Overview
- Hader completed his offseason throwing program and logged a few mound sessions, reaching just over 85 mph before pausing to rest.
- General manager Dana Brown has said the club expects no surgery and was hopeful for Opening Day, though game-readiness will be determined in March.
- Before the injury, Hader delivered a 2.05 ERA with 28 saves in 29 chances and earned a sixth All-Star nod.
- Hader said usage has not been set but he remains open to multi-inning outings after expanding his workload the past two seasons.
- Houston’s late-season slide without Hader pressed Bryan Abreu into closing and exposed bullpen depth concerns that the front office still needs to address.