How Concerning is Yordan Alvarez's Lingering Hand Soreness?

Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez is reportedly still dealing with soreness in his left hand, roughly three-and-a-half months after the team clinched its second World Series title in the last six years.

Manager Dusty Baker downplayed the issue when talking to reporters Tuesday, saying the team doctors told Alvarez he did not need surgery and the team has six weeks to get his hand right before the season starts.

Alvarez’s lingering soreness is concerning, but it’s tough to analyze without knowing the root cause of the issue, according to the Pro Baseball Docs.

The Astros managed Alvarez’s hand soreness last year through several trips to the 10-day IL. Unless the problem causing the soreness is discovered and addressed, that will likely continue to be the case, according to the Pro Baseball Docs.

The 25-year-old began dealing with hand issues as far back as June 2022. At the time, the Pro Baseball Docs detailed why there was worry for a stress reaction injury to his hamate bone.

By video, the injury appeared to be to his right hand. The recent news that the soreness is in his left hand is better, but still not ideal for a power hitter.

Typically, hook of the hamate bone fractures occur in the hitters’ bottom hand (which would be the right for Alvarez). 

Alvarez finished the season with a career-high 37 home runs in 135 games. He hit .204 in the postseason, with 3 home runs and 14 RBIs in 13 at bats.

Before his hand issues started in mid-June, he hit 18 home runs in 59 games. From the start of July through the end of the season, Alvarez hit 14 home runs in 68 games.

Houston Astros World Series Odds

The Astros are +600 to repeat as World Series champions, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

At +1200, Alvarez has the fifth-best odds to win AL MVP. He trails Shohei Ohtani (+220), Aaron Judge (+650), Mike Trout (+800) and Julio Rodriguez (+1000).