The Houston Astros have been missing one of their biggest bats in their lineup–Kyle Tucker. And for the longest time, the team was bent on saying that Tucker’s injury was a shin contusion, that simply was taking some time to heal. He has been on the outs since June, and this Tuesday marks his three months off the diamond. So does it take long for such injuries to heal? While recovering slowly from bone bruises is not unheard of, there has been a lack of clarity from the team’s end. The team on being asked about Tucker would give long timetables and unclear answers. But surprise, surprise- news of Tuckers came in!

Just last week news spread that Kyle Tucker would be making a comeback soon. Finally, the news all Astros fans were waiting for was happening — and they could put this incident behind them and charge toward the playoffs with Tucker. But wait, that was far from the truth! We are only now finding out that Tucker’s injury wasn’t a contusion but a fracture all along, as revealed by GM Dana Brown. 

Dana Brown opens up about Kyle Tucker’s injury

Kyle Tucker, the Astros’ star right fielder, fouled a ball off his shin on June 3 against the Cardinals and has been sidelined since. At first GM Dana Brown insisted that Tucker’s shin wasn’t fractured. However, in Monday’s statement to The Athletic, Dana Brown clarified saying, “After several rounds of medical imaging, we suspect there was some type of small fracture. As with all injuries of this type, once the fracture heals it takes time for the muscles around the leg to regain strength. Tuck has worked extremely hard to get back on the field and thankfully is ready now to help us in September and in the postseason.”

But according to Dana Brown, the team wasn’t being insidious—rather they couldn’t see the fracture in his scans. Only when the recovery took long and his symptoms didn’t ease that the team suspects that a small fracture did exist. However, ever since the information came out, rumors of how the team unnecessarily kept the matters close to the vest are going around. There is also some online chatter questioning the handling of the situation.

But now everything is plain and clear and Tucker is coming plack and it’s not like the team downplayed his injury and forced him to come back into the diamond. While the information might be muddy, they were standing right by Tucker, and that’s what’s most important. Moreover, Tucker himself cleared the air for everyone.

Tucker opens up about his injury

While Tucker’s agent and Astros manager Joe Espada has remained pretty tight-lipped regarding the entire ordeal, Kyle Tucker opened up about it on Monday that his injury was indeed a fracture. Tucker told Athletic, “After a little bit of time and continued imaging and stuff, after the swelling and everything kind of calmed down, it was revealed there was a little fracture in the shin. I just focused on my rehab process from there and trying to get back as quickly as possible.”

Tucker couldn’t say when the fracture was detected, though only that it was discovered after the swelling had gone down. Further, he explained that the first week after his injury was tough and he was on crutches and was then slated to start running by the end of June. But according to Tucker, right now the progress is quick, and he is taking live batting practice and intensifying running drills. And he is more than ready to be back. He said, “I think we did a pretty good job rehabbing it regardless. Timeframe-wise, it probably roughly would have been the same. Obviously, you never know, but it is what it was at the time. I think the rehab process has gone pretty well and I feel pretty good now. Just excited to get back out there.”

Tuesday marks Tucker’s three months off the diamond, but his focus is clear now—getting back on the field. And as free agency looms large for him next season, his return is not just important for Astros’ playoff push but also for his future contract negotiations.