Astros activate Brooks Raley from COVID-19 injured list

The Astros on Sunday activated reliever Brooks Raley from the COVID-19 injured list following a 17-day absence. 

Raley landed on the injured list July 8 due to health and safety protocols. He declined Sunday to say whether or not he tested positive for COVID-19, but said his absence was extended by two family events: the death of his grandfather and the birth of his son.

Raley said his son, who was born Thursday, is named Witten Lee Raley after former Dallas Cowboys player Jason Witten. 

“My son is doing well and it’s our fourth child, so my wife and I are excited about that,” he said. “My wife and I are big Cowboy fans so we went with that name, but he’s 9 pounds, 5 ounces and a healthy big boy. So that was the biggest child yet. We’re excited about that.”

Before his stint on the IL, Raley had a 5.93 ERA over 30.1 innings in 36 appearances. His last outing with the Astros was July 4 in Cleveland, where he pitched the 10th inning and earned his second save of the season in Houston’s 4-3 win. He threw one scoreless inning in a rehab assignment for Class AAA Sugar Land on Tuesday and threw live batting practice Friday.

“I felt like I was I was doing really well there,” he said. “I guess my last outing was in the Cleveland series, got the save in the 10th. So I’m glad I got the inning in Albuquerque. Went through that process, threw to some hitters the other day so I feel really good about where we’re at.” 

Players on the COVID IL do not count against the 40-man roster. The Astros designated lefthander Ryan Hartman for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Raley and optioned catcher Garrett Stubbs to Triple-A as the corresponding 26-man roster move.