RADIO
J.P. France Facing Live Hitters
Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) threw 20 pitches in a live batting practice session last Friday in Florida, which was his second such session since having surgery on his right shoulder last July to fix a torn capsule. France is making progress, but he still has a ways to go before potentially being an option for Houston's starting rotation in the second half of the year. The 30-year-old former 14th-round pick in 2018 out of Mississippi State just was never healthy in his five starts (25 1/3 innings) last year before being shut down, posting a 7.46 ERA and 1.69 WHIP with 22 strikeouts and 12 walks. France was much better in his first year in the big leagues in 2023 with a 3.83 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 24 outings (23 starts), but his 4.66 FIP shows that his surface stats were a bit fortunate. He'll be a big question mark when he returns later this season.
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
Source: The Athletic - Chandler Rome
