HOUSTON -- The Astros welcomed first baseman Yuli Gurriel to the lineup for the first time this season for Friday's series opener against the Rangers at Minute Maid Park. Gurriel hit fifth and was playing first base, where he started for the Astros last year.
Gurriel, who caught the final out of the World Series at first base, was suspended for the first five games of the season before spending 10 days on the disabled list following Feb. 28 surgery to remove the hook of the hamate bone in his left hand.
"I felt like I wanted to jump into the TV and get onto the field, into the games," Gurriel said of watching the Astros play the first 13 games of the season without him.