During Wednesday’s game between the Astros and the Athletics, Houston first-baseman Christian Walker left the game after being hit by a pitch in the hand earlier in the game by Athletics starter Luis Severino.
Mauricio Dubón is pinch hitting for Christian Walker, who was hit on the right hand with a 96 mph fastball earlier in the game.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) May 28, 2025
The injury already doesn’t appear too serious; Walker stayed on the bases and came around to score after he took first. We’ll get an injury update after the game, but it wouldn’t be surprising if this is precautionary.
Houston’s marquee offseason acquisition, is starting to show some value with his bat, but his defense has yet to meet expectations. Despite winning three Gold Gloves, his defensive performance has been rather average. Walker is tied for eighth among all first basemen with just one out above average (OAA), while Matt Olson leads MLB with five OAA. Last season, Walker finished atop the National League in OAA (13), and in 2023, he led all first basemen.
Walker’s current -1 DRS has him tied for 14th, trailing Olson’s 12 DRS. While the Astros rank second in MLB with 18 OAA, they sit 18th in DRS. Walker’s defense has not yet lived up to the high standards expected when he was signed, especially given his impressive offensive numbers.
We will update his status as soon as we know more.
