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The 2024 baseball season is just over a month away, but fantasy draft season has already begun. As always, injuries will mightily affect the 2024 campaign and fantasy lineup or draft decisions. Let's take a look at injured hitters Manny Machado, Willson Contreras, Noelvi Marte, Tommy Edman, and more.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for hitters, as of February 22, 2024. Some players on this list impact fantasy baseball more than others, but with leagues of all shapes and sizes, you never know which guys will be important when the season begins.
To keep close tabs on all of the news across the MLB, make sure to favorite or bookmark the fantasy baseball player news page, and download the free RotoBaller fantasy baseball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. Let's look at the injury updates for hitters.
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Manny Machado Injury Update
San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt said that third baseman Manny Machado (elbow), who is coming off offseason shoulder surgery, will not play in the team's Cactus League opener on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, Machado is "trending in a really good place" and could serve as the designated hitter "sooner than later" in spring training games.
Machado had surgery to fix the extensor tendon in his right elbow after last season, but he should be ready to go for Opening Day, even if he's serving as the team's DH to kick off the regular season.
Mike Shildt says a number of Padres regulars will play tomorrow's Cactus League opener. Manny Machado, coming off elbow surgery, will not play, but is "trending in a really good place," Shildt says. He adds that Machado could DH "sooner rather than later."
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) February 21, 2024
Even though the 31-year-old veteran slugger played through elbow pain for much of 2023, he still managed to hit 30 home runs and drive in 91 RBI, but his .781 OPS was his lowest mark since 2017. Machado is RotoBaller's No. 6 fantasy third baseman and still has a very high floor.
Willson Contreras Injury Update
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras (wrist) was scheduled to take live batting practice at spring training on Wednesday. It's a notable development since Contreras ended last year on the sidelines due to tendinitis in his left wrist. The 31-year-old veteran backstop avoided surgery in the offseason and appears to be fully healthy as he prepares for his second year in St. Louis.
Here is a look at all of the #STLCards hitters and pitchers who are scheduled to take part in live BP sessions today. pic.twitter.com/OCEJsx21yf
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) February 21, 2024
His first year with the Red Birds got off to a rough start, but Contreras eventually rebounded to hit .264/.358/.467 with a .826 OPS, 20 home runs, 27 doubles, 67 RBI, a career-high six stolen bases, and 55 runs scored in 125 games.
It was his fourth straight season with 20-plus long balls. Even though his defensive abilities leave a lot to be desired, Contreras should once again be one of the most attractive offensive-minded catchers for fantasy managers in 2024.
Noelvi Marte Injury Update
Cincinnati Reds rookie infielder Noelvi Marte (hamstring) said the Grade 2 hamstring strain he suffered while playing winter ball feels "good," but the Reds are slow-playing him in camp and he's expected to miss the first five Cactus League games as a result. The Reds are saying there's no reason Marte won't be ready for a full workload by the March 28 season opener.
"He's in great shape," manager David Bell said. "He's way ahead of where he could have been." The 22-year-old made his big-league debut on August 19 last year and hit .316 with three home runs and a .822 OPS in 114 at-bats. Marte has an exciting blend of power and speed and is a candidate to hit 25 home runs in his first full season in the big leagues, although he could split playing time at third base with Jeimer Candelario in 2024. (Cincinnati.com)
Tommy Edman Injury Update
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tommy Edman (wrist) could still be a couple of weeks away from being cleared to take part in full baseball activities. Edman is being eased in at camp this year after having offseason surgery on his right wrist. His delay at spring training could cause him to be unavailable for the start of the 2024 regular season, and even if he's ready, fantasy managers have to consider the possibility that Edman won't be himself at the plate right away.
The 28-year-old switch hitter is still worth drafting as a No. 3/4 fantasy outfielder, though, mainly for his speed and positional versatility -- he played shortstop, second base, and the outfield in 2023.
When healthy, Edman looked just fine last year, slashing .248/.307/.399 with 13 home runs, 47 RBI, and 27 stolen bases in 137 games. (STLToday.com)
Gavin Lux Injury Update
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux (knee), who suffered a season-ending knee injury in spring training last year, said he expects to be in the lineup on Thursday against the San Diego Padres for the Cactus League opener. Lux ditched the knee brace he had been wearing on his surgically repaired right knee last week, although he's still wearing a compression sleeve after having surgery to fix both his ACL and LCL. The 26-year-old has been fully cleared otherwise, though, and will be L.A.'s starting shortstop in 2024.
#Dodgers will open Cactus League play at Peoria Sports Complex on Thursday -- a week short of one year after Gavin Lux suffered a season-ending knee injury running the bases in a game there. Lux said he expects to be in the lineup v. Padres. 1/2
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 21, 2024
The former first-rounder was pretty mediocre in 2021 and 2022 for the Dodgers, hitting .261 with 13 homers, 88 RBI, and 11 steals in 231 games. Lux has shown solid plate discipline and resides in an excellent offense, but hitting at the bottom of the Dodgers lineup isn't going to give him a ton of upside, and he's probably not going to run all that much coming off major knee surgery.
Luis Rengifo Injury Update
Los Angeles Angels infielder Luis Rengifo (biceps) told Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com that he is fully healthy after recovering from surgery to address his torn left biceps tendon. The injury kept him sidelined for most of September and October of last season, though he still managed to play while slashing .264/.339/.444 with a 114 wRC+. The Angels continue to seek reinforcements on the offensive side, and Rengifo offers just that. Prospective fantasy managers will get a glimpse into his outlook when the Angels kick off their spring training games this weekend. (MLB.com)
Brandon Marsh Injury Update
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (knee) has progressed to jogging at spring training. Marsh had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in early February and was expected to need three to four weeks before making a full recovery. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter obviously won't be ready for the start of Grapefruit League games this weekend, but the Phillies are expecting him to be ready for Opening Day, barring a setback in his recovery from the minor surgery.
Brandon Marsh (left knee) has progressed to jogging, but he’s only permitted to putt in this afternoon’s team scramble tournament. He will wear a mic. “Just wait until I sink a 50-footer,” he said.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) February 21, 2024
When he's healthy, Marsh figures to be the team's starting left fielder against right-handed pitching, but he'll lose at-bats to Whit Merrifield against left-handers. Even though Marsh lowered his strikeout rate in 2023, he still struck out a third of the time. He's still an asset in mixed fantasy leagues because of his above-average power and speed, and he's great defensively for the Phils as well.
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