Houston is breathing a sigh of relief. Josh Hader — the star pitcher who was brought back with a five-year, $95 million contract — has announced that his left shoulder is “back to normal,” after a serious injury that threatened his season and the future of the team.
Hader’s announcement came during a charity event: he participated in a gift-giving program for children in Houston through the “Hader’s Heart” initiative. There, he said bluntly:
“It should be normal. Obviously, the intensity gets up … but as of now, everything is status quo, back to normal.”
In other words: Hader claims to have overcome a “left shoulder nightmare” that few would have thought he could return to.
Hader’s 2025 season started like a dream: he posted a 2.05 ERA, blew 28 of his 29 saves, and hit just .158 against him.
However, on August 8, he pitched and then officially sat out with a left capsule sprain — the first time in his career he had to go on the injured list for an actual injury (not counting COVID-19).
When news of the injury spread, both Houston and MLB held their breath. Because if Hader didn’t return or was no longer the “opponent-killer” version of himself, the Astros would lose their last shield against the bullpen disaster.
Hader revealed that he had participated in the program to throw a few pitches, hitting speeds over 85 mph, doing sliders, change-ups, fastballs, making sure his shoulder could “carry the load.”
He said he hasn’t heard from the team about his multi-inning appearances, but he’s ready:
“For sure,” he said when asked if he’d be willing to pitch more than one inning.
For the Astros, this is a ray of light in a dark winter – if Hader is truly okay, the team can set big goals for next season. But the “everything is status quo” statement is still temporary: everything will depend on how well he recovers in Spring Training.
The announcement of Hader’s recovery has not only sent Astros fans into a frenzy, but also prompted the league to look back: a “never-ending” closer with a dream record is back. Durability has been Hader’s trademark since 2017 – only two relief pitchers have thrown more innings since then.
And more than that, this situation “inherits” the real sense of battle of sports: not just skills, not just contracts, but health – the game of oneself and the team.
Hader is no longer “new to” the Astros. The big contract has placed a huge responsibility on his shoulders: to be the nail in the decisive games. And now, after the injury, that chair is no longer secure if he does not prove it once again.
However, looking at his words and his public appearances with a clear message, fans have the right to believe:
With Hader declaring he is fine, the Astros can breathe a sigh of relief. But with Hader, the story is still just beginning: no longer just recovery — but a full “return” for a season worthy of the contract and expectations.
Everyone knows: in MLB, big icons are not only for their achievements — but for how they overcome dangerous moments. And Josh Hader is putting himself in that “moment.”
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