Astros recall Alimber Santa from Triple-A Sugar Land

Santa has a 1.17 ERA in 15 1/3 innings over 10 appearances for the Astros, but he’s returning to Sugar Land for now. Ronel Blanco might be activated in his place prior to Friday’s game.

Santa helped Houston throw a combined no-hitter against the division-rival Rangers last month during his major-league debut and has forged a respectable 0.71 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 8/5 K/BB ratio across 12 2/3 innings. The 23-year-old rookie still has minor-league options left, which is why he’s been shipped to the minors to enable the club to bring up a fresh arm.

Imai authored one of the strangest performances of the season, somehow holding the Rangers hitless for six innings despite issuing four walks and recording just two strikeouts. He threw only 57 of 97 pitches for strikes, but stayed around the zone enough to avoid damage, retiring 15 of the final 16 batters he faced. Okert followed with a scoreless seventh before Santa made his big-league debut, retiring the final six hitters in impressive fashion to complete the first combined no-hitter in the majors since 2024. Imai remains a challenging pitcher to forecast given that he’s barely throwing his splitter in games at this point. He’ll face the Brewers at home to wrap up a two-start week on Sunday.

The move was made official prior to Friday’s series opener against the Cubs. Santa receives his first promotion to the majors after compiling a pristine 1.42 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 24/7 K/BB ratio across 19 innings for Triple-A Sugar Land this season. The hard-throwing 23-year-old should get a chance to pitch in high-leverage spots at some point, but the Astros are probably going to ease him in with some low-leverage work first.

Christmas arrives early this year with Santa officially being called up for Friday’s series opener against the Cubs at Wigley Field after recording a microscopic 1.42 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 24/7 K/BB ratio across 19 innings for Triple-A Sugar Land this season. The hard-throwing 23-year-old figures to operate in middle relief for the Astros, but could work his way into high-leverage spots at some point.

With an option remaining, Alexander was always a longshot to make the Astros’ Opening Day roster. He didn’t help his cause in Grapefruit League action though, registering a 6.35 ERA, 1.94 WHIP and a 3/3 K/BB ratio over 5 2/3 innings in his three starts. He’ll get an opportunity with the Astros at some point during the 2026 campaign.