MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart reports that Astros infielder Jed Lowrie has been cleared to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Wednesday evening with the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks.
Lowrie has been on the disabled list since suffering a ligament tear in his right (throwing-side) thumb back in late April. That thumb injury required surgery and Lowrie was given a three-month recovery timetable, which is going to prove to be pretty accurate.
Carlos Correa has taken over at shortstop for the Astros and obviously won’t be moving anywhere, so Lowrie’s playing time down the stretch will come primarily at the hot corner and as an off-the-bench bat.
Lowrie is a switch-hitter and Houston’s starting third baseman, Luis Valbuena, hits left-handed.
Lowrie was slashing .300/.432/.567 with four home runs and 10 RBI through his first 18 games this year for the Astros. He’ll be a nice weapon in whatever role over the final two months of regular-season play.