Houston added left-handed outfielder Rhylan Thomas off waivers from Seattle, moving Hunter Brown to the 60-day IL to make room on the roster.
The Houston Astros moved quickly to bolster their outfield depth, claiming Rhylan Thomas off waivers from the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.
To open a spot on the Astros’ 40-man roster, Houston transferred right-hander Hunter Brown from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. The roster move underscores how the club is trying to manage a stretched stretch of availability amid multiple injuries.
For the Mariners, Thomas had been designated for assignment earlier in the week after Seattle claimed Jose Suarez from the Atlanta Braves. Thomas’ waiver claim ends his second stop in this roster cycle, following Seattle’s acquisition of him last July.
Thomas is a left-handed hitter who can play all three outfield positions. which gives Houston flexibility for matchups and late-game needs.. The 2022 MLB Draft produced his path to pro baseball as an 11th-round pick originally selected by the New York Mets before his rights eventually ended up with Seattle.
Seattle acquired Thomas in July 2024 in a trade that sent reliever Ryne Stanek the other way. In the 2025 season, Thomas appeared in three MLB games for the Mariners, collecting a 1-for-8 line that included a double, two RBIs, and one walk.
At the Triple-A level with Tacoma, Thomas put up a .325/.380/.411 slash line across 617 plate appearances last season. This year’s production dipped to .260/.313/.328 over 145 plate appearances in 31 games, along with two home runs, nine RBIs, and six stolen bases.
Seattle’s roster decision reflected that inconsistency: sources indicate Thomas’ on-base results were affected by a drop in BABIP from .332 in 2025 to .269 this season. His career Triple-A numbers remain solid, however, with a .301/.352/.388 line over 261 games.
From Houston’s perspective, Thomas is arriving as an insurance option for a battered outfield. The Astros currently have Jake Meyers (oblique strain), Joey Loperfido (quad strain), and Taylor Trammell (groin strain) on the injured list, leaving the organization to look for playable depth.
Meanwhile. Houston has been using players such as Brice Matthews. Zach Dezenzo. and Zach Cole as part of that response. even as their major league experience has been limited.. Adding Thomas fits that same pattern: a versatile outfielder who can cover multiple spots while the injury list reshapes the weekly rotation.
After the waiver acquisition, Thomas still has two minor league options remaining and was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land. That detail matters for how Houston balances short-term roster needs with longer-term player development.
The other key part of the transaction involves Brown’s recovery timeline. The transfer of Brown to the 60-day IL is retroactive to April 2 due to a Grade 2 right shoulder strain, meaning the Astros are aligning roster planning with the rehabilitation window.
Brown recently completed a bullpen session and is expected to keep building toward a return, with eligibility for activation projected for early June. In practical terms, that suggests Houston is preparing for a recovery arc that may not align with immediate everyday needs.
With Thomas joining Houston and Brown shifting deeper on the injured list, the Astros are effectively reshuffling two fronts at once: adding outfield coverage now while creating roster breathing room for a pitcher whose shoulder rehab follows a longer schedule.
For Seattle, the move marks another rapid response in a season defined by roster churn.. After claiming Jose Suarez from Atlanta and designating Thomas for assignment. the organization’s offloading of the outfielder now opens a path for a replacement on the MLB roster—while Thomas looks to restart his trajectory in a new uniform.
Astros Rhylan Thomas waivers Hunter Brown Mariners MLB injuries