Zach Cole -- General News
General News sources for Zach Cole of the Houston Astros
The Houston Astros recalled outfielder Zach Cole from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday after the player recovered from a fractured toe sustained early in the 2026 season. Cole was placed on Sugar Land's 7-day injured list but is now healthy following a productive six-game rehabilitation assignment with Single-A Fayetteville, during which he recorded a .250 batting average (5-for-20) with three extra-base hits and five walks.
Cole missed the Astros' Opening Day roster but now figures to see regular playing time given the team's current injury situation. With Jake Meyers (oblique) and Joey Loperfido (quadriceps) on the shelf, the Astros have been rotating players between left field and center field. Cole will make his return in Monday's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers, drawing the start in left field and batting eighth in the lineup. He will compete for reps at either or both outfield positions during the club's stretch run.
The Houston Astros made roster moves on Monday to address their injury-depleted outfield, calling up outfielder Zach Cole ahead of their series opener against the Dodgers. Cole has been rehabilitating from a fractured toe sustained on March 29 when he was hit by a pitch at Triple-A. He completed six minor-league rehab games at Single-A Fayetteville, batting 5-for-20 with one home run. In a corresponding move, the Astros designated outfielder Daniel Johnson for assignment after he appeared in eight games (2-for-14) since being signed to a minor-league deal last month.
The reinforcement addresses significant depth issues in Houston's outfield. Center fielder Jake Meyers, Joey Loperfido, and Taylor Trammell are all currently on the injured list with oblique strain, quad strain, and groin strain respectively. Cole made his MLB debut last September, posting a .255/.327/.553 slash line across 15 games. The left-handed hitter can play all three outfield positions. Houston has recently relied on Brice Matthews in center field (eight of past 11 games) and Dustin Harris in left field (10 of past 12 games).
The Astros also reinstated infielder-outfielder Zach Dezenzo from the injured list and optioned him to Triple-A on Monday. Dezenzo completed an eight-game minor-league rehab assignment while recovering from a right elbow sprain sustained during the World Baseball Classic.
The Houston Astros defeated the visiting Seattle Mariners 4-3 in 10 innings on Wednesday, with Zach Cole providing the game-winner via a walk-off single to right field. Brice Matthews, who started the 10th inning at second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch from Mariners reliever Alex Hoppe before Cole's hit ended the game. Astros reliever Bryan Abreu (2-2) was credited with the win after pitching a clean top of the 10th, while Hoppe (0-1) took the loss.
The game was closely contested throughout, with both teams struggling with runners in scoring position. Jose Altuve was instrumental for Houston, working a bases-loaded walk against reliever Cooper Criswell in the sixth to tie the game at 2-2, and later adding a sacrifice fly in the eighth that gave the Astros a 3-2 lead. The Mariners answered in the ninth with a bases-loaded walk from Julio Rodriguez that scored Rob Refsnyder and forced the game to extra innings.
Seattle's Bryce Miller made his season debut after being sidelined since sustaining an oblique injury during spring training. Miller was generally effective despite surrendering a leadoff home run to Christian Walker in the sixth that cut Houston's early 2-1 lead in half. The Astros snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Mariners with their first walk-off victory of the season.
The Houston Astros recalled Zach Cole from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday. Cole had missed time after fracturing a toe early in the season while playing for Sugar Land. Following his recovery, he completed a six-game rehabilitation assignment with Single-A Fayetteville, posting a line of 5-for-20 with three extra-base hits and five walks. The Astros have been managing their outfield rotation after injuries sidelined Jake Meyers (oblique) and Joey Loperfido (quadriceps). Cole will make his return to the majors starting in left field and batting eighth in Monday's series opener against the Dodgers, giving him an opportunity to compete for regular playing time at one or both outfield positions.