Astros' Yordan Alvarez Leaves Game With Apparent Knee Injury

The Houston Astros are trying to salvage a series victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday afternoon, but it's not going to plan. After a brutal 14-2 loss on Wednesday, the Astros were hit with another setback during Thursday's thrashing.

Rookie outfielder and destroyer of baseballs Yordan Alvarez left Thursday's game with an apparent knee injury. Alvarez fouled a ball off his knee earlier in the series, and it seems the pain has caught up to him a couple days later.

Alvarez left the game with left knee discomfort. He fouled a ball off his knee earlier this series.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) June 27, 2019

The Cuban stud has only played in 14 MLB games since being called up from Triple-A, but has shined beyond anyone's expectations. At just 22 years old, Alvarez is shattering rookie records for home runs through his first stretch of games, having had hit 7 through his first 12 outings.

Still maintaining their lead in the AL West, the Astros have benefited from Alvarez's power and offensive support. At the torrid pace he was slugging, the outfielder could have very well competed for the home run lead down the stretch of the second half of the season.

The @Astros’ Yordan Alvarez is the fourth player in the modern era (since 1900) to hit six (or more) home runs through his first 11 games in the majors, joining Trevor Story (7), Carlos Delgado (6), and Dino Restelli (6).
— Elias Sports Bureau (@EliasSports) June 23, 2019

Hopefully for the Astros and Alvarez, the injury isn't too serious and won't require a long stint on the sideline, or even an IL trip. He was hoping to have a big game this afternoon, as he's celebrating his 22nd birthday.