WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time Josh James felt this healthy was 2019. That was when he made the Opening Day roster for the first time, used his 100-mph heat to post a 14.77 strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio -- the fifth-best mark by a rookie reliever in Major League history -- and pitched in nine games in the playoffs, earning the win in Game 3 of the World Series.

That seems like a lifetime ago for James, who gave up 12 earned runs and 12 walks in his first eight innings in 2020 before winding up on the injured list with a left hip injury that required surgery in October. James didn¡¯t pitch until June last year and wound up facing only 21 batters in the big leagues. He spent most of the season in Triple-A and watched the Astros make a run to the World Series from his home in Florida.

¡°It was tough,¡± James said. "Other than the results and all that stuff, it was just an up-and-down year for me with some setbacks and fighting through the hip surgery. I¡¯m really looking forward to this year and I¡¯m really looking forward to having a full, healthy season regardless of numbers or stuff. Just being healthy and being in a clubhouse all year is kind of my main goal. I don¡¯t want to miss any more games.¡±

James, 29, is competing for a spot in the Astros¡¯ bullpen, but there¡¯s depth ahead of him. Five relievers -- Ryan Pressly, Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek, Pedro B¨¢ez and Hector Neris -- appear to be locks, if healthy, while Blake Taylor, Zac Rosscup and Adam Morgan could be battling for one or two spots for lefties.

It¡¯s a numbers game, and that puts the squeeze on James, Enoli Paredes, Rafael Montero and Bryan Abreu to get their careers back on track and prove to the Astros this spring they can contribute at the big league level once again. For now, James is focusing on his health.

¡°It¡¯s actually nice to be healthy,¡± he said. ¡°I haven¡¯t had a fully healthy [season] since 2019 maybe. It feels good. I¡¯m excited just to get going and get ramping up and get in some games and get that adrenaline. I got a little taste of it last year towards the end of the season. I¡¯m raring to go and so excited.¡±

The rehab from hip surgery was a grueling one for James, who couldn¡¯t even walk for the first two months. He used crutches to get around and then had to build up his strength and stability, which made pitching off the mound again difficult.

¡°I don¡¯t know if it was the new hip or the way it was moving,¡± he said. ¡°I had some soft tissue setbacks on that side. It was extremely tough, more mentally tough that physically tough. I wanted to be back, but my hip wasn¡¯t ready. Just battling with myself really. It just feels good to be whole again.¡±

James can still throw 100 mph and still has options, so he remains a valuable piece for the Astros.

¡°He can help this club big-time if he¡¯s the Josh James from before, or a new-and-improved Josh James,¡± manager Dusty Baker said.

James said he¡¯s through making constant changes to his mechanics like he did prior to his hip surgery, and he¡¯s found a shortened arm motion that works for him. The key will be landing his offspeed pitches in the zone a little more often to set up his fastball. As for his role, that¡¯s up to others.

¡°Whatever role they want me to step into, I¡¯m going to try to do it to the best of my ability,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to figure out what they¡¯re doing. That¡¯s how you get yourself frustrated.¡±

As he looks around the clubhouse, James sees a few remaining faces from the 2019 season -- back when things were clicking. That serves as a reminder that nothing is guaranteed if he doesn¡¯t perform well. A healthy body is a good start.

¡°I love a lot of guys in here, so I¡¯ve watched a lot of the [games] even when I was rehabbing or got optioned or being at home, I watched everything,¡± he said. ¡°Even though I wasn¡¯t there, I always feel like I¡¯m still part of the organization. I got to support my guys.¡±