Astros slugger Alvarez is 'moving in the right direction' as he continues to recover from his hand injury.

Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez took a small step forward in his recovery from a right hand fracture on Tuesday, as he participated in light toss drills in the batting cage and continued his days-long practice with the batting tee. He mentioned that his current swing strength is at 60-65%, but the timeline for his return remains uncertain.

Alvarez, who has been sidelined since May 3 and faced setbacks in his recovery in early July, stated that his hand "feels really good" and is "moving in the right direction." Nevertheless, the Astros are maintaining a cautious long-term approach regarding Alvarez's hand injury, hoping he won't have a recurrence upon his return.

“We are being careful with the whole situation, and we will determine a return date only after reaching optimal condition,” Alvarez said before the first game of the series against the Diamondbacks today.

Alvarez is one of 16 players on the Astros' injured list, including five who were in the starting lineup on Opening Day. All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes was placed on the injured list on Sunday due to a hamstring strain he suffered while running to first base in Seattle the night before.

Manager Joe Espada stated that All-Star shortstop Jeremy Peña, who suffered a rib fracture from being hit by a pitch on June 28, is "very close" to starting live batting practice in Florida in the coming days. If all goes well, he could return before Alvarez.

“It’s no secret that I’ve been out for over two months, but we want to avoid rushing things,” Alvarez said. “The situation with my hand is delicate. It’s frustrating, but we are taking a wise approach to the rehab process—that’s the most important part that will help me return to the field.”

Alvarez received two injections in his hand on July 3 to reduce inflammation and reported today that his hand is responding well. The team revealed that he has undergone multiple injections during this season of injury. Alvarez has ruled out the possibility of surgery.

“I need to rest,” he said. “I need to get back on the field, and right now, the rehab direction is correct.”

Alvarez participated in batting practice at the park on June 29 and went to West Palm Beach, Florida, for live hitting to enhance his recovery on June 3. After trying to swing without a ball on July 1, he experienced increased hand pain when he visited the training facility on July 2, prompting him to seek consultation from a hand specialist.

Alvarez stated that he injured his hand while swinging in a game at the end of April, but he continued to play through the pain due to a history of similar injuries. He was removed from the starting lineup before the game against the White Sox on May 4 and was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 6 (later transferred to the 60-day list on July 18).

An initial MRI on May 7 diagnosed him with a right hand muscle strain. Swelling and inflammation in his hand prevented the team from detecting a fracture in the fourth metacarpal. On June 1, the team announced that Alvarez had a fracture with a healing rate of 60%, referred to as a "minor crack."

This injury has impacted his batting statistics (.210/.306/.340), with just 3 home runs and 18 RBIs in 121 plate appearances. While the Astros currently sit atop the AL West standings, they still hope Alvarez can return during the stretch run of the season.