Despite the new first baseman's optimism about his injury, Houston is sending him home for more medical tests.

The Houston Astros have emerged through what was a difficult offseason after losing two of their key players with a new core and a renewed optimism from the fanbase. Arguably the main focal point of that new core was the most significant free agent the team signed in former Arizona Diamondbacks star first baseman Christian Walker.

As the Houston Astros try to regain their place as the American League’s most dominant team in 2025, they suffered what could be, according to the Houston Chronicle, “a major blow” to that goal on Wednesday when the biggest free agent acquisition of their offseason went down with an injury — one that he’d suffered

The Astros can’t afford to lose Walker, who signed a three-year, $60 million contract in December. The three-time Gold Glove winner averaged 32 home runs, 94 RBI, and a .813 OPS for the Arizona Diamondbacks the last three years.

Walker, 33, was scratched from Houston's Spring Training game against the St. Louis Cardinals due to left oblique soreness. No update on the severity of Walker's soreness—nor a potential timeline for his absence—was provided as of Wednesday afternoon.

Walker has won three consecutive Gold Gloves and posted three straight seasons with an OPS+ over 120. That production earned him a $20 million annual payday from the Astros after a great run with the Diamondbacks. The offense will be carried by Walker, Jose Altuve, and Yordan Alvarez, which could be enough to replace Tucker.