RADIO
Spring training is well underway as we move forward to Opening Day. With the season opening overseas in about a week, team rosters are taking form, as are the winners of position battles on certain teams. One aspect that is just as true midseason as it is now is the effect of injuries on teams' plans for the season.
When it comes to Spring Training injuries, some are more serious than others. Soft tissue injuries are usually less severe as players ramp up for the season. But this is not always the case. Thanks to teams being extra cautious with their injured players, extended Spring Training is a term that is often heard. Or teams will say that they believe a player will be ready for Opening Day. The problem is which is the case with the players we are drafting. Injured players are continuously being sent for testing. Some of these results could delay certain players from being on the Opening Day roster and beyond. This opens up roster spots for other players, and this could change how we draft players for our fantasy teams. I will spotlight some of the fantasy-relevant players who are injured and who could be the next man up.
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 18+ years. Therefore, I have knowledge of orthopedic injuries and their recovery times based on my medical experience. I also played fantasy baseball during that time. This has helped me get an advantage in this aspect of fantasy baseball, which I hope to share with you. I am also the co-host of the FSWA award-winning podcast Beat the Shift. Stay updated 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!
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Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Gunnar Henderson, SS, Baltimore Orioles - Side: Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said this past week that the status of Henderson for Opening Day is up in the air after he was diagnosed with a mild intercostal muscle strain. The severity is unknown, but Hyde is "very, very hopeful" that Henderson will be ready for the start of the season. Ramon Urias could see an increase in playing time early on in the season if Henderson is out.
Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Kansas City Royals - Forearm: Witt was hit by a pitch in his forearm this week. X-rays were negative. As of now, he is diagnosed with only a bone bruise and does not expect to miss Opening Day.
Christian Walker, 1B, Houston Astros - Oblique: Astros manager Joe Espada said recently that an MRI on Walker's left oblique did not show a "strain or anything that we are concerned about." The Astros are still referring to the injury simply as left oblique soreness, and Walker has been eased back into activities.
Royce Lewis (3B, MIN)- Hamstring: Lewis injured his left hamstring running out a ground ball this week. An MRI showed that it is a moderate left hamstring strain. He has been ruled out for Opening Day and will most probably start the year on the IL. A moderate strain like his usually has a four to six week recovery time. Brooks Lee looks to start in his place for the Twins.
Giancarlo Stanton, DH, New York Yankees - Elbows: Stanton was diagnosed with bilateral lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow in both of his elbows. The Severity is not fully known; however, Stanton said over the weekend that his injuries are "considered severe in both elbows" and brought up the possibility of surgery, which would make him miss the entire 2025 season.
Giancarlo Stanton: “Let’s finish the treatment and go from there. I absolutely hate this. I’m going to get back as soon as possible.” https://t.co/FbOdr9jX7X
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) March 8, 2025
Jurickson Profar, OF, Atlanta Braves - Wrist: Profar hurt his left wrist diving for a ball during a spring game. X-rays were negative. Profar has returned to batting practice and should re-enter games by around March 20. If he is forced to miss time, an opportunity would open up for Bryan De La Cruz to receive more reps in the outfield.
Francisco Alvarez, C, New York Mets - Wrist: Alvarez had surgery this week for a fractured hamate bone in his wrist. It occurred during batting practice. He is expected to be out for six to eight weeks. Luis Torrens is the main catcher for the Mets at this time.
Carlos Mendoza says that Francisco Alvarez has a fracture in the hamate bone of his left hand.
He will have surgery tomorrow and is expected to be out for 6-8 weeks. pic.twitter.com/dl8fixzOMX
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 9, 2025
Brandon Nimmo, OF, New York Mets - Knee: Nimmo is dealing with knee inflammation and is being brought along slowly. He received a gel injection last week and then started in the outfield on Monday. Nimmo had planned to ramp up his running to 100 percent but was only able to get to 85 percent, according to manager Carlos Mendoza.
"We're still shooting for Opening Day," Mendoza said. "We feel like we have enough time here for him to get plenty of at-bats. Once we get closer to Opening Day, whether he's not running 100 percent, he's not getting at-bats, or he's not doing any baseball activity, then we'll probably have to start having some of those conversations. That's not the case as we sit here."
Matt Vierling, OF, Detroit Tigers - Shoulder: Vierling is dealing with a strained right rotator cuff muscle. He has begun light, modified baseball activities. Severity is not known, and he will not be ready for Opening Day. Wenceel Perez could see more playing time with Vierling out.
Sean Murphy, C, Atlanta Braves - Rib: Murphy was diagnosed with a fractured rib after being hit by a pitch. He is expected to be out for four to six weeks. Drake Baldwin looks to begin the season as the Braves' starting catcher. Chadwick Tromp, Sandy Leon, or Curt Casali are other options to fill in.
This appears to be when #Braves catcher Sean Murphy was hit by a 95mph fastball on Friday against the Marlins #BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/oAWVc4ODxK
— Baillie Burmaster (@baillie_burm) March 3, 2025
Spencer Steer, 1B/OF, Cincinnati Reds - Shoulder: Steer is dealing with a right shoulder issue. His MRI was negative, and he did receive a cortisone injection for it already. Manager Terry Francona has said that Steer could begin the season on the injured list. If he does miss time, Will Benson and Jake Fraley could see more playing time for the Reds.
Parker Meadows, OF, Detroit Tigers - Arm: Meadows is dealing with a nerve issue in his right arm and has to wait for the nerve to "wake up" before he's able to dive back into full baseball activities. He has begun doing light, modified baseball activities. There is no timetable for his return.
Spencer Horwitz, 1B/2B, Pittsburgh - Wrist: Horwitz is recovering from right wrist surgery. Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said that Horwitz is expected to progress to hitting off a tee soon and is currently taking dry swings as he works his way back from right wrist surgery and will take another step forward in his progression soon. He will not be ready for Opening Day, but a return sometime in April is possible. DJ Stewart may play some first base until Horwitz is ready to return.
Daulton Varsho (OF, TOR)- Shoulder: Varsha had shoulder surgery last September and continues to recover. He has been playing in spring training games but only as a DH. Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Varsho is likely to begin the season on the IL if he is not cleared to play the outfield.
Tyler Stephenson (C, CIN)- Oblique: Stephenson will start the season on the IL with a low-grade oblique strain. Recovery time for this injury is usually two to four weeks. Jose Trevino will open the season as the Reds top catcher.
Zach Neto (SS, LAA)- Shoulder: Neto continues to recover for offseason shoulder surgery. He has begun fielding grounders and making throws. He is expected to start the season on the IL and could be ready some time mid April.
Nico Hoerner, 2B, Chicago Cubs - Forearm: Hoerner is recovering from October surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his right forearm. Hoerner is continuing to hit in the batting cage and working through a throwing program, but he's not on track to be ready to play in Japan. The Cubs could turn to Jon Berti or Vidal Brujan to play at second base to start the season.
Nico Hoerner provides a health update after getting flexor tendon surgery in the offseason: pic.twitter.com/enuDVDAiVa
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) February 14, 2025
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees - Elbow: Cole is dealing with pain/discomfort in his pitching elbow. Cole said this weekend that he is "concerned" about what the imaging on his right elbow will show. This is the same issue and pain that Cole dealt with at the beginning of last year, which limited him to only 19 regular-season starts. Cole has opted for Tommy John surgery and is done for this year and possibly the beginning of next. Will Warren looks to step into the Yankees rotation.
The Yankees making the news we didn't want to hear official:
RHP Gerrit Cole was seen earlier today at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache and is now scheduled to undergo “Tommy John” surgery tomorrow. Dr. ElAttrache will perform the surgery.… pic.twitter.com/nLub2s6P1G
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) March 10, 2025
George Kirby, SP, Seattle Mariners - Shoulder: Kirby has been shut down from throwing due to right shoulder inflammation and will begin the season on the injured list. Kirby was not bouncing back well from his outings and had an MRI done, which came back negative. Kirby wanted to keep throwing, but he was overruled and will start the season on the IL. Emerson Hancock is likely to open the season in the Mariners' rotation with Kirby out.
#Mariners General Manager Justin Hollander shares an injury update on George Kirby. https://t.co/Evwi5GBVh0 pic.twitter.com/lAPmZOU42u
— Seattle Sports (@SeattleSports) March 7, 2025
Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers - Knee/Toe: Kershaw had surgery on both his left toe and his left knee in the offseason and is not expected to be ready to pitch by the start of the campaign. He was placed on the 60-day IL. Kershaw said recently that he is "not 100 percent yet" but has felt good throwing off the mound "a couple of times" this spring. He is hopeful to join the Dodgers at the end of May.
Brayan Bello, SP, Boston Red Sox - Shoulder: Bello began experiencing shoulder soreness early on in camp, and with just over two weeks left in spring training, it is becoming increasingly likely that he will require a stint on the injured list to open the season. Manager Alex Cora said over the weekend that Bello is still behind schedule but is progressing well. Quinn Priester and Richard Fitts could break camp with the Red Sox in their rotation.
Kutter Crawford, SP, Boston Red Sox - Knee: Crawford has been experiencing patellar tendon soreness (front of the knee) and is behind schedule, though he did throw a bullpen session last Friday. It still remains unclear if he will be fully ramped up by the time the regular season starts. Red Sox Manager Alex Cora said of Crawford, "With Kutter, that's the one it looks like is going to be long. Opening Day, right now, is an 'if.' Let's see what happens."
Andrew Abbott, SP, Cincinnati Reds - Shoulder: Abbott was placed on the IL at the end of last year with a shoulder strain. He expressed optimism last week that he will be ready for Opening Day after he threw his first live batting practice session of the spring. "Big step, big checkmark," Abbott said. "I feel really confident where we are." Barring any setbacks and based on his buildup, Abbott could be ready to make the Opening Day roster for the Reds.
Grayson Rodriguez, SP, Baltimore Orioles - Triceps: Rodriguez was on the IL last season with a lat strain. Now, he has been dealing with a triceps strain. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said this weekend that Rodriguez will not be ready for Opening Day. He also noted that Rodriguez is not dealing with any structural damage, but the discomfort he is feeling in his right elbow/triceps is enough to keep him out for "some time." He will go for a second opinion. With Rodriguez out, Albert Suarez and Cade Povich will battle for the open spot in Baltimore's rotation.
Grayson Rodriguez has discomfort behind elbow. No ligament. But gonna miss “some time,” per Hyde #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) March 7, 2025
Sean Manaea, SP, New York Mets - Oblique: Manaea has been diagnosed with a right oblique strain and is expected to begin the season on the IL. He will be shut down for a couple of weeks before being re-evaluated, but even in a best-case scenario, he will not have time to be built back up for Opening Day. He will probably be out until mid to late May as he has to build up after recovery. Tylor Megill looks to take his rotation spot.
Carlos Mendoza on the timeline to return for Sean Manaea after suffering a muscle strain:
"It could take 7, 14, 21 days to heal. Once he's symptom free he'll start his throwing again." pic.twitter.com/3hgw0I2mx0
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 24, 2025
Frankie Montas, SP, New York Mets - Lat: Montas was diagnosed with a high-grade lat strain that usually knocks out pitchers for six to eight weeks. Montas said he is feeling better after a PRP injection and hopes to start playing catch in four to six weeks. Griffin Canning could take his rotation spot for the Mets.
Brandon Woodruff, SP, Milwaukee Brewers - Shoulder: Woodruff is working his way back from shoulder surgery. He has been throwing live batting practice and is tentatively scheduled to pitch in a minor-league game. There is no clear timeline for his return yet.
Shane Bieber, SP, Cleveland Guardians - Elbow: Bieber is recovering from Tommy John surgery performed last April. He threw his fourth bullpen session at the end of February and has progressed to throwing five times a week. There is yet to be a concrete timeline for his return.
Luis Gil, SP, New York Yankees - Lat: Gil has a high-grade right lat strain, a diagnosis which was confirmed by a second MRI. He will be shut down for at least six weeks and will need to be built back up from scratch. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that Gil will not be an option until June at the earliest. Marcus Stroman should fill in for Gil.
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Andrew Nardi, RP, Miami Marlins - Back: Nardi came into Spring Training as possibility to close for the Marlins but he had a back issue coming into camp. He has stopped his throwing program after feeling more tightness in his back. There is no timeline for his return.
Evan Phillips, RP, Los Angeles Dodgers - Shoulder: Phillips has been going slow this spring as he comes back from a right shoulder injury. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Phillips could be active by the first or second week of April. The one time Dodger closer looks to be more of a middle reliever this year.
Andrew Kittredge, RP, Baltimore Orioles - Knee: Kittredge had left knee surgery, a debridement (cleanout), performed last week. He was going to be one of the options to close for the Orioles as Felix Bautista comes back from surgery himself. Kittredge is expected to miss multiple months, which leaves Seranthony Dominguez as the clear backup to Bautista.
#orioles say Andrew Kittredge underwent "successful left knee debridement" with Dr. Leigh Ann Curl yesterday in Baltimore
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) March 8, 2025
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