Ronel Blanco’s breakout season ends with Tommy John surgery!
Another domino has fallen for the Astros’ rotation. Ronel Blanco, one of the more unexpected breakout arms, will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery, Houston announced on Wednesday. It’s a brutal blow to a team just 0.5 games behind the Seattle Mariners in the AL West, now down another trusted starter as they chase a division crown.
Ronel Blanco, who posted a 4.10 ERA across nine starts this season, sought a second opinion after experiencing elbow discomfort earlier this month. That exam confirmed what the Astros feared, his year is done. The surgery is scheduled for next week.
It’s a cruel twist for Blanco, a 31-year-old who began his pro career as a $5,000 signing out of the Dominican Republic while washing cars, and who didn’t secure a rotation spot until this year. He exploded out of the gate in 2024, throwing a no-hitter in his first start and finishing second to Tarik Skubal in ERA among AL starters last season with a 2.80 mark across 167 1/3 innings.
That breakout, however, came at a cost. Pairing Blanco’s workload with Spencer Arrighetti’s 145 innings last year, the Astros have now lost over 300 innings worth of rotation stability. And while Arrighetti is recovering from a fractured thumb and has resumed playing catch, he’s still at least a month away.
Manager Joe Espada remains hopeful that Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, or J.P. France might return after the All-Star break, but each of them is rehabbing from a major surgery or significant injury. Even then, “hopeful” is doing a lot of lifting.
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Houston has been forced to lean hard on organizational depth. Lefties Colton Gordon and Ryan Gusto remain in the rotation, while AJ Blubaugh and Brandon Walter have already bounced between the big-league club and Triple-A Sugar Land. With few appealing options left internally, general manager Dana Brown may need to act fast at the trade deadline to bolster the rotation.
Here are three names that could realistically fit both the Astros’ needs and trade profile:
Dean Kremer, Orioles
Baltimore hasn’t exactly taken off this year, and with rotation help like Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells on the way back, Dean Kremer might be the odd man out. The 29-year-old righty hasn’t had his best season (5.02 ERA), but he threw over 150 innings in each of the last two years with mid-4.00s ERAs. That’s the kind of durable middle-rotation piece the Astros need, and they’ve had success in the past with arms who needed a fresh start.
Andrew Heaney, Pirates
Heaney’s been a pleasant surprise in Pittsburgh, carrying a 3.41 ERA and 1.22 WHIP through his first 10 starts. He’s not blowing anyone away with velocity, and the peripherals hint at some regression, but he’s missing bats and limiting damage. Houston could use a steady lefty, and Heaney’s playoff experience with the Rangers last year (11 IP, 3 starts) gives him added appeal.
Zack Littell, Rays
Littell has quietly been one of the more consistent arms in the Rays’ patchwork rotation. His 3.97 ERA and elite 1.08 WHIP are backed by solid command and a deep pitch mix. Tampa Bay always listens on its arms, especially if a contender like Houston comes calling. Littell could slide in as a reliable fourth starter for the rest of the year, and maybe beyond.
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Injuries have tested Houston Astros entire 2025 campaign, and this one may sting a little more than the rest. How will they make up for Ronel Blanco’s absence? How much will they be willing to spend at the trade deadline table?
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