Despite the new first baseman's optimism about his injury, Houston is sending him home for more medical tests.

Owner Jim Crane commented that Smith “could make the ballclub this year at some point." That point could come sooner than expected.

As the Houston Astros try to regain their place as the American League’s most dominant team in 2025, they suffered what could be, according to the Houston Chronicle, “a major blow” to that goal on Wednesday when the biggest free agent acquisition of their offseason went down with an injury — one that he’d suffered

The Astros can’t afford to lose Walker, who signed a three-year, $60 million contract in December. The three-time Gold Glove winner averaged 32 home runs, 94 RBI, and a .813 OPS for the Arizona Diamondbacks the last three years.