J.P. France became the latest Houston Astros pitcher to have season-ending surgery.
The Astros announced on Wednesday that the former Archbishop Shaw and Tulane Green Wave star will have shoulder surgery on Monday. The procedure will end his 2024 season.
France becomes the third starting pitcher for the franchise to have season-ending surgery. The Astros have already lost Christian Javier and Jose Urquidy this season, as both needed Tommy John surgery in early June.
The 29-year-old France was called up to the big league roster during the 2023 season when the Astros were dealing with pitching injuries. France proved he belonged and appeared in 24 games. He went 11-6 overall with a 3.83 ERA with 101 strikeouts in 136.1 innings pitched.
France appeared in five games this season and struggled as he went 0-3 overall with a 7.46 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 12 walks.
After four seasons at Tulane, France transferred to Mississippi State as a grad transfer in 2018. He was drafted in the 14th round of the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft by the Astros.
Despite the pitching injuries, Houston enters this weekend’s road series against the New York Mets at 40-40 overall. It is the first time the Astros are .500 on the season, and the team is only 4.5 games back of Seattle for first place in the American League West division.
The Houston Astros play the New York Mets on Friday. First pitch is set for 6:10 and you can listen to the action live on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles — Southwest Louisiana’s Sports Station.