Astros infielder and outfielder Mauricio Dubón is prepping for a thumb surgery this week to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament, a nagging injury that he impressively played through for the season’s final month. Despite the pain, Dubón posted a strong .291 batting average in the stretch run, showing his grit and value as a key utility player. The surgery will sideline him for six to eight weeks, putting him comfortably on track to be fully ready by spring training, as reported by Chandler Rome of The Athletic.
Dubón, who joined Houston in a May 2022 trade with the Giants, has become an invaluable asset, posting a .274/.303/.388 line across 920 plate appearances since his arrival. Known for his defensive versatility—covering every position except pitcher and catcher—and his ability to put the ball in play (with a strikeout rate of just 12.9% last season), Dubón even earned a Gold Glove in 2023. Rome noted that Dubón’s injury occurred on a slide in early September, but it didn’t stop him from helping the Astros down the stretch.
Set to enter arbitration this offseason, Dubón is projected to receive a modest $4.6 million for 2024, a bump from his $3.5 million salary. There’s little doubt Houston will retain him, as they control his contract through 2026 and value his right-handed hitting versatility against lefties—despite a slight dip in production against southpaws this season.
With Dubón covering over 1,000 innings at six different positions last season, Houston will look forward to having him back, healed up and ready to contribute in his multi-position role as they aim for another strong campaign.
