Lance McCullers Jr. Returns to Mound After Over Two-Year Injury Layoff

The Astros pitcher threw a scoreless inning in a spring training game, marking a key milestone in his recovery from multiple surgeries and setbacks.

Lance McCullers Jr. pitched for the first time in 868 days, throwing a scoreless inning against the Nationals in a spring training game.
The 31-year-old underwent surgery in 2023 to repair his flexor tendon and remove a bone spur, requiring a 15-month recovery period.
McCullers expressed doubts about ever pitching again during his recovery but credited his family and teammates for their support and motivation.
Astros manager Joe Espada and pitching coach Josh Miller praised McCullers' progress and anticipate his contributions to the team later this season.
McCullers plans to start the season on a minor-league rehab assignment, estimating at least five more starts to build his pitch count before rejoining the Astros' rotation.