Astros Activate Brice Matthews, Designate Jorge Barrosa For Assignment

The Astros have activated outfielder/infielder Brice Matthews from the 60-day injured list, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. To make room, they designated outfielder Jorge Barrosa for assignment. Matthews is returning after missing two months with a sprained left knee. While Matthews was the Astros’ first-round pick in 2023 and their No. 1-ranked prospect when they promoted him in July 2025, he has gotten off to a slow start in the majors. Over 273 plate appearances, including 226 this year, Matthews has hit .192/.245/.352 with 11 home runs, a 33.3% walk rate and a 6.2% walk rate. Among 353 players who have amassed at least 200 trips to the plate in 2026, Matthews is tied for 338th in wRC+ (62). Although Matthews has struggled at the plate, he has been a positive and versatile defensive contributor this year. While appearing in 37 games in both left and center, another 22 at second base and four at third, Matthews has combined for 5 Defensive Runs Saved, Fielding Run Value and Outs Above Average apiece. Daulton Varsho has taken over as the Astros’ everyday center fielder since they acquired him before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, but he and left field options Taylor Trammell and LaMonte Wade Jr. all swing from the left side. The righty-hitting Matthews could get work against southpaws in his return. It was a short stay in Houston for Barrosa, whom the team claimed after Arizona designated him two weeks ago. The diminutive Barrosa only got into four games as a member of the Astros, with whom he went 1 for 10 with a double and a pair of walks. In a career-high 101 games and 169 PA this season, the 25-year-old has hit .199/.288/.281 (75 wRC+) with two homers and three steals. However, like Matthews, Barrosa has gotten good marks in the outfield (6 OAA, 4 FRV, 3 DRS). If another team claims the out-of-options Barrosa in the next 48 hours, it will have to run him through waivers in the event it attempts to demote him. Otherwise, if the Astros outright Barrosa, he will stick with the organization. Barrosa doesn’t have enough service time to reject an assignment, nor has he been outrighted in the past. Photo courtesy of Sam Navarro, Imagn Images View Comments (1)