Injury Report: March 24th, 2018

Hello and welcome!

Reminder that:

• R and L are added wherever available to denote right and left side.
• Notations (1), (2), or (3) are included to denote the Grade of strains and sprains where available.

We’ve seen the following players leave the report due to returning to play or no longer being a part of the MLB roster:

Ender Inciarte, Chris Davis, Javier Baez, Pedro Strop, Nicky Delmonico, Tyler Saladino, Scooter Gennett, Michael Brantley, Tom Murphy, Pat Valaika, Blaine Hardy, Paulo Orlando, Chris Young, Ehire Adrianza, Miguel Sano, Yoenis Cespedes, Anthony Swarzak, Nelson Cruz, Ryon Healy, Andrew Romine, Brad Miller, Martin Perez, Randal Grichuk, Justin Smoak, Marcus Stroman, Adam Eaton and Michael Taylor.

We also saw quite a few players join the table. Each new player has a small blurb describing their injury and a projected timetable for return. Updates are also posted where available. Be sure to check out my thoughts on Madison Bumgarner, and why I’m more optimistic about Justin Turner’s return than most. Let’s check out the table:

Team	DL	Pos	Player	Inj. Date	Injury	Timetable	Est. Return	Countdown
ARI		RP	Randall Delgado	9-28-17	R flexor strain, oblique tightness	2-4 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
ARI		SP	Zack Greinke	3-14-18	R Groin tightness	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
ARI		SP	Shelby Miller	5-10-17	R Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	7-1-18	0y 3m 7d
ARI		SS/2B	Chris Owings	7-31-18	R Long finger fracture	6-8 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
ARI		OF	Steven Souza Jr.	3-21-18	R Pectoral strain	6-8 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
ATL		3B	Johan Camargo	3-14-18	Back tightness	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
ATL	60	RP	Grant Dayton	8-29-17	L Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	9-1-18	0y 5m 8d
ATL		SP	Luiz Gohara	2-27-18	L ankle sprain	1-2 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
BAL		SS	Tim Beckham	3-22-18	Groin strain	DTD	3-29-19	1y 0m 5d
BAL	60	RP	Zach Britton	12-21-17	R Achille’s tendon tear	5-9 m	7-1-18	0y 3m 7d
BAL		DH	Mark Trumbo	3-8-18	R Quad strain (2)	3-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
BAL		SP	Gabriel Ynoa	3-9-18	Stress reaction in shins	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
BOS		3B	Marco Hernandez	5-26-17	L Shoulder surgery	4-6 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 8d
BOS		RP	Austin Maddox	3-1-18	R Shoulder inflammation	1-2 w	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
BOS		2B	Dustin Pedroia	10-25-17	L Knee surgery, cartilage restoration	7-10 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 8d
BOS		SP	Drew Pomeranz	3-2-18	L Flexor strain	1-2 w	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
BOS		SP	Eduardo Rodriguez	10-17-17	R Patellofemoral ligament reconstruction	6-8 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
BOS		RP	Tyler Thornburg	6-16-17	Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery	12+ w	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
BOS		SP	Steven Wright	5-8-17	L Knee surgery, cartilage restoration	7-10 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
CHC		RP	Shae Simmons	3-8-18	R Shoulder tightness	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
CHC	60	SP	Drew Smyly	6-17-17	L Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	7-1-18	0y 3m 7d
CWS		1B	Jose Abreu	3-20-18	Hamstring strain (1)	1 w	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
CWS		OF	Micker Adolfo	2-23-18	R Elbow UCL sprain (1 or 2)	6-8 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
CWS		SP	Carlos Rodon	9-27-17	L Shoulder surgery, bursitis	6-8 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 8d
CWS		C	Kevan Smith	3-20-19	L Ankle sprain	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
CIN		SP	Anthony DeSclafani	3-11-18	Strained oblique (2)	4-8 w	5-15-18	0y 1m 21d
CIN	60	SP	Rookie Davis	10-9-17	R Hip surgery	8-10 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 8d
CIN		SP	Brandon Finnegan	3-11-18	L Biceps strain (1)	1-2 w	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
CIN		RP	Michael Lorenzen	3-20-18	R Teres major strain	6 w	5-15-18	0y 1m 21d
CIN		OF	Jose Siri	2-23-18	L Thumb sprain	4-6 w	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
CLE	60	SP	Cody Anderson	3-27-17	R Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
CLE		SP	Julian Merryweather	3-9-18	R Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 8d
CLE		OF	Brandon Guyer	9-16-17	L Wrist extensor tendon repair	2-4 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
CLE		SP/RP	Danny Salazar	1-15-18	R Rotator cuff inflammation	2-4 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
CLE		3B	Giovanny Urshela	3-21-18	R Hamstring strain (1)	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
DET		SP	Mike Fiers	3-18-18	Back soreness	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
COL		RP	Carlos Estevez	3-19-18	L Oblique strain (1)	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
COL	60	RP	Rayan Gonzalez	4-1-17	R Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
COL		SP	Jeff Hoffman	3-4-18	R Shoulder soreness	2-4 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
HOU		1B	Yuli Gurriel	2-28-18	L Hook of hamate resection	6-8 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
HOU		RP	Jandel Gustave	6-21-17	R Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	8-21-18	0y 4m 28d
HOU		SP	Brady Rodgers	5-2-17	R Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	7-1-18	0y 3m 7d
KC	60	SP	Jesse Hahn	3-6-18	R Elbow UCL sprain (1 or 2)	8-10 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
LAA		SP	Andrew Heaney	3-19-18	L Elbow inflammation	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
LAA	60	SP	Alex Meyer	9-12-17	R Glenoid labrum surgery	12-14 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 8d
LAA		SP	Nate Smith	9-15-17	L Shoulder surgery, anterior capsule	12-14 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 8d
LAD		SP/RP	Tom Koehler	3-2-18	R Shoulder strain (2)	1-3 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 8d
LAD		3B	Justin Turner	3-19-18	L wrist fracture	6-8 w	5-15-18	0y 1m 21d
LAD	60	SP	Julio Urias	6-27-17	L Shoulder surgery, anterior capsule	12-14 m	7-1-18	0y 3m 7d
MIA		OF	Lewis Brinson	3-22-19	Head injury	DTD	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
MIA		SP	Wei-Yin Chen	5-5-17	L Elbow UCL sprain (2)	4-6 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 8d
MIA		RP	Brian Ellington	3-5-18	R Biceps tendinitis	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
MIA		SP	Brett Graves	3-6-18	Oblique strain	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
MIA		INF/OF	Martin Prado	7-28-17	R Knee surgery	6-8 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
MIA		C	J.T. Realmuto	3-9-18	Back contusion	DTD	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
MIA		SS	J.T. Riddle	8-11-17	L Shoulder surgery, SLAP tear	10-12 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 8d
MIA		OF	Magneuris Sierra	3-14-18	L Hamstring tightness	1 w	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
MIA		SP	Dan Straily	3-20-18	R Forearm inflammation	1 w	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
MIL		RP	Boone Logan	3-21-18	L Triceps strain (1)	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
MIL		SP	Jimmy Nelson	9-20-17	Shoulder surgery	12-14 m	6-15-18	0y 2m 22d
MIL		C	Stephen Vogt	2-28-18	R Shoulder strain	4-6 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
MIN		SP/RP	Trevor May	3-22-17	R Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
MIN	60	SP	Michael Pineda	7-18-17	R Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	8-1-18	0y 4m 8d
MIN		SP	Ervin Santana	2-6-18	R Long finger surgery	10-12 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
NYM		OF	Michael Conforto	9-6-17	R Shoulder surgery, post. capsule	4-6 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
NYM		SP	Rafael Montero	3-22-18	R Elbow UCL sprain (3)	12-18 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 8d
NYM	60	1B	T.J. Rivera	9-14-17	R Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	8-1-18	0y 4m 8d
NYM		1B	Dominic Smith	2-25-18	L Quad strain	2-4 w	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
NYM		SP	Jason Vargas	3-18-18	R Hamate fracture	4-6 w	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
NYM		3B	David Wright	6-17-16	Neck surgery	2-3 m	8-1-18	0y 4m 8d
NYY		OF	Jacoby Ellsbury	3-2-18	R Oblique tightness	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
NYY		OF	Clint Frazier	2-26-18	Concussion	4-6 w	6-1-18	0y 2m 8d
OAK		SP	Paul Blackburn	3-22-18	R Forearm tightness	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
OAK		RP	Santiago Casilla	3-12-19	R Shoulder tightness	1-2 w	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
OAK	60	SP	Jharel Cotton	3-21-18	R Elbow UCL sprain (1 or 2)	4-6 m	7-1-18	0y 3m 7d
OAK		RP	Ryan Dull	2-25-18	R Shoulder sorness	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
OAK		OF/3B	Renato Nunez	2-24-18	L Hamstring strain	2-4 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
PHI		SP	Jerad Eickhoff	3-16-18	R Lat strain	6-8 w	5-15-18	0y 1m 21d
PIT		RP	Nick Burdi	5-31-17	R Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	8-1-18	0y 4m 8d
PIT		RP	A.J. Schugel	2-25-18	R Shoulder discomfort	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
SD		OF	Alex Dickerson	2-25-18	L Elbow UCL sprain (1)	12-18 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 8d
SD		C	Austin Hedges	3-22-18	L Calf soreness	DTD	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
SD		SP	Colin Rea	3-8-18	R Lat strain	1-3 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
SEA		OF	Ben Gamel	3-4-18	Oblique strain	4-6 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
SEA		SP	Felix Hernandez	2-26-18	R Forearm contusion	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
SEA		RP	David Phelps	3-17-18	R Elbow UCL sprain (3)	12-18 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 8d
SEA		SP	Erasmo Ramirez	2-18-18	R Lat strain	1-3 m	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
SEA		SS	Jean Segura	3-21-18	Sore thumb	DTD	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
SEA		OF	Ichiro Suzuki	3-14-18	R Calf tightness	DTD	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
SF		SP	Madison Bumgarner	3-23-18	L 5th metacarpal fracture	10-14 w	7-1-18	0y 3m 7d
SF		SP	Jeff Samardzija	3-22-18	R Pectoral strain	1-3 m	5-15-18	0y 1m 21d
SF		RP	Will Smith	3-28-17	L Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	6-1-18	0y 2m 8d
STL		RP	Luke Gregerson	3-23-18	Hamstring strain	1-2 w	3-29-18	0y 0m 5d
STL		SP/RP	Alex Reyes	2-16-17	R Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	5-15-18	0y 1m 21d
TB		SP	Jose De Leon	3-13-18	R Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 8d
TB		SP	Brent Honeywell	2-27-18	R Tommy John Surgery	12-18 m	4-1-19	1y 0m 8d
TEX	60	SP	Clayton Blackburn	3-15-18	R Elbow UCL sprain (1)	10-12 w	6-1-18	0y 2m 8d
TEX		RP	Tim Lincecum	3-22-18	R middle finger blister	1-2 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
TOR		OF	Anthony Alford	3-13-18	R Hamstring strain (2)	1-2 m	5-15-18	0y 1m 21d
TOR		OF	Dalton Pompey	3-15-18	R Wrist discomfort	4-6 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
TOR		SS	Troy Tulowitzki	2-25-18	R Heel bone spur	4-6 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
WSH		RP	Joaquin Benoit	3-17-18	R Forearm strain	4-6 w	4-15-18	0y 0m 22d
WSH		2B	Daniel Murphy	10-20-17	R Knee microfracture surgery	7-10 m	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d
WSH	60	SP	Joe Ross	7-19-17	R Tommy John surgery	12-18 m	9-1-18	0y 5m 8d
WSH		RP	Koda Glover	2-18-18	R Shoulder inflammation	2-4 w	5-1-18	0y 1m 7d

UPDATES

Johan Camargo (3B, Atlanta Braves) – Has not progressed as the Braves have hoped. Reported to begin the year on the 10DL but should return when first eligible.

Zach Britton (RP, Baltimore Orioles) – Britton has his walking boot off and has been throwing. Britton is optimistic that he can return near the beginning of June. This feels possible but not probable.

Gabriel Ynoa (SP, Baltimore Orioles) – Ynoa has been out of the walking boot as of 3-17-18. Hopefully, the rest and protection were sufficient for the stress reaction in his shins to subside. He’ll still begin the season on the DL as he’ll have a ways to go to get into throwing shape. He could return in mid-April with a pen role or late-April as an SP. I’ll monitor to get a sense of the O’s plan for him.

Drew Pomeranz (SP, Boston Red Sox) – Pomeranz will need to bring his pitch count up prior to the start of the season or he’ll begin the year on the DL. We’ll probably get an indication this weekend. If he requires a DL stint, it will likely only be for the first week or so – he may miss two starts.

Steven Wright (SP, Boston Red Sox) – Got shelled in a minor league outing and doesn’t figure to take a rotation spot in Boston. Even when he returns, he figures to face a 15-game suspension for domestic violence.

Danny Salazar (SP/RP, Cleveland Indians) – Salazar threw off a mound for the first time this spring on 3-22-18. A whopping 20 pitches. We’re still looking at May at the earliest.

Michael Conforto (OF, New York Mets) – Conforto figures to see Grapefruit League action on 3-24-18 and looks like a good bet to beat his initial timetable. Early-May and mid-April seem to hold equal possibilities at this point. We should find out which way to lean by Opening Day.

Dominic Smith (1B, New York Mets) – Smith has still not returned to running and doesn’t seem like he’ll return by Opening Day at this rate. Either way, he won’t have time to win a job.

Alex Dickerson (OF, San Diego Padres) – Dickerson, who previously opted for conservative management of his UCL sprain now figures to get TJS before the end of March.

Luke Gregerson (RP, St. Louis Cardinals) – From an oblique to a hamstring, Gregerson isn’t getting much work in this spring. It may cost him the closer role to begin the season.

ADDITIONS

Steven Souza Jr. (OF, Arizona Diamondbacks) – I have him slotted for a return near the start of May since we don’t have a definitive grade of the strain available. He could be pushed back based on how his rehab goes.

Tim Beckham (SS, Baltimore Orioles) – Showalter has been ambiguous but this appears to be a minor issue. I don’t expect Beckham to miss much time at all.

Jose Abreu (1B, Chicago White Sox) – Reportedly very mild, and Abreu is progressing well. He is currently not expected to miss any time to start the regular season.

Kevan Smith (C, Chicago White Sox) – I’ve put a rather safe timetable as we’re still waiting for MRI results. X-ray coming back negative ensures that nothing is fractured, but we could still be dealing with moderate to severe ligament damage.

Michael Lorenzen (RP, Cincinnati Reds) – Teres major is a smaller muscle in the back that assists internal rotation at the shoulder. It’s difficult to know how long Lorenzen will be out with no strain indicated. I’ve put 6 weeks because any extended period of absence will lead to a longer throwing program, and he will need to fully rest before then. I will provide updates as more information is available.

Giovanny Urshela (3B, Cleveland Indians) – Currently anticipated to be an option for the Tribe in mid-April

Carlos Estevez (RP, Colorado Rockies) – Experienced a setback in rehabbing an oblique strain. Should return in mid-April barring additional setbacks.

Mike Fiers (SP, Detroit Tigers) – Once again, a safe timeline as we have limited information. The Tigers have the luxury of being patient with Fiers (who had a brutal spring so I doubt he’s even on your roster) as they don’t need a 5th starter until mid-April.

Justin Turner (3B, Los Angeles Dodgers) – Multiple reports are likening Turner’s wrist fracture to Springer and Freeman, but the wrist is so complex that each injury should be considered individual and unique. I’ve taken a couple of screenshots of the point of impact for each (Freeman, Springer, Turner from left to right).

Turner was hit on his front hand while the other two were struck on their back hand. This is important because of wrist positioning. During a swing, the front hand is prone and the back hand is supine. This has implications for how the ulna and radius are positioned, and thus how close the ulna is to the carpus (the other 8 wrist bones). This may have created a situation where Turner’s ulna incurred the fracture as opposed to any of the carpal bones (typically the hamate or triquetrum). This hypothesis is supported by imaging.

• Freeman’s X-rays came back inconclusive and additional imaging (MRI and CT scan) were required to accurately diagnose a fracture. Turner’s X-rays revealed a fracture. It is often difficult to diagnose a fracture to a carpal via X-ray imaging because the bones are so tightly bound by ligaments.

I could be wrong – we’d need to see the x-rays or have it explicitly stated which bone was broken in order to confirm or deny the hypothesis. Regardless, Turner appears to have a smoother course of rehab ahead of him already due to the fact that he’s in a splint rather than a cast. There’s some research available to suggest that wrist injuries have negative effects on a batter’s future power numbers. If it is a broken ulna I think we can at least partially quell this fear. I think there’s also a very real chance that he is back on the field prior to the 8-week timetable passing, and without a noticeable change in ISO. Time will tell.

Andrew Heaney (SP, Los Angeles Angels) – Heaney figures to require at least a few weeks to get back up to speed once the inflammation has subsided. We can craft an accurate timeline once he begins throwing again based on how much time he’s missed.

Lewis Brinson (OF, Miami Marlins) – Concussion protocol not initiated. Brinson is considered day-to-day unless this changes.

Dan Straily (SP, Miami Marlins) – Straily is currently slated to refrain from throwing until the end of the weekend. If he sticks to that timeline, he’ll be fine for Opening Day. He is a big set-back risk at the moment, though, and a setback could lead to a month off.

Boone Logan (RP, Milwaukee Brewers) – Figures to begin the year on the 10-day.

Rafael Montero (SP, New York Mets) – Completely torn UCL. TJS time. We’ll see how he’s doing in 2019.

Jason Vargas (SP, New York Mets)  – Jason Vargas was signed by the Mets as a sacrifice and will now absorb injuries for the entire starting rotation… I wish this were true. Vargas fractured the hamate in his right hand, and it sounds as though he had an operation to have the fragment removed. This option makes sense, and really the surgical wound itself is the biggest barrier to Vargas returning. He figures to miss somewhere between 0 and 2 starts to begin 2018.

Paul Blackburn (SP, Oakland Athletics) – Blackburn will be shut down from throwing for approximately 10 days to allow forearm tightness to subside. He then figures to need some time to resume his throwing program. He should return to the starting rotation in mid-to-late April barring any setbacks.

Santiago Casilla (RP, Oakland Athletics) – Casilla has returned to throwing bullpens. He figures to return to play this weekend if all remains well, which would have him ready for Opening Day.

Austin Hedges (C, San Diego Padres) – Hedges was struck by a pitch on his left calf. He may miss a game or two but should be just fine.

Jean Segura (SS, Seattle Mariners) – Segura is not expected to miss much time. He should be ready for Opening Day.

David Phelps (RP, Seattle Mariners) – Phelps is done for 2018 as he’ll receive TJS on Monday. We’ll see how he’s doing in 2019.

Madison Bumgarner (SP, San Francisco Giants) – This sucks. Appears to be an intra-articular 5th MCP fracture. No reason to expect any complications for the moment other than the time missed this season. He’ll be assessed as to whether he can have the pins removed at the 4 week and 6 week points, from there we look at returning to full hand functioning and then returning to throwing.

Jeff Samardzija (SP, San Francisco Giants) – We’re early into this pec strain and still waiting to see which end of the timetable we’re destined for. Bochy seems optimistic, as he said Loose Lips is expected to miss 3-4 weeks. Realistically we’ll probably land somewhere in the middle.

Tim Lincecum (RP, Texas Rangers) – Timmy shows up late to the Year of the Blister. He was behind schedule anyway after signing so late, so I wouldn’t expect him until the second half of April at this point.

Joaquin Benoit (RP, Washington Nationals) – Limited information available at this time. We’ll look for an update once Benoit returns to throwing – he should only be a few weeks out at that point.