Injury Report: 8/19

Hello and welcome to the Injury Report!

This roundup is a bi-weekly article, published on Mondays and Fridays, where I aim to detail approximately five relevant injuries that have occurred over the past few days or provide an update on the injury of a prominent MLB player. I will try to incorporate the available information as well as my own knowledge and experience to approximate a return date in each case, noting the individual characteristics of the injuries and of the players themselves.

If you have questions regarding an injury not detailed in this article, feel free to comment below, and I will give my best effort to provide a timely update. I fell behind on some questions from earlier this week so I have made sure to include those players in today’s report.

 

Joey Gallo – Left Hamate Resection

 

Joey Gallo remains on course to return in September following a surgery to remove the hook of the hamate bone in his left hand. The surgery is minor but still involves a surgical wound to the hand. Gallo requires that wound to be healed prior to taking full swings.

Estimated return: Early to mid-September

 

Adalberto Mondesi – Left Shoulder Subluxation

 

Adalberto Mondesi is a popular target for the comments section of these articles. He continues to participate in baseball activities and is demonstrating progress. He has completed live batting practice and swings each day in the cage. He is fielding without concern. Mondesi has a chance to return for the beginning of September.

Estimated return: Early September

 

Fernando Tatis Jr. – Lower Back Stress Reaction

 

Fernando Tatis Jr. will see his season come to an early end after enduring a stress reaction in his lower back. Tatis should be able to return without complication next season so long as this injury is managed appropriately. He will require up to eight weeks of rest followed by a gradual return to baseball activities, and unfortunately there is not enough time to accommodate that timetable this season.

Estimated return: 2020

 

Johnny Cueto – Tommy John Surgery

 

A comment came through requesting information on Johnny Cueto. He is currently on a rehab assignment in the low minors and is sitting at about 50 pitches per appearance. He has a chance to return to the Giants roster in late August or early September. Cueto is in the latter half of his career with diminished velocity, requiring him to locate and change speeds effectively to remain successful. Following Tommy John surgery, it is often location that comes last, which does not bode well for Cueto for this season.

Estimated return: Late August or early September

 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Left Knee Inflammation

 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is day-to-day with left knee inflammation. An MRI did not show any structural damage and this does not appear to be a recurrence of the left patellar tendon strain that cost Vladito more than a month in 2018. Assuming the inflammation is managed, he should be able to return in about a week.

Estimated return: Late this week or early next week.

 

If there is a player on whom you would like information who I have not detailed in this article, please comment below, and I will reply as I am able.

Featured image by Michael Haas (@digitalHaas on Twitter)