March just began and I am already sick of the injury train that is rolling. Luckily, we have avoided significant issues but those are inevitable. Sports are not kind to players’ bodies. We in the fantasy community should be ever grateful for the talents we witness daily.
Every day I scroll the horrible, no-good X/Twitter app (where you should follow me @RotoSurgeon) it feels as if I am bracing myself for the worst with every aggregated MLB post. I am conditioned towards pessimism and this game has not helped sway me in the opposite direction. But enough about me…on to the pain.
Preseason Injuries to Monitor
Gunnar Henderson (SS, BAL)
The consensus top-10 pick this season is potentially hurt and so are my hopes and dreams…just kidding, those do not exist after a decade of this cruel, cruel game we call “fantasy”. Baltimore deems Henderson’s departure from their Thursday match as “precautionary”. He exited due to “lower right side discomfort” which is either a case of bad gas (unlikely) or an oblique.
Obliques suck. Do we even really need them? Why does every player I love injure them so often? Am I the problem?
We do not know whether Henderson will be sidelined yet or even if an MRI is scheduled. For the time being, treat him like an injured player in drafts and avoid him. Select other elite pieces and if Henderson falls beyond a certain point (your comfort zone of top pieces), then a selection is warranted.
Luis Gil (SP, NYY)
The 2024 AL Rookie of the Year is hurt. Luis Gil was shut down from throwing this Thursday as he experienced “shoulder tightness”. Gil is set to receive an MRI to determine the severity of this injury soon. While there are still multiple weeks until Opening Day, this type of injury is often bleak for pitchers.
“Tightness” can mean a lot of things though and ideally, this is short term. In all likelihood, Gil will be shut down for several weeks and be ramped back up with long toss and bullpen sessions. We may not know if he is 100% for another month if not more depending on the report.
Push Gil off of your draft boards until further notice as his numbers last season were somewhat of a fugazi anyway. Marcus Stroman likely slides into the Yankees’ rotation but he isn’t a better draft option than the cheap, yet skilled Clarke Schmidt.
Sean Manaea (SP, NYM)
The Mets have shut down Sean Manaea indefinitely due to a strained oblique. The veteran SP is likely going to miss Opening Day and start the season on IL. This setback is unfortunate for Manaea as he recently re-invented himself and helped the Mets on their respectable playoff run.
From July 30 through September 27, Manaea posted a 3.09 ERA backed by a 3.40 xFIP and fringe-elite 22.3% K-BB. While he could carry this into 2025, oblique injuries are tricky. He will naturally contort his body constantly on the mound risking re-aggravation or even further injury if he returns too soon.
Given Manaea’s talent level, he is still worth drafting as his ADP drops significantly then stashing on IL.
Freddie Freeman (1B, LAD)
Freddie Freeman is back in action at Spring Training but there is an update worth noting. The Dodgers intend to play it safe with Freeman who is recovering from ankle surgery. He is unlikely to play in day games following night games and will have to “manage” the ankle through the first half.
The 35-year-old first baseman is no spring chicken. However, this report should not significantly impact Freeman’s draft considerations for most formats outside of best balls where maximizing games played weekly is a priority. Freeman stole bases on a bad ankle in the playoffs and could still even provide those this season!
Nevertheless, Freeman should not be selected ahead of fellow 1Bs Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Bryce Harper. He is best left to slide back to you in drafts and should be taken around Matt Olson (allow your draft start to decide whether you need more average or power).
Nico Hoerner (2B, CHC)
Nico Hoerner is unlikely to be ready for the Tokyo series as he recovers from flexor tendon surgery. The Cubs’ second baseman will continue his rehab and remain optimistic for Opening Day in the States. Flexor tendon surgery sounds ominous and is somewhat rare for hitters. A recent search of the procedure shows Tarik Skubal, Robbie Ray, Dustin May, Daniel Bard, and old friend, Anthony DeSclafani (Tony Disco for short).
Whether Hoerner is his full self this season is to be determined yet the risk is high. Hoerner is an average hitter despite his batting average and does not have much wiggle room if he is impacted by the surgery. His stolen bases will continue but is he fantasy-viable with a pedestrian batting average and already limited power?
Andrew Benintendi (OF, CHW)
The veteran outfielder is out for four-to-six weeks with a fractured hand. If you were forced to draft Benintendi for any reason, my condolences. The desperation it must have taken to click that button is immense.
Hand fractures can be difficult to return from in-season as they drain power (particularly, hamate fractures) but given that this has not been reported, Benintendi could be fine enough upon return. The White Sox offense is likely the league’s worst this season which will limit run and RBI opportunities but the 15-20 HR and solid average are enough to consider Benintendi in those 50-round, 15-person drafts if he falls.
A lot of my targets for upcoming drafts are dropping like flies. Gunnar especially – hard to invest a lot with a lingering oblique. We shall see. Now we got Parker Meadows with a weird nerve issue – another guy I was targeting.
Gunnar had a similar issue last preseason iirc and was fine. We are far removed enough from the season that he shouldn’t drop toooooo far. Meadows is off my board (already wasn’t considering too much)
For sure, it’s a wait and see. Obliques are so annoying though at popping back up. Honestly, we might get even more shares of him now at a discounted price. Haha
Praying for minimal severity regardless…fingers and toes crossed