Astros GM provides an encouraging update on All-Star Jeremy Pena

The Houston Astros have four All-Stars this season, but only Josh Hader is going to the game. Of the three who are missing, the absence of Jeremy Pena is the most disappointing. 

Ahead of the final game before the All-Star break, Astros general manager Dana Brown commented on the injury status of Pena. In a post shared by Chandler Rome of The Athletic, Brown gave an encouraging update on the superstar shortstop.

Asked if Jeremy Peña could return for the Seattle series after the All-Star break, Astros GM Dana Brown told the team's pregame radio show "that's a little early," but Peña isn't far off.

"Asked if Jeremy Pena could return for the Seattle series after the All-Star break," Rome writes, "Astros GM Dana Brown told the team's pregame radio show, 'that's a little early,' but Pena isn't far off."

While Pena won't be ready for the first series out of the All-Star break, the Astros' shortstop is getting closer to a potential return. While no specific date was confirmed or teased, Pena seems likely to return before the MLB trade deadline at the end of the month.

MORE: MLB writer urges Astros' Dana Brown, 'don't panic' at trade deadline

Pena was in the middle of a breakout season and was on his way to setting career highs in multiple statistical categories. But, after suffering fractured ribs in June, he's missed a decent amount of time, and will be out for a good chunk of the year in the middle of the season.

Getting Pena back in the lineup would be a nice boost for the Astros as the trade deadline approaches. Before the injury, Pena had a .322 batting average with a .867 OPS and 11 home runs.

He's been the best offensive player for the Astros this season and was a huge reason why, despite the loss of Yordan Alvarez to start the year, the Astros have managed to sit atop the AL West.

Pena will be out a little while longer, with the Arizona Diamondbacks series starting on July 21st as the earliest potential date he could come back based on Brown's comments. But, for now, this update from Brown is an encouraging one, as Pena "isn't far off" from returning to the lineup.

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