history. Whitley said, “The honest answer to that is it’s embarrassing.” The injuries have taken a toll on his baseball career.
Rome also reported about Whitley’s baseball journey, “Now, after nine years of never-ending misfortune, Whitley is nearing a place of peace. Maturation and marriage have helped. Whitley’s wife, Courtney, has been a constant companion since his professional career began.
She “knows the key words, key phrases, the key things to do to calm me down,” he said. “And she has pretty much nailed everything since we’ve been together.”
One of Courtney’s most common refrains to her husband: “Bear down, break through it, take it day by day, hour by hour.”
Whitley also said to the media, “Otherwise, give up the game. That was just never an option for me. Still isn’t an option. I feel like guys in my position that keep going feel like they have stuff to give back to the game, and I still very much feel that way.” At one time, he was rated as one of the best pitching prospects in the MLB. During the 2019 season, it felt like Whitley at some point was going to become the Astros’ ace.
However, he did not reach the MLB level until the 2024 season. Whitley only pitched in three games for the Astros during the 2024 season. In that time, he pitched 3.1 innings and gave up five hits and two runs. Whitley also walked three batters and struck out five batters. His WHIP was 2.40.
With his injury history, he is out of minor-league options, and there is a case that Whitley does not finish the 2025 MLB season with Houston and that he could finish it with a different organization. Whitley said, “It’s impossible not to think about. I kind of viewed this year as the last chance, so when I’m on the field, I really got to make it happen.”
It is a shame what has transpired through Whitley’s career. Hopefully, his rehab progress can go well for the Astros, and he will be able to pitch at the MLB level for Houston for the remainder of the 2025 MLB season.