McCullers Shows Promise in Spring Debut

Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. took a significant step forward in his recovery during Friday's spring training appearance. After a disappointing 2025 season where his fastball velocity dipped below 91 MPH, McCullers showcased improved velocity with a four-seam fastball clocked at 93.2 MPH on just his second pitch of the game. The ability to throw both his sinker and four-seam fastball—something he couldn't do last season—offered hope that he may overcome the command issues that plagued him in 2025 when he relied heavily on his knuckle curve and slider.