KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Houston Astros have an opening at catcher.
Catcher Jason Castro will undergo knee surgery Friday and will be out for an indefinite period.
"Once the doctor takes a look at it and is able to see how much damage there is, then we have to wait and see what he says and how Jason recovers," manager Brad Mills after Thursday's 5-3 win over the Florida Marlins.
Dr. David Lintner, the Astros' medical director, will repair Castro's torn right medial meniscus in Houston.
Humberto Quintero, who drove in two runs Thursday with a pair of hits, and J.R. Towles are the remaining catchers on the Astros' roster. Plans to use Towles at other positions this spring training have been suspended, Mills said.
Nelson Figueroa, who is competing with Aneury Rodriguez, Lance Pendelton, Ryan Rowland-Smith and 20-year-old Jordan Lyles for a starting spot, pitched two shutout innings and got the win.
Figueroa, who has pitched parts of eight major league seasons for six different teams, finds himself with unaccustomed security, having signed a $900,000 guaranteed contract at the age of 36.
"I've been the insurance policy a lot of times, coming in and being the 26th man on the roster, the sixth starter kind of thing," he said. "Usually I come to spring training battling for a spot on the team. Here I feel like I have a spot on the team one way or another. I'd love to do it in a starter's role. I had a good showing with that last year and could continue to build on that success. But if not I'll be in the bullpen."
Florida's Alex Sanabia allowed four runs. Michaels, Humberto Quintero and Clint Barmes doubled as Sanabia gave up six hits in 1 2-3 innings. Brett Wallace had a two-run single in the first.
Rodriguez also pitched two shutout innings.
Emilio Bonifacio had three hits for the Marlins. Scott Cousins had two doubles and scored twice.
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