J.P. France Fantasy Stats

Houston Astros starting pitcher J.P. France has been designated for assignment by the organization on Thursday. The team is acquiring pitcher Kai-Wei Teng from the San Francisco Giants and must free up a 40-man roster spot. France is the odd man out after failing to make much of an impact over the last two seasons. Since 2024, France has only made five appearances in Houston with an ugly 6.75 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, and 27/14 K/BB ratio. France has been unable to follow up on his successful rookie campaign, where he registered a 3.83 ERA in 24 games with Houston. The 30-year-old should draw some interest as a possible back-end of the rotation or depth option.

The Houston Astros reinstated right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday. France last pitched in the majors on April 23, 2024, and underwent surgery to repair a capsule tear in his throwing shoulder in July 2024. The 30-year-old has combined for five rehab starts at three minor-league levels this season and recorded an 8.31 ERA with 15 hits allowed and 15:13 K:BB in 13 innings. With France at the end of his 30-day rehab window and struggling in the minors, the Astros elected to keep him in Triple-A to continue working back from surgery. France combined for 29 appearances (28 starts) with the Astros from 2023-24 and went 11-9 with a 4.40 ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, and 123 strikeouts against 59 walks over 161 2/3 innings.

Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) made a rehab appearance on Sunday with Double-A Corpus Christi, throwing two innings and allowing five hits and three earned runs while walking one and striking out three. France has yet to pitch in the big leagues this season as he works his way back from shoulder surgery. Sunday's start was just his second rehab appearance, so he will likely require at least a couple more outings before he gets activated from the 60-day injured list. The 30-year-old France had a solid season for Houston back in 2023, throwing 136 1/3 innings (23 starts) with a 3.83 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 101 strikeouts. The Astros are searching for reliable starting pitching at the back end of their rotation, so there's an opportunity for France to make an impact once he's fully healthy and ready to go.

Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) will make his second rehab appearance on Sunday for Double-A Corpus Christi. He made his first rehab appearance this past Monday in the Florida Complex League, where he struck out two batters over 1 1/3 scoreless innings. The 30-year-old will be looking to ramp himself up toward a starter's workload, so a multiple-inning outing is believed to be on tap. France has been out of action for over a year, so this will likely be an extended rehab that should take up close to the 30-day maximum for pitchers. The right-hander broke out in 2023, finishing with 11 wins, a 3.83 ERA, and a 1.36 WHIP over 24 games. France is looking to possibly rejoin the rotation in September.

Houston Astros starting pitcher J.P. France (shoulder) made his first rehab appearance on Monday in the Florida Complex League. He worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits, a hit-by-pitch, and a walk while also picking up two strikeouts. France has been out all year after undergoing surgery to repair a torn right shoulder capsule last June. The 30-year-old righty will continue to ramp up as his rehab progresses and is working towards a return later this season. Since he missed over a full year, he'll need an extended rehab, so he's not quite ready to return yet, but he's on his way. He is one of several Astros trying to work their way back to the rotation and joins Spencer Arrighetti (thumb), Luis Garcia (elbow), and Cristian Javier (elbow), who are all on rehab assignments as well.

Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) threw a live batting practice session this past Tuesday and is scheduled to make a rehab appearance in the Florida Coast League this upcoming week, according to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. France underwent surgery to repair a tear in his right shoulder capsule in July 2024 and has been on the 60-day injured list for the entirety of 2025. He struggled through 25 1/3 innings (five starts) before getting injured in 2024, pitching to a 7.46 ERA and 1.70 WHIP with 22 strikeouts. France was much better in 136 1/3 innings (23 starts) in 2023, going 11-6 with a 3.83 ERA and 101 strikeouts. Given how long he's been out, he'll likely need an extended ramp-up period before he returns. France is unlikely to factor for fantasy in 2025, but he could be a name to monitor heading into 2026, depending on how things shake out with the rest of Houston's rotation.

Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) threw live batting practice Wednesday in the latest step in his recovery from a torn shoulder capsule. France, who hasn't appeared in the majors since April 2024, underwent shoulder surgery last July. The Astros still haven't provided a clear timeline for his return, though they do expect the 30-year-old back sometime this season. France combined for 29 appearances (28 starts) from 2023-24 and recorded back-end production. Over a 161 2/3-inning span, he went 11-9 with a 4.40 ERA, a 1.41 WHIP, and 123:59 K:BB.

Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) has been throwing live batting practice sessions and will continue to do so for the time being. After a mini breakout in 2023, France had difficulty staying healthy last season, ultimately requiring surgery for a capsule tear in his shoulder in July of 2024. Now, just over one year removed from that injury, the 30-year-old is looking to return to the mound and become a starter in the second half of the season. He will have to ramp up to a starter's workload as he continues to build up his arm strength. It is unclear when he will begin his lengthy rehab assignment. France is someone to monitor AL-Only leagues and is expected to return to action after the All-Star break.

Per manager Joe Espada, Houston Astros starting pitcher J.P. France (shoulder) is slated to throw his third live batting practice on Friday. The New Orleans native recently threw a successful session late last week and has had solid progression in his return from right shoulder surgery last July. It will still be some time before France rejoins Houston in some fashion, as he'll need to ramp up a bit over a rehab outing in the minor leagues. Still, it's superb news for him and the team. As a whole, Houston's pitching staff leads the league in strikeouts (734) and is second in cumulative WHIP (1.15). However, their rotation has dealt with a myriad of injuries.

Houston Astros right-hander J.P. France (shoulder) threw 20 pitches in a live batting practice session last Friday in Florida, which was his second such session since having surgery on his right shoulder last July to fix a torn capsule. France is making progress, but he still has a ways to go before potentially being an option for Houston's starting rotation in the second half of the year. The 30-year-old former 14th-round pick in 2018 out of Mississippi State just was never healthy in his five starts (25 1/3 innings) last year before being shut down, posting a 7.46 ERA and 1.69 WHIP with 22 strikeouts and 12 walks. France was much better in his first year in the big leagues in 2023 with a 3.83 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 24 outings (23 starts), but his 4.66 FIP shows that his surface stats were a bit fortunate. He'll be a big question mark when he returns later this season.