Zach Cole -- Injury Report

Zach Cole is beginning a rehab assignment on Thursday with Single-A Fayetteville as he works his way back from a broken toe injury. The Houston Astros outfielder is expected to return by the end of April.

Cole appeared in 15 games during the 2025 season, posting a .255 batting average with a .880 OPS. He recorded 12 hits, 4 home runs, and 11 RBIs across 47 at-bats, along with 3 stolen bases and 5 walks. His projections for the 2026 season estimate 277 at-bats with 10 home runs and a .680 OPS.

Fantasy analysts have Cole ranked at #312 in draft rankings based on six expert evaluations, with rankings ranging from #269 to #306. His rest-of-season ranking stands at #298 based on available projections.

Houston Astros outfield prospect Zach Cole suffered a fractured fifth toe on his right foot from a hit-by-pitch during a Triple-A Sugar Land game on Sunday and will be sidelined indefinitely. Manager Joe Espada stated Cole would require time to heal before returning to the field, and the team placed him on the minor-league injured list. Cole will eventually rehab at the Astros' West Palm Beach facility. Cole was one of the final position players competing for a spot on Houston's opening day roster, but the team elected to assign him to Triple-A to develop more consistent plate contact. In limited action last season, Cole appeared in 15 games with the Astros, producing 4 home runs and an .880 OPS, though he struck out in 20 of 52 plate appearances.

In other injury updates, right-hander Nate Pearson faced hitters in live batting practice Tuesday, touching 96 mph on his fastball during a 15-pitch session. Espada indicated Pearson will need multiple live batting practice sessions before starting a rehab assignment. Closer Josh Hader threw a bullpen session as he recovers from biceps tendinitis, with GM Dana Brown indicating he could face hitters by mid-April. Pitchers Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski, both recovering from Tommy John surgery, have progressed to throwing off the mound, with Blanco completing multiple bullpen sessions and Wesneski completing one. Neither is expected to return to the majors before the second half of the season.

Zach Cole of the Houston Astros is beginning a rehab assignment with Single-A Fayetteville on Thursday following a broken toe sustained in the third game of the season. Cole had opened the 2026 season at Triple-A Round Rock after failing to make the Astros' Opening Day roster. In his limited action before the injury, he recorded 1 hit in 9 at-bats with 1 solo home run and a 2:4 walk-to-strikeout ratio across 12 plate appearances. With four Astros outfielders currently on the injured list—Jake Meyers (oblique), Taylor Trammell (groin), Joey Loperfido (quadriceps), and Zach Dezonso (elbow)—Cole has missed the opportunity to compete for playing time at the major league level early in the season. If his rehabilitation assignment progresses smoothly, Cole remains a candidate to be recalled to the Astros roster.