The Houston Astros returned to action over the weekend following the MLB All-Star break, and it's been mixed results since then, to say the least. The Astros kicked off the second half of the 2025 regular season by dropping two of three road games to the Seattle Mariners, leaving time to tell if the AL West division leaders can regain some momentum before this month's trade deadline.
One player who's been noticeably absent from manager Joe Espada's post-All-Star lineup is second baseman Brendan Rodgers. The 28-year-old hasn't suited up in over a month due to an oblique strain, and Astros fans are wondering when Rodgers will be healthy enough to rejoin his teammates after beginning rehab over the weekend.
Much to his dismay, though, Rodgers' already unfortunate situation just worsened.
Astros 2B Brendan Rodgers Exits 1st Rehab Game with Nasal Fracture, Concussion
Rodgers' comeback suffered a major setback during his rehab debut with Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday night. The former Gold Glove winner was forced to leave the contest in the third inning after colliding with teammate shortstop Edwin Diaz while attempting to field a ground ball.
On Saturday, Rodgers was diagnosed with a nasal fracture and concussion and was subsequently moved to the 60-day injured list, according to Astros reporter Michael Schwab.
Brendan Rodgers left his rehab outing with Sugar Land today following a collision with shortstop Edwin Diaz. He was able to walk off the field under his own power. #Astros pic.twitter.com/rhtELxmegv
— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) July 19, 2025
Rodgers' latest injury update is just another bump in a season that's been filled with them. Whether or not he can return to the Astros' lineup in time to contribute to the club's playoff push remains to be seen.
The third overall pick of the 2015 draft, Rodgers spent nearly a decade with the Colorado Rockies before signing a minor-league contract with the Astros in February. He was promoted to an MLB contract before Opening Day; however, there hasn't been much to celebrate since then.
Between being benched and injured, Rodgers has only suited up in 43 of the Astros' first 99 games. The Winter Park, FL native has struggled to produce whenever he's been active, slashing just .191/.266/.278 with two home runs, 11 RBIs, and 11 walks. His 35.9% strikeout rate is significantly above the big-league average (22.7%), while 0.3 defensive WAR is nowhere close to matching his Gold Glove campaign in 2022 (2.9).
It'll be interesting to see what the future holds for Rodgers. Between his offensive and defensive shortcomings, it wouldn't be shocking if the Astros looked to replace him with a more reliable infielder presence, either via free agency or the trade market.
Depending on how long the Astros expect him to be out for, a Rodgers replacement might be heading to Houston sooner rather than later.