Astros infielder/outfielder Mauricio Dubon is slated to undergo surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb this week, reports Chandler Rome of The Athletic. Dubon played the final month of the season with the torn the ligament, Rome reports. The recovery period will be around six to eight weeks, leaving ample time for the versatile utilityman to be healed up by spring training.
Houston acquired the 30-year-old Dubon in a May 2022 trade that sent journeyman catcher Michael Papierski back to the Giants. He’s since emerged as a key role player for the ’Stros, hitting .274/.303/.388 in 920 plate appearances over the past two seasons while playing everywhere on the diamond other than on the mound or behind the plate. Rome notes that Dubon suffered the injury on a slide in early September but went on to hit .291/.322/.346 down the stretch while playing through considerable pain. Though he lacks power, Dubon is an exceptionally tough strikeout (12.9% this past season) and excels on the defensive side of the game, evidenced by a Gold Glove in 2023.
Dubon is arbitration-eligible this offseason and projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for a reasonable $4.6MM salary. That’ll stand as a raise over this year’s $3.5MM salary, which he earned after winning an arb hearing over the Astros back in February.
While injuries can at times be a catalyst for an arb-eligible player to be non-tendered, that’s highly unlikely in this instance. The Astros can control Dubon through the 2026 season, and there’s no reason to think the surgery will impact his readiness for the 2025 campaign. He should return to the same utility role that saw him log 93 innings at first base, 138 at second base, 75 at third base, 32 at shortstop, 405 in left field, 153 in center field and 88 in right field this past season. As a career .281/.324/.442 hitter against southpaws, he should also be a regular piece of Houston’s attack versus lefties (even if he had a down showing in that regard this past season).
SFBay314
Another casualty of the Kapler era.
Fred
Farhan made that deal because Dubon didn’t fit the profile. Instead we got Tommy La Stella.
talking baseball
When he was with the Giants, he made too many mental mistakes, on the bases and in the field.
old elpaso
However, physical skills (talent) is either present or not, but as players get more reps their mental mistakes should lessen.
wtfCheeseheadChuck
Remember the Crew calling him up and quickly flipping him to the giants in exchange for Ray Black who was throwing 100+mph, I think he had injuries but have to see what happened/turned out with his career as of now
Old York
Big blow to the Astros playoffs. Unfortunate.
Rick Pernell
Knowing the Astros, they will cheat and replace his thumb with an entire bionic arm.
coupofthecentury
@steven got ya there dicky p. Flags fly forever…
steven st croix
2 rings
408inthe619
Didn’t even bother to run to first when committing the final out of the Astros’ season. Bad attitude
Section 523
No.
Nuschler
Farhan letting Dubon go was a huge mistake. He is the prototypical swiss army knife who can play any position with Gold Glove caliber defense and he has an average bat and above average speed. He’ll play a long time as long as he has that skillset.
rhandome
Dubon hit .269/.296/.361 this year. He had one of the lowest OBP’s in baseball and hit four home runs. Not even close to an average bat.
SweetBabyRayKingsThickThighs
He’s Marwin Gonzalez pre trashcans
TerryTurnbuckle
If Dusty was still alive and managing this team they would be playing in today’s game. Espada will never cut it.
rhandome
I’m surprised the author thinks its a lock they’ll tender him a contract. He was one of the worst hitters in baseball this year (.296 OBP, bottom 10 in MLB in walk rate, 4 HR)