Retired Pitcher Set for Surprising MLB Comeback This Year

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Former Astros Pitcher Making a Comeback This Spring
Former Astros Pitcher Making a Comeback This Spring

Alright, Major League Baseball fans, let’s talk about a story that’s got the makings of a feel-good comeback—because if there’s one thing sports love, it’s a player who fights his way back to MLB he once walked away from.

And this one is happening in the Houston Astros’ minor league camp, running parallel to their Major League Spring Training in Florida.

While the big-league squad is dealing with offseason shake-ups—including ongoing questions about Alex Bregman’s future—there’s another storyline brewing, and it’s one worth keeping an eye on.

Tyler Ivey, a former top Astros prospect, is making his return to professional baseball after nearly three years away from the game.

Ivey’s Unexpected Exit in 2022

Ivey’s Unexpected Exit in 2022

Yes, that Tyler Ivey—the same right-hander who once ranked among Houston’s best pitching prospects, made his MLB debut in 2021 and then, just a year later, walked away from the sport entirely.

Back in May 2022, Ivey stepped away from baseball, citing burnout and persistent elbow issues, including a UCL sprain that limited him to just five appearances in 2021.

His decision to retire wasn’t just about the injury but also the mental and physical toll the game had taken on him. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned in modern sports, it’s that burnout is real.

But now? He’s healthy. He’s back. And the Astros are giving him a shot.

Houston’s Low-Risk, High-Upside Move

Houston’s Low-Risk, High-Upside Move

According to The Athletic’s Chandler Rome, Houston has invited Ivey to their minor league camp, which kicks off on Feb. 10 in West Palm Beach.

This gives him a crucial window to ramp up, get some eyes on him from the Major League staff, and—if all goes well—even log some innings in Grapefruit League games.

It’s a low-risk, high-upside move for the Astros, and for Ivey, it’s a second chance at the career he once put on hold.

Ivey’s potential was clear early on after being drafted in the third round back in 2017. He made Houston’s top 10 prospect list multiple times.

His career took a sharp turn after finally reaching the Majors in May 2021—where he tossed 4.1 innings and gave up four earned runs on six hits.

Injury setbacks, frustration, and burnout led to his departure, but now, at 28, he’s hoping for a fresh start.

Can Ivey Make It Back to MLB?

Can Ivey Make It Back to MLB?

The road back won’t be easy. Pitchers don’t just step away for three years and waltz back into dominance.

But if Ivey can find his rhythm, build back his velocity, and prove he’s still got what it takes, there’s always a chance Houston could give him another look at the big-league level.

Comeback stories don’t always work out, but when they do? They’re the kind of thing that makes baseball special. And for Tyler Ivey, the journey is officially back on.