Greetings Razzfolks!
I have temporarily escaped the Midwest to visit Grapefruit League spring training in Florida. It feels a little heinous to give you the weekly doom and gloom report from a sunny place. However, I do my best to be consistent in spite of the sun, beer, and Bo Bichette’s majestic mane.
https://twitter.com/Keelin_12ft/status/1507415470915338277
This week you get a small preseason preview from spring training along with your injury report.
I caught the Blue Jays play the Tigers in what I call the “Labatt Blue Game”.
In Ambulance Chasers: The OUCH-field, I wrote about George Springer’s ongoing injury issues. A few commenters mentioned they have had bad luck with Springer on their fantasy baseball teams. He is looking very sturdy in spring training. Hopefully, this is the Season of Springer for those who have been wishing and hoping.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. looked very comfortable in a Blue Jays uniform. He reportedly stopped consuming pizza and soda and subsequently lost 15 lbs to prepare for the abbreviated preseason. While that sounds like a dreadful time to me, it must be doing something good. Gurriel Jr. is batting .625 in spring training.
#BlueJays el bate de Lourdes Gurriel Jr ?? sigue ON FIRE ? en el Spring Training, hoy bateo de 3-3 (2 RBI’s) y está bateando .625 #ST22 #MGLD ? @MLB pic.twitter.com/dsoKyMQUzg
— MeGustanLosDeportes (@Palillito_33) March 25, 2022
Despite the stacked line-up, the Blue Jays lost to the Tigers. Akil Baddoo is having a formidable preseason, hitting a triple, double, and home run in his last three starts.
If @AkilBaddoo wants to hit a ball to Canada, who are we to refuse? pic.twitter.com/0URoXbWU21
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) March 25, 2022
Maybe the Blue Jays will have the last laugh. They posted the game line-up with a threat (or promise?): “This isn’t even our final form.” I am shooketh, readers.
This isn’t even our final form ?
? @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/QB5Un8bgr4
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 25, 2022
Enough about what is to come. Let’s live in the (mostly) now, baby.
What is going on in the world of injuries this week?
Lucas Sims (RP): I missed Sims’ injury last week at the wire, but he is out with elbow and back soreness. Sims is currently questionable for Opening Day. As JKJ has noted on the updated Bullpen Chart, Art Warren stocks have gone up in Sims’ absence.
Lucas Sims ??
Art Warren ?@Razzball Bullpen Chart updated accordinglyhttps://t.co/fN90gfzTuk— JKJ (@jkj0787) March 20, 2022
Shane Baz (SP): The Rays’ pitching woes continue as Shane Baz joins the IL with loose bodies in his elbows. He underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery and is not expected to throw for 2-3 weeks. Baz joins teammates Nick Anderson, Tyler Glasnow, and Yonny Chirinos on the IL.
Obviously everyone's different, so who knows on Shane Baz, but here's Nathan Eovaldi after having loose bodies removed from his elbow. He left in April to return in late-July as a reliever pic.twitter.com/WQbOaF7CfJ
— Razzball (@Razzball) March 21, 2022
Tyler Glasnow (SP): Speaking of Tyler Glasnow, damn. Glasnow is out for 2022 after Tommy John surgery. However, he recently had another procedure: arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his ankle. This should not (right? RIGHT?) affect your team, but you are now aware.
#Rays RHP Tyler Glasnow, who is rehabbing after having Tommy John surgery in August, had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his right ankle on Friday. The team expects him to resume his throwing program in 2-3 weeks.
— John Romano (@romano_tbtimes) March 20, 2022
Teoscar Hernandez (OF): While he avoided arbitration with the Blue Jays, Teoscar has been nursing a mild wrist sprain after diving for a ball. He should be back in action in a few days.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2B): Shortly after debuting what is one of the most amazing baseball gloves to exist, Jazz Chisholm Jr. received a Paul DeJong ground ball to the hand and immediately ran to the dugout. Luckily, the injury was a minor contusion. Jazz will miss a few spring training games but will most likely be fine for the regular season.
Jazz Chisholm’s ice cream glove is electric ?
(?: @AriaGloves) pic.twitter.com/nNTRtPmNKk
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 22, 2022
Jose Barrero (SS): Jose Barrero is expected to miss six weeks with a hamate bone issue. Terrible news for Reds fans. Good news for anyone who drafted Kyle Farmer. The hamate bone is a carpal bone near the wrist on the outside of your hand. Come for the baseball knowledge. Stay for the unsolicited and untrained/unlicensed anatomy lessons.
Luis Castillo (SP): In other sad Reds news, Luis Castillo is suffering from shoulder soreness. He will not be ready for Opening Day. It is speculated that Tyler Mahle will start on Opening Day for the Reds.
Reds RHP Luis Castillo could miss the start of the season. He had shoulder soreness and started late. He’s throwing long toss
— C. Trent Rosecrans (@ctrent) March 22, 2022
Luis Urias (IF): Urías suffered from a left quad injury and is expected to miss at least two weeks. He is currently questionable for Opening Day. Mike Brosseau and Jace Peterson will provide 3B coverage for Urías, but SS coverage is minimal for the Brewers.
Here’s the latest from Luis Urías on his quad injury — including that he was in so much pain the first night that he couldn’t walk — and what he’s heard from teammates who went through something similar. pic.twitter.com/kAjSpZDoaE
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) March 22, 2022
Zac Gallen (SP): Gallen has been dealing with shoulder bursitis. Updates about his condition and a timetable are difficult to find. He has been throwing and was scheduled to have his first live batting session yesterday.
Randy Dobnak (SP): Dobnak is questionable for Opening Day with an ongoing (dating back to last season) middle finger injury.
Randy Dobnak still dealing with ? injury on his right hand.
— Brandon Warne (@Brandon_Warne) March 21, 2022
Justin Dunn (SP): What are the Reds doing? Does anyone really know? Anyway, they recently acquired SP Justin Dunn who expected to be out for months with a shoulder injury that might have required surgical repair.
So….Justin Dunn, who didn't pitch after June 17 with a shoulder strain last year……..was acquired by #Reds….. and will miss a couple of months with the injury.
Can't make this stuff up. #Reds— LanceMcAlister (@LanceMcAlister) March 22, 2022
Odubel Herrera (CF): Herrera will likely miss Opening Day with a strained oblique. Matt Vierling or Adam Haseley are two player who may step into the open CF position.
Eric Lauer (SP): Lauer had a minor groin injury and is expected to be ready for Opening Day.
Craig Counsell said earlier that Eric Lauer is "full go" after being scratched from his scheduled start against the White Sox yesterday with a mild groin injury.
He threw a side session today.
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) March 23, 2022
James McCann (C): McCann was scratched from a game due to minor back tightness. The injury is not expected to be serious or affect McCann’s regular season start.
Mike Moustakas (3B): In case you made it all the way here without reading anything above, the Reds are struggling. Moustakas had a shoulder injury and is expected to return to play today. If you draft any Reds players, look out for potential position changes and, of course, injuries.
Yermín Mercedes (DH), Carter Kieboom (3B), J.B. Bukauskas (RP), Jay Jackson (RP), Josh Taylor (RP), and Kirby Yates (RP) are also all currently nursing wounds.
Oh boy. Do you have any good news?
Come on. I sprinkled SOME good news in above.
Rachel Balkovec, the first woman to be a full-time manager of a major league affiliated team, was hit in the eye with a ball during batting practice. That is some more bad news.
The good news is she is only suffering from some nasty bruising around the eye. Get well soon, Rachel.
Rachel Balkovec posted a picture and let everyone know she’s gonna be okay after being hit in the eye by a ball during batting practice pic.twitter.com/868EMB6cqJ
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) March 24, 2022
That’s it for this week of injuries! See you next week for your weekly allotted pain and suffering.
Have any of the recent injuries affected your draft picks? Tell me in the comments or on Twitter: @keelin_12ft.
