RADIO
There is a song from the Broadway show Carousel called June is Bustin' out All Over. And that is what is happening now in the baseball season. May has come and gone and so have some of the hopes and dreams for many baseball teams, both in Major League Baseball and in many fantasy leagues. Sometimes, we pin that hope on a player (or players) coming back from injury and returning to the form that we hoped and expected from the start of the season. This is not always the case.
When hitters come back, it depends on the type of injury as to whether they are able to get back to doing what they are known for. Lower body injuries could affect the speedsters (stolen base attempts) while upper body injuries and hand injuries could affect the power hitting prowess of the big boppers. Pitchers can also be affected when coming back from injury by slightly, albeit inadvertently, changing their mechanics. I will continue to highlight these types of players as to when they should be expected to return to their active rosters.
Here's a little about myself for both new and returning readers. My name is Reuven Guy, and I am a practicing orthopedic/pain management Physician Assistant. I have been dealing with sports injuries for the past 16+ years. Therefore, I have knowledge of orthopedic injuries and their recovery times based on my medical experience. I have also been playing fantasy baseball during that same time. This has helped me get an advantage in this aspect of fantasy baseball, which I hope to share with you. Make sure to stay up to date on the latest MLB breaking news with our award-winning news desk and our free fantasy baseball mobile app with 24/7 push notification alerts!
Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Ronald Acuna Jr. (OF, ATL)- Knee: Acuna tore his ACL in his left knee and is out for the year, needing surgery. Recovery time for this type of surgery is usually six to twelve months. When Acuna had the same surgery for the right knee, he was not back to his full self until a full year after the surgery. Jarred Kelenic and Adam Duvall will likely be in line for additional at-bats with Acuna out.
Trea Turner (SS, PHI)- Hamstring: Turner is on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Turner ran at a higher intensity. Turner could progress to running the bases soon. He will need to complete that step and then see live pitching before being cleared to begin a rehab assignment.
Josh Lowe (OF, TB)- Side: Lowe is on the IL with a right oblique strain. He has already gone through a full workout on the field and hit in the batting cages, feeling good afterward. For now, Lowe is expecting to be back from the IL when first eligible, next week.
#Rays J. Lowe will play for Triple-A @DurhamBulls Friday-Sunday and if all feels good will rejoin Rays in Miami on Tuesday
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 30, 2024
Michael Conforto (OF, SF)- Hamstring: Conforto was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain. He could begin a rehab assignment this weekend and return from the IL next week, barring any setbacks.
Rhys Hoskins (1B, MIL)- Hamstring: Hoskins landed on the IL this week with a right hamstring strain. Brewers manager Pat Murphy said this week that it is possible for Hoskins to return from the IL next week.
Royce Lewis (3B, MIN)- Quad: Lewis has been on the IL since Opening Day with a right quad strain. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said this week that Lewis responded well to his first few rehab games, but that there is still no clear timeline for his return. "But he's going to play this week, and we're going to see how he's doing," Baldelli said.
Jordan Beck (OF, COL)- Hand: Beck landed on the IL this week with a fractured left hand. Beck was scheduled to undergo surgery on his left hand due to a broken fourth metacarpal. No timeline for his return was given, but typically this surgery has a six to eight-week recovery time. Sean Bouchard was called up.
#Rockies OF Jordan Beck is scheduled for left hand surgery (fourth metacarpal) on Wednesday. Dr. Donald Sheridan, noted hand specialist in Scottsdale, Ariz., will operate.
— Thomas Harding (@harding_at_mlb) May 27, 2024
Michael Massey (2B, KC)- Back: Massey was placed on the IL this week with a low back ligament sprain. He is eligible to rejoin the Royals beginning on June 4. Nick Loftin was called up but Adam Frazier could see more playing time as well.
Max Muncy (3B, LAD)- Oblique: Muncy was placed on the IL with an oblique strain. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Muncy is still feeling his oblique strain and will proceed cautiously. Muncy had begun doing some work but Roberts indicated that Muncy will not progress to hitting off a tee until the team feels he's fully recovered.
Kerry Carpenter (OF, DET)- Back: Carpenter was placed on the IL this week with lumbar spine inflammation. He began feeling some soreness in his back over last weekend and had hoped it would dissipate in subsequent days, but it did not happen. Severity is not yet known. Manager A.J. Hinch said that Carpenter is without a clear timetable for a return. Akil Baddoo was called up but Wenceel Perez and Matt Vierling should get more playing time.
Kerry Carpenter is going on the 10-day injured list with lower back soreness and doesn’t know a timeline for his return. Akil Baddoo called up from Triple-A Toledo. #Tigers
— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) May 29, 2024
Tyler O'Neill (OF, BOS)- Knee: O’Neill was placed on the IL this week due to right knee inflammation. The results of his testing seem to have only revealed inflammation, but his injury is still serious enough to warrant a trip to the IL. Enmanuel Valdez was called up.
Red Sox announce they’ve placed Tyler O’Neill on the 10-Day IL retroactive to May 26 with right knee inflammation recalled INF Enmanuel Valdez from Triple-A Worcester.
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) May 29, 2024
James Wood (OF, WAS)- Hamstring: Wood was placed on the IL in the minors with right hamstring tightness. Severity is not yet known but this will delay his being called up to the big leagues for some time.
Evan Carter (OF, TEX)- Back: Carter was placed on the IL with lower-back tightness. He missed some time earlier this month with the same issue. Severity is not yet known. Travis Jankowski looks to get more playing time with Carter out.
Jordan Lawlar (SS, ARI)- Thumb: Lawlar had surgery in late March to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb and has been progressing on schedule. Diamondbacks farm director Shaun Larkin said that Lawlar will start to play in rehab games but did not give a timetable for a return.
LaMonte Wade Jr. (1B, SF)- Hamstring: Wade was placed on the IL this week with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, based on testing. The Giants expect him to be out for about a month now that the severity of his strain has been revealed. Wilmer Flores and Trenton Brooks will likely split time at first base for the Giants.
Wade twice missed time with left knee inflammation in 2022 and had a tight hamstring at end of road trip: https://t.co/XpT4yJCVY2
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) May 27, 2024
Francisco Alvarez (C, NYM)- Thumb: Alvarez underwent surgery on April 23 to address a torn UCL in the thumb on his glove hand. Alvarez has been cleared to begin a rehab assignment, only five weeks into his initial eight-week return timeline. There is no timetable as to how long he will remain on the assignment.
Francisco Alvarez will begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Double-A Binghamton, Carlos Mendoza said.
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) May 28, 2024
Nolan Jones (OF, COL)- Back: Jones was placed on the IL with a lower back strain. He was on a rehab assignment and had his rehab assignment paused because of right knee soreness stemming from a slide. He has been progressing well and could begin another rehab assignment soon.
Junior Caminero (3B, TB)- Quad: Caminero was placed on the minor league IL with a quad injury. Rays manager Kevin Cash said that it is a Grade 2 strain and he could miss four to six weeks of playing time.
Josh Jung (3B, TEX)- Wrist: Jung had surgery on April 2 for a fractured right wrist and is on the IL. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said this week that Jung "looks great" after resuming hitting. He added, “you'd think he was going to be ready in a couple of days”. There is no timetable as of yet for his return.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Gerrit Cole (SP, NYY)- Forearm/elbow: Cole has been on the IL to start the season with an elbow injury/inflammation. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that there is a chance that Cole could begin a rehab assignment by the end of next week. Cole will need time to build up his stamina as he prepares to return from the IL.
Zach Eflin (SP, TB)- Back: Eflin was placed on the IL this week with a lower back injury. Eflin has begun playing catch but needs to clear the hurdle of a bullpen session before progressing in his rehab to return from the IL.
Zac Gallen (SP, ARI)- Hamstring: Gallen only lasted six pitches in his last start due to a right hamstring strain. He has flown back to Arizona for further testing with a trip to the IL most likely. Gallen could be out as little as one start or up to six weeks, based on severity.
Garrett Whitlock (SP, BOS)- Oblique: Whitlock was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain. On his rehab assignment, he began having elbow issues. Whitlock said last week that he is expecting to undergo an internal brace procedure for his right elbow and is done for the year.
John Means (SP, BAL)- Forearm: Means was placed on the IL with a left forearm strain. Means is going to get a second opinion before proceeding in his rehab.
Cristian Javier (SP, HOU)- Forearm: Javier was placed on the IL due to right forearm discomfort. Javier was scheduled for a bullpen session but he was pulled after experiencing discomfort in his right forearm. Further testing will reveal the severity of this injury.
Clarke Schmidt (SP, NYY)- Lat: Schmidt was placed on the IL this week with a right lat strain. The severity was not mentioned but Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Schmidt will be shut down four to six weeks and built up afterwards for about a month. This sounds like a Grade 2 strain. Schmidt could be out for more than two months. Cody Morris and Cody Poteet were called up and Poteet will probably take over his rotation spot for the Yankees.
Gavin Williams (SP, CLE)- Elbow: Williams is on the IL with right elbow discomfort. He threw a live batting practice session and will throw another live batting practice. If all goes well manager Stephen Vogt said that Williams would head out on a rehab assignment soon.
Steven Kwan will start in left field for Columbus tomorrow and play 6-8 innings, according to Vogt.
Gavin Williams is expected to start for Columbus on Wednesday.
— Mandy Bell (@MandyBell02) May 27, 2024
Mike Clevinger (SP, CHW)- Elbow: Clevinger was placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation. Severity is not yet known. Jake Woodford was called up and should take Clevinger’s rotation spot for the White Sox.
Jeffrey Springs (SP, TB)- Elbow: Springs is recovering from Tommy John surgery last year. He began a rehab assignment and then experienced a lat issue and has been shut down.
Chase Silseth (SP, LAA)- Elbow: Silseth is on the IL with right elbow inflammation. He threw bullpen sessions May 17 and May 20 and has been gradually progressing. There is still no timetable for his return.
Bobby Miller (SP, LAD)- Shoulder: Miller continues his rehab from a shoulder injury. He is scheduled to make one more rehab start after which time he could be activated from the IL.
Martin Perez (SP, PIT)- Groin: Perez was placed on the IL with a left groin strain. Severity is not yet known. Quinn Priester will likely be called up to take the rotation spot left vacant by Perez.
Merrill Kelly (SP, ARI)- Shoulder: Kelly is on the IL with a right shoulder strain. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said this week that Kelly is expected to begin a throwing program next week. His timeframe for a return remains sometime in July.
Jose Urquidy (SP, HOU)- Forearm: Urquidy is on the IL with a forearm strain. He is still scheduled to be further evaluated by team doctors and there is no timeline for his return as of yet.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Edwin Diaz (RP, NYM)- Shoulder: Diaz was placed on the IL this week with right shoulder impingement. Severity is not known but it may be the cause of his poor results for the past few weeks. Reed Garrett and Adam Ottavino likely represent the best candidates for saves out of the Mets bullpen with Diaz out.
Breaking: Edwin Díaz is on the injured list. He has a shoulder impingement.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) May 29, 2024
Giovanny Gallegos (RP, STL)- Shoulder: Gallegos is on the IL with a right shoulder impingement. He has begun a rehab assignment and should be activated from the IL soon.
A.J. Minter (RP, ATL)- Hip: Minter was placed on the IL this week with left hip inflammation. He pitched well in his last outing, when he presumably was injured. Severity is not known and there is no timetable for his return.
Braves reliever A.J. Minter hits injured list with hip issue.
Would say the Braves have dealt with more than their fair share of injuries over the first two months. https://t.co/iA2s8n2Nyf
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) May 30, 2024
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