Richard Hidalgo returned from the disabled list on Saturday. Hidalgo went into the hospital because of acute tonsillitis on May 23rd. While he was released from the hospital on the 26th, a few days later he was diagnosed with a virus described as mono-like, prompting the Astros to place him on the disabled list retroactive to the 23rd. Hidalgo recovered from the virus faster than expected and was able to rejoin the team as soon as he was eligible to leave the disabled list.

In order to clear room on the roster for OF-R Hidalgo's return, the Astros sent OF-L Colin Porter back to the minors. Porter had filled the roster spot opened by Hidalgo's DL trip. Houston drafted Porter out of the University of Arizona with their 17th round pick of the 1998 draft. After spending the remainder of the 1998 season at Auburn in the Short-Season New York-Pennsylvania League, Porter advanced to A Michigan in the Midwest League for the 1999 season. He played for AA Round Rock in the Texas League in 2000 and then split 2001 between Round Rock and AAA New Orleans in the Pacific Coast League. Porter spent all of last year with New Orleans and returned there this spring. At the time of his call-up, the 27-year-old was hitting .318 with a .373 OBP and .510 SLG on 48 H, 10 2B, 5 3B, and 3 HR with an 11:36 BB:K and 11/12 SB% in 151 AB.

Porter made his major league debut as a pinch hitter for Craig Biggio in the 8th inning of Houston's May 30th game in Chicago. Regrettably, facing Kyle Farnsworth, he struck out swinging in his first major league at-bat, but he did remain in the game to play right field for the rest of the game. His walk rate has shown promise in the past but slipped this year while he continues to have problems with his contact rate. He appears to possess marginal power and solid speed, but given his age and late of plate patience, he doesn't seem likely to return to the majors as anything other than a short-term injury replacement.

Like Hidalgo, RHP Roy Oswalt was able to return from his DL stint after only 15 days. Oswalt left his May 15th start after the sixth inning due to a strained right groin. As he'd experienced trouble with his groin at the end of the 2001 season, Houston decided to proceed with caution and place him on the disabled list. He's made two excellent starts since returning, and the groin doesn't seem likely to bother him again any time soon.

Houston called up RHP Kirk Saarloos to fill Oswalt's roster spot. Saarloos had returned to the minors a week before when the Astros called up LHP Jeriome Robertson. While Saarloos' once again failed to pitch effectively as a starter, he's done quite well in the bullpen and should continue to be a useful reliever for Houston.

The Astros' fielders haven't protected Robertson, so because he lacks particularly strong control or dominance skills, he's compiled a few rocky starts. The 26-year-old needs a good defense behind him if he's to have success as a bottom of the rotation starter. He likely would be a strong pitcher out of the bullpen, and he should move to relief whenever Houston has a solid alternative for the rotation.