While this baseball season has attempted to turn some of us (me!) full goth, I do have some pretty good news in this week’s edition of your Razzball fantasy baseball injury report:
- Ronald Acuna Jr. is back! It has been months in the making.
- Overall, injury incidences were down this week. New oblique injuries have dropped off a lot. Unfortunately, COVID IL entries were slightly up (by 1).
Let’s look into the league and team-by-team breakdown of this week’s injuries:
American League Injuries
AL Central
Chicago White Sox
Eloy Jimenez (OF): Jimenez is officially on the 10-day IL for a strained hamstring and hamstring tendon surgery with a projected 6-8 weeks recovery period. The White Sox have been playing Andrew Vaughn if LF, and he’s doing pretty well.
Are the Chicago White Sox a sustainable venture? Let’s find out!
Chicago White Sox outfielder, Eloy Jimenez, was carted off the field from what appears to be a hamstring injury ? #ChangeTheGame
— MLB Gambling Podcast (@MLBSGPN) April 23, 2022
Kansas City Royals
Adalberto Mondesi (SS): Ohhhh, Mondesi. We hardly knew ye. Mondesi tore his ACL (knee) in what is, maybe, one of the least dramatic ways to leave most, if not all, the 2022 season. In a game against the Chicago, White Sox, Mondesi appeared to hurt himself returning to 1B after Reynaldo Lopez attempted to get Mondesi out. While the injury did not look serious, it was. Nicky Lopez, Whit Merrifield, and, perhaps, Bobby Witt Jr. will see increased playing time while Mondesi is out.
A look at where #Royals Adalberto Mondesi might have hurt himself. There were three separate plays that looked awkward and here are two of them pic.twitter.com/j9fIeDlrQI
— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) April 27, 2022
AL East
Baltimore Orioles
Chris Ellis (SP): Ellis was placed on the 10-day IL with shoulder inflammation. Alexander Wells has been recalled to take Ellis’s place.
John Means (SP): In a huge blow to the Orioles and one of my rosters, John Means underwent Tommy John surgery and has been moved to the 60-day IL. He is expected to be out for the 2022 season and return in 2023. Jordan Lyles is expected to take on a bigger role in Means’ absence.
https://twitter.com/JMeans25/status/1517898380936200195
Toronto Blue Jays
Cavan Biggio (INF/OF): Biggio is out on the COVID-19 IL with “flu-like symptoms”. Assuming Biggio is vaccinated, he will be able to return to the Blue Jays once he is no longer infectious, per the MLB.
Blue Jays don’t have to make a 40-man roster move because Cavan Biggio is on COVID IL https://t.co/xwrRzPtO1g
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) April 29, 2022
Ryan Borucki (RP): Borucki, who has spent most of the season on the IL with a hamstring injury, is back on the IL with a blister on his middle finger. Andrew Vazquez will play for Borucki. Many of you may have likely heard commentary about the MLB ball and the behavior it exhibits. Keep an eye on blister injuries as well throughout the season.
If MLB is gonna mess with the baseball, why not make it a game within the game? Have three different balls in a glass case presented to the pitchers by the umpire. One ball is neutral, and the other two are hitter or pitcher positive. The pitcher chooses each inning a new ball.
— Razzball (@Razzball) April 28, 2022
AL West
Oakland Athletics
Drew Jackson (INF/OF): The A’s have mostly recovered from COVIDPALOOZA. However, Jackson is a straggler that found himself on the COVID-19 IL. Chad Pinder was activated during these trying times.
National League Injuries
NL Central
Cincinnati Reds
Nick Lodolo (SP): Lodolo is on the 10-day IL with a strained lower back. Connor Overton will step in Lodolo’s spot.
The Reds have added Connor Overton to the taxi squad. The Reds currently need a fifth starter with Nick Lodolo on the IL.
Overton (who throws two different sliders) has a 2.84 ERA in four games/ 19 innings this season.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) April 29, 2022
Justin Wilson (RP): In more terrible pitching news for the Reds, Justin Wilson is out with elbow soreness. While Wilson is on the 10-day IL, Phillip Diehl will pitch.
The #Reds today placed on the 10-day injured list, retro to Sunday, LHP Justin Wilson (left elbow soreness) and selected from Triple-A Louisville the contract of LHP Phillip Diehl.
Diehl is a Cincinnati native and attended Archbishop Moeller High School. pic.twitter.com/n5sK5excXP
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 27, 2022
It’s a rough time for the Reds, isn’t it? However, they may get some relief with the return of Luis Castillo, who began his rehab assignment yesterday.
The #Reds today announced the following transactions. pic.twitter.com/PCx6NF00TC
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 29, 2022
Milwaukee Brewers
Victor Caratini (C): Caratini has been moved to the COVID-IL. Alex Jackson has been called up to replace Caratini. The Brewers also have Omar Narvaez (C) to play as well.
C Victor Caratini has been placed on the injured list. C Alex Jackson has been recalled from Triple-A Nashville. pic.twitter.com/Tqhk81rlhA
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 26, 2022
Pittsburgh Pirates
Anthony Banda (RP): Banda is out with a non-viral illness and is on the 10-day IL. He has been throwing again and should be back by May 3. Sam Howards has been pitching in place of Banda.
Other #Pirates injury updates (1/2):
• LHP Anthony Banda is throwing today. He should only need the minimum stay on the IL.
• RHP Duane Underwood Jr. will head to Bradenton to continue his rehab.
• Greg Allen is participating in most baseball activities.— Justice delos Santos (@justdelossantos) April 27, 2022
Kevin Newman (SS): Newman is on the 10-day IL with a strained groin. He is expected to miss 3-5 weeks.
Cole Tucker (INF/OF): Tucker is out on the COVID-19 IL. Jack Suwinski and Tucupita Marcano both moved onto the Pirates roster to fill in missing roster spots.
NL East
Atlanta Braves
Manny Pina (C): Pina is out with wrist inflammation and on the 10-day IL. William Contreras takes Pina’s place and play Willson Contreras, his older brother.
Manny Piña on 10-day IL for left wrist inflammation and William Contreras activated. Contreras’ older brother is, of course, Cubs catcher Willson Contreras. The brothers will take lineup cards out tonight, both managers agreed to do that so they can get a picture for their mom.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) April 28, 2022
Eddie Rosario (OF): Rosario is having laser eye surgery and will be placed on the 10-day IL. He is expected to miss 8 to 12 weeks. Luckily, Ronald Acuna Jr. has returned and is doing quite well for the Atlanta Braves.
This seemingly explains the NLCS MVP’s early struggles: Eddie Rosario to have laser procedure on right eye pic.twitter.com/e9mGXH9dcR
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) April 26, 2022
NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks
J.B. Wendelken (RP): Wendelken is out on the COVID-19 list. Tyler Holton replaces Wendelken on the roster.
Los Angeles Dodgers
David Price (RP): Price is also out with COVID-19. Zach McKinstry was brought back to replace Price.
San Diego Padres
Wil Myers (OF): Myers was put on the 10-day IL with a thumb contusion. Trayce Thompson was brought in to replace Myers. Additionally, Austin Adams was moved to the 60-day IL to make room for Thompson.
The #Padres have placed OF Wil Myers on the 10-Day IL (retro: 4/27) with a right thumb contusion and selected the contract of OF Trayce Thompson.
Additionally, RHP Austin Adams has been transferred to the 60-Day IL.
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 28, 2022
San Francisco Giants
Mike Yastrzemski (OF), Zack Littell (RP): The Giants are the latest team to have COVID-19 going around the clubhouse. Yastrzemski and Littell were both moved to the COVID-19 IL. Kervin Castro was called to replace Littell.
Mike Yastrzemski tested positive for COVID. #SFGiants are testing their close contacts now. No extra player will make it up for today’s game.
— Evan Webeck (@EvanWebeck) April 24, 2022
Are there any other injury updates?
Did you see Lucius Fox II puke?
#Nationals luego de dos lanzamientos el equipo perdió a su 3ra base Lucius Fox ??….esperemos que se encuentre bien ?? #MGLD pic.twitter.com/dGQvvpOuXU
— MeGustanLosDeportes (@Palillito_33) April 24, 2022
Poor dude.
Have there been any injuries or recoveries lately that have changed your team? Share your experience below in the comments or hit me up on Twitter: @keelin_12ft