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Fantasy baseball draft season is heating up, and Opening Day is just two weeks away. There are several key fantasy hitters on the injury report ahead of the start of the season, so let's take a look at injured studs Ronald Acuna Jr., Aaron Judge, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Kyle Schwarber, and more.
This is our weekly edition of fantasy baseball injury updates for hitters, as of March 14, 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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Ronald Acuna Jr. Injury Update
Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) is slated to return to Grapefruit League action on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The reigning MVP will serve as the designated hitter and bat in his usual leadoff spot in his first spring game back after he experienced soreness in his right knee last week. Obviously, this is a welcome development, and hopefully, he'll come away from the game without any soreness.
Ronald Acuña Jr. is back in the Braves’ lineup today, for the first time since experiencing knee soreness. He’ll lead off as the DH.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) March 14, 2024
Assuming so, he should continue to be the top overall pick in fantasy drafts with his unrivaled production across all categories.
Aaron Judge Injury Update
According to sources, New York Yankees superstar outfielder Aaron Judge (oblique, toe) is dealing with an oblique issue, and his toe is still bothering him from last year. However, he is still expected to be ready for Opening Day, but he has been managing some pain in spring training, which is why the Yankees are being extra cautious with his workload in camp. It's not what Yankees fans want to hear with ace Gerrit Cole (elbow) possibly needing Tommy John surgery.
Sources: Yankees’ superstar Aaron Judge is dealing with an oblique issue and his toe is still ailing him from last year
He is still expected to be ready for Opening Day but he has some pain to manage which is why NYY being cautious
— Pat Ragazzo (@ragazzoreport) March 14, 2024
The 31-year-old All-Star slugger missed almost two months in 2023 due to a torn ligament in his big right toe, and it's still an issue with Opening Day several weeks away. Judge is also dealing with abdominal soreness, but he attributes that and his oblique issue to all the extra swinging he did in the offseason. The five-time All-Star, former AL Rookie of the Year, and AL MVP in 2022 just became a lot more of an injury risk than he already was as a top-10 overall fantasy selection.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Injury Update
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (knee) was back in the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, serving as the designated hitter and batting third for the team. Guerrero has missed spring training games of late due to both knee and finger injuries, but he's fine now and should return to the field by this weekend.
Vladdy returns to the lineup 😃
📺 @Sportsnet
📻 @FAN590 pic.twitter.com/CBkC6KnUxH— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 13, 2024
The 24-year-old should be just fine for the start of the 2024 regular season by the end of the month. Although fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting Vladdy Jr. to return to his 2021 levels -- when he hit .311/.401/.601 with a league-high 48 home runs and 111 RBI -- he can still serve as a top-five fantasy first baseman in a hitter-friendly home park and a strong Blue Jays lineup.
Kyle Schwarber Injury Update
Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that he expects outfielder/designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (groin) to play in the Grapefruit League contest on Thursday against the Boston Red Sox after he was scratched from the lineup on Wednesday versus the Detroit Tigers as a precaution due to right-groin tightness. "He said he felt fine to play, but I pulled him out just as a precaution," Thomson said.
Rob Thomson says he expects Kyle Schwarber (a late scratch because of groin tightness) to play tomorrow.
He felt something in the weight room following BP.
Thomson: “He said he felt fine to play, but I pulled him out just as a precaution.”
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) March 13, 2024
The 31-year-old left-handed slugger seems to be just fine and will be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season at the end of March. Schwarber has carried one of the lowest batting averages in recent seasons among regular starters, but his elite power production and RBI opportunities in a strong Phillies lineup make him worthy of being a No. 2 fantasy outfielder.
Matt McLain Injury Update
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (oblique) said Tuesday that he will "totally" be ready to start the 2024 regular season healthy after missing most of spring training with an oblique injury. The 24-year-old, who made his Cactus League debut on Sunday, has the support of manager David Bell, who said Tuesday, "I am confident he will be ready to go." McLain will look to pick up where he left off in 2023, when he slashed .290/.357/.507 with 16 home runs, 65 runs scored, 50 RBI, and 14 stolen bases in 403 plate appearances. (MLB.com)
Will Smith Injury Update
The Los Angeles Dodgers said that they scratched catcher Will Smith (back) from Wednesday's Cactus League finale due to lower-back tightness. With Smith sitting out, Austin Barnes will start behind the plate for the Blue. Smith's back injury doesn't sound serious at all, but the Dodgers aren't going to take any chances with their starting backstop with the team's first regular season game coming next week in Korea against the San Diego Padres.
Dodgers say they scratched Will Smith from today's Cactus League finale with low back tightness.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 13, 2024
With spring training now over for Smith, he finishes with two home runs and five RBI in nine Cactus League contests. As one of the best all-around offensive catchers in the game in one of the best lineups in baseball, Smith is considered RotoBaller's No. 3 overall fantasy catcher, behind only Adley Rutschman and J.T. Realmuto.
Ian Happ Injury Update
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Wednesday that outfielder Ian Happ (hamstring) is "on track for Opening Day." Happ is recovering from a left hamstring strain in camp, but he's trending in the right direction and was able to face live pitching at spring training last week. Before the 29-year-old is allowed to get back into a Cactus League game, he's probably going to need to show the coaching staff that he can run at full speed without any setbacks.
Craig Counsell, speaking this morning on Ian Happ's status: "Ian's on track for Opening Day."
He said Seiya Suzuki's appearances in left field this spring are about preparing for possible future needs, not a response to Happ being down.
— Jared Wyllys (@jwyllys) March 13, 2024
The switch-hitting outfielder was a first-time All-Star in 2022 and delivered another strong year in 2023, slashing .248/.360/.431 while setting career-highs in RBI (84), stolen bases (14), and runs scored (86) while also clubbing 21 home runs. Happ doesn't stand out in any one category for fantasy managers, but he makes for a solid No. 3 outfielder.
Cedric Mullins Injury Update
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins (hamstring) is scheduled to return to the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Thursday, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Mullins left a spring training game last week with a hamstring discomfort and has been held out of action since as a precaution. It appears the 29-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is fine now, though, so he will return to game action on Thursday and should be fine for Opening Day at the end of March.
Cedric Mullins (right hamstring discomfort) is scheduled to return to #Orioles’ lineup on Thursday, per manager Brandon Hyde
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) March 13, 2024
After breaking out in 2021 with a 30-30 campaign and a .291 batting average, Mullins' power and average have come down in the last two seasons. It's looking more like his 2021 season was an outlier, but Mullins, when healthy, can still provide an interesting mix of power and speed in a strong Baltimore lineup.
Max Muncy Injury Update
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Max Muncy (illness) will be on the team's charter flight to South Korea for the two-game, season-opening series against the San Diego Padres on March 20-21. Muncy said he lost 10 pounds while fighting a non-COVID virus in the last week, but he's feeling better now and will be ready for the start of the 2024 regular season. In the long run, Muncy's illness will be quickly forgotten, but DFS gamers may want to avoid Muncy in their lineups to open the season if he's still recovering.
Max Muncy will be on #Dodgers charter to South Korea. Muncy told me he lost 10 pounds fighting a gnarly virus (Not COVID) in the last week.
— David Vassegh (@THEREAL_DV) March 13, 2024
The 33-year-old left-handed-slugging corner infielder should continue to provide plenty of home runs and RBI for fantasy managers, but he's become more of an injury risk in recent seasons and also will drain your team batting average.
Tommy Edman Injury Update
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Tommy Edman (wrist) will begin the season on the injured list, according to manager Oliver Marmol. Edman has been recovering from wrist surgery he had in October of last year, but with lingering pain in the wrist, he's yet to make a Grapefruit League appearance.
Tommy Edman (wrist surgery) will start year on IL. Being shutdown for at least a week. #stlcards
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) March 14, 2024
This announcement seemed like it was coming, but with Edman now being shut down for at least a week, it is official. It's unclear when exactly he'll be ready, but for now, it seems like Dylan Carlson or speedy prospect Victor Scott II would be the front-runners for replacing him. The 28-year-old now appears to be pricey at pick 171 overall, but he should be counted on for plenty of steals and runs whenever he does debut.
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