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As the weekend nears, there are several fantasy baseball hitters dealing with injuries. Keeping up to date with the latest banged-up players can be a tall task in the marathon that is the MLB season, but it's key to staying competitive. Let's take a look at injured hitters including Bryan Reynolds, Sean Murphy, Dansby Swanson, Aaron Judge, Gio Urshela, and more.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for hitters as of June 23, 2023. We'll be covering all positions throughout the week, so stay tuned. 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 force fantasy managers to search waiver wires in hopes of finding adequate replacements.
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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Bryan Reynolds Injury Update
The Pittsburgh Pirates placed outfielder Bryan Reynolds (back) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday due to lower-back stiffness. The Pirates initially didn't believe that Reynolds' back injury was serious, but they've changed their tune and will now have him sit out for at least the next 10 days. Depending on how he recovers, there's a chance fantasy managers won't have the 28-year-old switch-hitter until after the All-Star break.
Reynolds is having a fine season so far, slashing .279/.350/.473 with an .823 OPS, eight home runs, 20 doubles, three triples, 40 RBI, eight stolen bases and 38 runs scored in 294 trips to the plate over 68 games. Until Reynolds is able to return, expect the Pirates to roll with Josh Palacios and Connor Joe in left field.
Sean Murphy Injury Update
Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy (hamstring) won't catch on Friday in the series opener against the Cincinnati Reds, but he will be available to pinch hit like he did in the series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday.
Murphy is getting closer to catching again, but he's not quite there yet. In his pinch-hit appearance on Thursday, he struck out. The 28-year-old backstop is dealing with a mild right-hamstring injury and isn't expected to need a trip to the injured list. Fantasy managers should have him available at some point this weekend against the Reds. Murphy has been one of the best fantasy catchers so far in 2023, so he needs to be returned to all starting lineups once he rejoins Atlanta's starting lineup.
Dansby Swanson Injury Update
X-rays have come back negative on Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson's right wrist after he dealt with swelling following Tuesday's win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
With off days coming on Thursday and Friday, the Cubs have elected to give Swanson three days to heal up before hopefully returning to the lineup on Saturday to face the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals in London. Swanson went hitless on Tuesday to end his eight-game hitting streak.
Aaron Judge Injury Update
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (toe) has advanced to pool/balance/strength work, according to manager Aaron Boone. The Yankees are hoping Judge can resume throwing and possibly light hitting by the end of this week. Judge turned a corner in his rehab from a right big-toe sprain after receiving a second platelet-rich plasma injection, but he has yet to resume baseball activities.
The Yankees aren't going to rush the 31-year-old All-Star slugger back until he's fully healthy, so fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if he doesn't return until after the All-Star break in mid-July. Judge still leads the league with a .674 slugging percentage and has added 19 home runs, 10 doubles and 40 RBI in 49 games played (213 plate appearances). Jake Bauers, Oswaldo Cabrera, Billy McKinney and Giancarlo Stanton could all see playing time in right field until Judge returns.
Patrick Wisdom Injury Update
Chicago Cubs third baseman Patrick Wisdom (wrist) has been swinging the bat lately and will travel with the club to London and take some swings there. The slugger was placed on the injured list on Saturday after spraining his right wrist and there's no timetable yet for his return. Over 56 games this year, Wisdom owns just a .196 batting average but has gone deep 14 times with 30 runs, 28 RBI, and two stolen bases.
It's hard for fantasy managers to swallow that average, making the 31-year-old droppable in most formats. Expect Nick Madrigal to continue to get most of the reps at the hot corner. The former prospect is hitting just .252 with no home runs but has swiped six bags across 45 games.
Mike Yastrzemski Injury Update
San Francisco Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski left Wednesday's contest against the San Diego Padres in the fifth inning after experiencing left hamstring tightness. According to the SF Giants on NBCS Twitter, he'll undergo an MRI on Thursday, which should provide more information on the severity of the ailment.
Yastrzemski is in the midst of a solid season, slashing .259/.324/.482 with 10 homers, 37 runs, and 27 RBI over 55 games. That's good production in any format, and fantasy managers should keep their fingers crossed that it's just a minor issue. Stay tuned for more updates and consider the 32-year-old day-to-day.
Gio Urshela Injury Update
Los Angeles Angels infielder Gio Urshela (pelvis) is expected to miss the rest of the season, according to manager Phil Nevin. The veteran infielder landed on the injured list over the weekend due to a left pelvis fracture.
The good news is that Urshela won't need surgery, but he isn't expected to be able to play again this season. It's a tough blow as Urshela's defensive versatility was a beneficial asset to this roster. Michael Stefanic was recalled to take the spot on the roster, so possibly he gets more playing time going forward.
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