Ambulance Chasers: Eury-In for A Bad Time

Note: This week’s edition of Ambulance Chasers was submitted a little earlier than usual due to inclement weather. The information was written as of the afternoon of Friday, April 5. If there is news or updates that came out in the late afternoon or evening of Friday, April 5 , it won’t be reflected in the article. Follow up in the comments for newer information.

It’s been a minute since we’ve been given an interesting injury fodder (dog bite, ankle turning while goofing around at home, cutting your finger while playing with a drone) by the baseball gods, but this week Trevor Megill delivered, sadly. Megill not only got food poisoning on a business trip to New York. He also fainted in public and hit his head, which resulted in a concussion.

Add this to the pantheon of weird injuries: Trevor Megill had food poisoning in NYC and when he returned to Milwaukee went to a phone store. While there, he fainted and all 6-foot-8 fell to the floor. He ended up with a concussion and is now on the IL. Scary injury.

— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) April 3, 2024

While it livens up things around this place, concussions are no joke and Megill’s timeline for return is uncertain. I share a little bit more about how the Brewers are handling it and what it means for your roster a little further down in this edition of Razzball Ambulance Chasers.

Additionally, Mike Coulliard and I chatted about the Megill concussion and other injuries earlier this week on Cards & Categories Ep. 38: Navigating The Injured Pitcher Pool. We also chatted about pitchers to stash. Mike’s Waiver Wire article comes out on Saturday after Ambulance Chasers. Come here for the injuries. Then go and see him for some other options to heal the wounds that destroy your roster.

Now, let’s roll that beautiful bean footage.

Notable Injuries

AL East

Jonathan Loáisiga (RP, NYY)

The Yankees reliever is out on the 60-day IL with a right flexor strain. Dennis Santana was called up to replace Loáisiga. Santana had a decent spring training but has notable control issues. In 2023, Santana had a 5.74 xFIP, but that is projected to improve somewhat this year.

BREAKING: The #Yankees have placed Jonathan Loáisiga on the 60-day injured list with a right flexor strain.

Dennis Santana was signed to a Major League contract and added to the 26-man roster. Santana, 27, posted a 2.79 ERA in spring training over 9.2 innings. pic.twitter.com/75AhrAmLyP

— Bronx Bombers News (@NewsBronx) April 5, 2024

Brandon Lowe (2B, TBR)

Lowe was out after experiencing some left side tightness during a Wednesday game against the Rangers. An MRI cleared Lowe of any serious issues, and he should be back in the line-up today, per Kevin Cash.

If Lowe were to remain out, there are a few options the Rays could go with. There’s Amed Rosario, but he may be in the outfield more these days. The Rays also have Curtis Mead, Austin Shenton, and Richie Palacios available to step in should Lowe’s absence be extended. Palacios and Mead have a 147 and 136 wRC+, respectively. In 16 PA, Palacios’ skill is not as much in hitting as it is his 25% walk rate with 1 SB. Mead has 5 hits in 15 PA.

Curtis Mead gets his first career hit on the first Major League pitch he sees! pic.twitter.com/tUCjs8bUvB

— Taylor Jenkins (@TJenkinsTampa) August 5, 2023

José Caballero is 2B eligible. He is hitting .333/.412/.400 with 3 SB. He is projected to regress, but his hot streak may be a good interim solution.

If you’re looking for something outside of the Rays, there is a super slim chance Brice Turang is still unrostered in your league. Current SB (6) leader, Turang is hitting .438/.471/.563.

AL West

Josh Jung (3B, TEX)

Josh Jung is on the IL with a fractured wrist after being hit by a pitch during a game against the Rays on Monday. The injury required surgery. The news only got worse when the Rangers announced the injury was worse than expected, and Jung would be out eight to ten weeks.

The Rangers may have a platoon covering 3B. The utilitarian Ezequiel Duran and Josh H. Smith are confirmed to be splitting time at 3B. Prospect Justin Foscue was called up to replace Jung’s spot on the roster and have his MLB debut. He could also factor in the 3B platoon.

The Texas Rangers are calling up top prospect Justin Foscue, sources tell ESPN. Foscue, 25, was a first-round pick in 2020 and can play first, second and third base. He’ll fill the roster spot of Josh Jung, whose right wrist was broken when a pitch hit it Monday.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 2, 2024

In his 2023 MiLB season, Foscue hit .266/.394/.468 with 18 HR and 84 RBIs in 462 ABs. He also had 14 SB and 85 BB.

Mike Coullaird and I chatted more in depth about this on Cards & Categories Ep. 38: Navigating The Injured Pitcher Pool.

Luis Rengifo (UT, LAA)

It’s been a weird, perplexing start of the season for Rengifo. I know many folks (me, in particular) were looking forward to having him back in action as a super-utility piece for their rosters. However, between injuries and the Angels roster construction, we have not seen as much Rengifo as some might like (4 games, 10 PA),

That trend continued when, on Wednesday, he was taken from a game for reported lightheadedness and not a lot has been shared since that time.

Miguel Sanó is playing third base after Luis Rengifo was removed from the game for feeling lightheaded, Sanó got 37 defensive innings at third base in 2021 but prior to those nine-ish games he hadn't played third since 2019

— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) April 3, 2024

Miguel Sanó, who is very likely available in your league, stepped in for Rengifo and had a solid game. Sanó had two runs and two doubles. In the same game, he produced the second hardest hit this season (114.9 mph swing) that resulted in a ground out.

Meanwhile, Rengifo watch continues.

NL Central

Jeimer Candelario (3B, CIN)

Jeimer Candelario left a game against the Phillies with an elbow injury that is being described by manager David Bell as a hyper-extended elbow. Luckily, the injury is not serious, and he was back in the lineup yesterday.

That’s great for the Reds as Candelario has become a crucial piece of the Reds roster after top prospect Noelvi Marte was suspended for PEDs. Adding insult to injury, the roster also lost Matt McLain to the IL.

Jeimer Candelario is in the lineup and says he is feeling great pregame. Didn’t have significant pain yesterday after the
hyperextended elbow Wednesday in Philly.

Thinks it’s a result of the cold temps more than anything else.

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) April 5, 2024

Although there is a 3B injury bug, there are some decent early season 3B replacements available. Oakland’s J.D. Davis has been on a tear, hitting two 400+ ft bombs against Cleveland in their March 29 game. While not every game is that productive, he is getting hits in games and could be helpful if you are down bad.

Willson Contreras (C, STL)

Contreras was hit by a pitch on the hand during the Cardinals Wednesday game against the Padres. Luckily, x-rays of his hand came back clear. It’s possible Contreras will play today, either as catcher or DH. In the interim, Iván Herrera is available and had an impressive game on Thursday. In 14 PAs, Herrera is slashing .333/.286/.583 with 1 HR and 4 RBIs.

Pedro Pagés was also recalled for his debut. He will replace Matt Carpenter who is on the IL with a strained oblique. In 9 AB in the minors this year, Pagés has 1HR and 2 RBIs.

Ivan Herrera just hit an absolute tank for his first major league home run:

EV: 107.2 MPH
LA: 33 Deg
Distance: 414 ft. pic.twitter.com/UaAceX0XqW

— Kareem (@KareemSSN) April 4, 2024

Trevor Megill (RP, MIL)

Trevor Megill had a rough week. First, he got food poisoning while on the road to play the Mets. Then, in a presumed moment of illness related weakness, Megill hit his head after fainting which resulted in a concussion. There is no timeline for return at the time of publication.

J.B. Bukauskas was recalled to replace Megill. Bukauskas made changes to his pitching arsenal, which leads some to view him as a sleeper this year. In his 6 IP with the Brewers in 2024, Bukauskas through 6 SO for a 0.00 ERA and 0.83 WHIP.

J.B. Bukauskas is one of my picks for a breakout reliever this year. I caught up with him in camp about replacing his flat four-seamer with a heavy sinker and balancing weak contact with strikeouts.https://t.co/c560sjeOgV

— Jack Stern (@ByJackStern) March 17, 2024

NL East

Sean Murphy (C, ATL)

Sean Murphy was injured after I submitted last week’s edition of Ambulance Chasers but now seems like a great time for an update. The Braves shared Murphy has a high grade 1 oblique strain, which can take around a month to heal.

However, the Braves have made a few moves that could be seen as an indication that Murphy might be out for longer than a month. Of course, there is backup catcher Travis d’Arnaud who will take the helm, and there is also Chadwick Tromp who will now serve as the backup. The Braves signed former Royal Sandy León to a minor league deal to bolster catching depth.

If none of those players tickle your fancy, Iván Herrera, who I mentioned above, could be useful as long as Contreras is out. Another option is Patrick Bailey who returned from the IL earlier this week and has 6 H in 16 AB with 1 HR and 1 RBI.

If you hang it, Patty Barrels is going to bang it

Patrick Bailey takes Glassnow deep for his first HR of the season #SFGiants

pic.twitter.com/85pmQMjKoR

— Markus Boucher (@MarkusBoucher) April 4, 2024

Eury Pérez (SP, MIA)

Pérez needs Tommy John surgery which will put him out for the season and maybe early into 2025.

If we are looking for some positives, Braxton Garrett and Edward Cabrera will be back in the line-up very soon (in the next week or so).

Injury Updates

It’s time for your lightning round updates. Let’s go!:

• Kyle Bradish (SP, BAL), elbow: rehab progresses; no specific timeline other than early in the first half of the season by GM Mike Elias.
• Walker Buehler (SP, LAD), elbow: made his rehab start last Sunday.
• Alex Cobb (SP, SFG), hip: threw 5 innings in a minor league game and has had bullpen sessions; eligible to return April 9, but timeline uncertain.
• Jhoan Duran (RP, MIN), oblique: Twins play-by-play voice Cory Provus shared that Duran will be out for the “forseeable future”. Oof.
• Tommy Edman (2B, STL), wrist: MRI showed progress but still not cleared for baseball activities.
• Brusdar Graterol (RP, LAD), shoulder: moved to 60-day IL to make way for Nick Ramirez.
• Sonny Gray (SP, STL), hamstring: has one more rehab start with a rumored April 15 return.
• Eloy Jiménez (OF, CWS), thigh: may be back in the lineup this weekend.
• DJ LeMahieu (3B, NYY), foot: Jon Berti was brought in to replace LeMahieu who has a foot fracture.
• Royce Lewis (3B, MIN), quad: out for a month.
• Nick Lodolo (SP, CIN), calf: things are going well in rehab.
• Josh Lowe (OF, TBR), oblique: may be activated sometime in May.
• Nate Lowe (1B, TEX), oblique: may be activated sometime in the next week or two.
• John Means (SP, BAL), forearm: rehabbing; should be back later this month or early May.
• Lars Nootbaar (OF, STL), ribs: rehabbing; return delayed not because of medical issues but “timing issues”.
  

  While the #STLCards were rallying past the #Marlins on Thursday, Lars Nootbaar was at DH for Triple-A Memphis in Indianapolis.

  Nootbaar went 0 for 4 with 2 Ks as Memphis' DH. Manager Oliver Marmol said Nootbaar's return to the bigs is a timing issue and not a medical one now.

  — John Denton (@JohnDenton555) April 5, 2024

• Eduardo Rodriguez (SP, ARI), elbow: as of last update, not throwing off the mound.
• Jordan Romano (SP, TOR), elbow: throwing live sessions and could be activated mid-April. Erik Swanson is also throwing live BP.
• Max Scherzer (SP, TEX), back: last update shared a potential late-May return.
• Robert Stephenson (RP, LAA), shoulder: late-April activation.
• Jameson Taillon (SP, CHC), back: beginning rehab in the minors on Sunday.
• Alek Thomas (OF, ARI), hamstring: strained hamstring; he could be out a couple of weeks.
• Justin Verlander (SP, HOU), shoulder: scheduled to pitch in Triple-A tomorrow.
• Gavin Williams (SP, CLE), elbow: no timetable for return, but he is progressing.
  

  Cleveland #Guardians RHP Gavin Williams is headed back to Arizona to build back up arm strength. He was given 100% ready to go after his bullpen in Seattle on Monday. There is no timetable how long it will take before he will be ready. Per manager Steven Vogt "Gavin needs to…

  — Guardians Prospective (@CleGuardPro) April 3, 2024

   

That’s it for this week. Hit me up in the comments per usual with any questions, updates, additions, or info I missed.

---

I occasionally post about injuries and share photos of my pets over on Twitter (@Wh1sk3r_B1scu1t) and/or Bluesky (@keelin12ft.bsky.social). See you there!