For a few tense minutes in Florida, Astros fans feared history was repeating itself.
Houston Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai (45) | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Tatsuya Imai — Houston’s prized offseason pitching addition — was struck on the right shin by a 99 mph comebacker off the bat of Marcus Semien during the first inning of his Grapefruit League debut against the Mets. The deflection allowed Semien to reach base, and Imai briefly remained in the game before finishing the inning.
Then he was pulled after just 10 pitches.
Given how injuries ravaged Houston’s rotation in 2025, the optics were alarming.
But early indications suggest the Astros avoided a worst-case scenario.
Reporters caught up with Imai midgame, and the right-hander explained through an interpreter that one inning was always the plan. “Yeah, even before I went in, I knew I was going to do just one inning,” he said.
That clarification matters.
While other Astros starters like Hunter Brown and Mike Burrows logged two innings in their spring outings, pitch counts and workload schedules vary early in camp. Jason Alexander exited after two-thirds of an inning — though in his case, performance dictated the decision.
With Imai, the plan appears to have been precautionary from the start.
Still, Houston’s anxiety is understandable.
Last season’s pitching injuries derailed the club’s postseason hopes, forcing the front office to scramble for depth. Even after adding Imai and Burrows this winter, the Astros’ rotation doesn’t have the luxury of absorbing another early setback.
Imai is expected to play a significant role in 2026. Whether as a co-anchor behind Hunter Brown or as part of a flexible six-man rotation, he represents a critical piece of Houston’s rebound ambitions.
A leg bruise in late February may ultimately prove minor.
But for a fan base still scarred by last year’s injury wave, even a routine comebacker can feel ominous.
For now, the Astros will monitor Imai closely over the next few days. If he resumes throwing without issue, the scare will fade quickly.
Until then, Houston is holding its breath — hoping this was just a spring training reminder of how fragile pitching depth can be.
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