The Houston Astros called up infielder Braden Shewmake from the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys on Monday afternoon, the club announced. The move came one day after Houston acquired Shewmake from the New York Yankees, a timeline that underscored just how urgently the Astros needed infield bodies as they opened a three-game road series against the Cleveland Guardians.
Shewmake takes the active roster spot of infielder Nick Allen, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with mid-back spasms, retroactive to April 19, according to MLB Trade Rumors reporter Darragh McDonald. To open a 40-man spot, right-hander Cristian Javier was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Javier is now ineligible for reinstatement until early June.
Shewmake’s rapid promotion isn’t just a roster-filler. It gives Houston an immediate test of whether the former highly-ranked prospect can handle major-league innings in a pressure situation.
Braden Shewmake Joins Injury-Ravaged Houston Astros Infield
Houston entered this week missing multiple key infielders. Jeremy Peña has been on the injured list since April 12 with a hamstring strain. Allen was scratched from Saturday’s lineup against the St. Louis Cardinals with back spasms before Houston dropped that game 7-5 in 10 innings to close out that series.
Outfielder Joey Loperfido was also placed on the IL with a right quad strain, retroactive to April 18. That’s three regulars out inside of a week.
Carlos Correa shifted from third base to shortstop to cover for Peña, sliding Isaac Paredes into the hot corner. Shewmake steps in as the primary bench infielder, a late-game defensive option the Astros can bounce around the diamond when regulars need days off, the same role Allen was filling before his back gave out.
The 28-year-old brings versatility if not much offensive punch. Over 303 Triple-A games he has stolen 52 bases while being caught just four times, according to MLB Trade Rumors reporter Charlie Wright. He has logged extensive time at shortstop, second base, and third base. Speed and glove are the tools. The bat remains the question mark.
Shewmake: A Texas Native Coming Home
Shewmake is about as Texas as it gets. A native of Wylie, roughly 28 miles northeast of Dallas, he starred at Wylie East High School before playing three seasons at Texas A&M, where he earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors, an All-SEC selection, and All-American recognition, according to Houston Chronicle reporter Michael Shapiro. That College Station résumé made him the Atlanta Braves’ first-round pick, 21st overall, in the 2019 draft.
The man who helped make that selection was Dana Brown, then Atlanta’s vice president of scouting. Brown is now the Astros’ general manager. Brown has tracked Shewmake ever since. After 31 major league games split between Atlanta and the Chicago White Sox, Shewmake produced a .118/.127/.191 batting line in 68 at-bats. The White Sox designated Shewmake for assignment in January 2025. The Kansas City Royals claimed and quickly released him. The New York Yankees picked him up, his third organization in just over a year.
On Sunday, Houston traded for him in exchange for minor-league right-hander Wilmy Sanchez.
In 10 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season Shewmake hit .250 with two doubles and a stolen base. His career Triple-A wRC+ of 78, 22% below the average Triple-A hitter, does not project as a difference-maker at the major-league level. The Astros are not asking him to carry their offense. They need someone who can play defense at shortstop, stay out of trouble on the bases, and keep a seat warm until Peña returns. For Houston, the move is about more than plugging a short-term hole, it’s about finding out, quickly, whether Shewmake can be trusted when the games start to matter most.
Astros Call Up Ex-Yankees Braden Shewmake One Day After Trade