Welcome to this week’s edition of Razzball Ambulance Chasers, your fantasy baseball doom and gloom report. Sponsored by Monistat (surprise, Razzball staff!).
Earlier in the week, I had the pleasure of joining Roto-Wan for Knight Of The RazzTable: Albies There For You, which you should read. Wan tasked two of us with sharing our thoughts on the ADP 31-50 players, which is pretty stacked. One player in that portion of ADP is Ozzie Albies.
This week @Roto_Wan digs in on a new ADP range, and finds out what @Keelin_12ft and @gregsauce think of Ozzie Albies https://t.co/QGCLGIBOKI
— Razzball (@Razzball) February 21, 2023
As I have previously mentioned in Razzball Ambulance Chasers: Picking Up Where We Left Off With Harper, Albies, Tatis, and Others, I love Ozzie Albies as a human. How can you not? Not only is he a fun and talented baseball player, but also loves dogs and even has a foundation in his namesake that promotes and supports shelter dogs.
After the Braves won the World Series, Ozzie Albies FaceTimed his dog ??? pic.twitter.com/qHct8iwQzX
— Pickswise (@Pickswise) November 4, 2021
But in fantasy baseball, even love has its limits, and I still feel the burn from previous Albies injuries.
Yesterday, Ozzie Albies revealed he had arthroscopic shoulder surgery in October. Though the surgery was for a shoulder impingement, and the expectation is that Albies will DH until the first week of March. Hopefully, Albies will have a relatively full and healthy season once he is back at 2B, but I am skittish in terms of fantasy baseball for now. Get well soon, Ozzie!
Jose Altuve and Marcus Semien are other 2B options in ADP 31-50. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is also still listed as 2B in ADP, but the edition of Luis Arraez puts Chisholm in CF.
Now, for the rest of the bodies:
Aaron Ashby (MIL)
LHP Ashby shared he had sustained a labral tear that will keep him out until at least mid-May. Ashby was out for about a month in 2022 with shoulder inflammation, and he finished the season with a 4.44 ERA and 126 strikeouts in a little over 107 IP. The Brewers have a dearth of lefties. Existing lefties on the roster include Ashby, Ethan Small, Milner, and Justin Wilson.
First chance to catch up with Aaron Ashby. He’s had a PRP injection, called his issue a “slight labral tear” and is hopeful he can return by mid-May: pic.twitter.com/uOcQbBJv3a
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) February 21, 2023
Nick Ahmed (ARI)
The D-backs announced Ahmed will not be playing the Spring Training opener. It is a precautionary move that is intended to help Ahmed continue recovering from right arm surgery. Geraldo Perdomo and Diego Castillo are the shortstops on the roster.
You could avoid any of those and get a shortstop from the Razzball Shortstop Rankings.
Yordan Alvarez (HOU)
Alvarez has had ongoing hand discomfort since September 2022. The injury flared up again during the first Astros spring workout, and Alvarez is resting to avoid further inflammation. Luckily, the injury is not considered serious enough that it will stop Alvarez’s season in a serious way, but we may find Alvarez on rest more than he was last season.
Yordan Alvarez says he isn’t hitting now..part of the plan to protect his left hand which caused him some problems in 2022. Says he’ll start hitting in a couple days & doesn’t expect it to be a problem in 2023: “It did flare up a little bit in the offseason.” Says rest is a key. pic.twitter.com/MfGs0SwNEf
— Mark Berman (@MarkBerman_) February 21, 2023
Randal Grichuk (COL)
Grichuk underwent hernia surgery almost two weeks ago. Grichuk has had hernia issues going back to 2015, but he is expected to be back in late spring. Sean Bouchard, Nolan Jones, and Michael Toglia are a few players that might replace Grichuk in the interim.
Can we talk about Sean Bouchard's 2022 stats a little?
In 74 at bats, he posted a .500 SLG and .454 OBP.
If his 3 home runs are extrapolated for a full season, he would have been 3rd on the Rockies.Bouchard probably shouldn't be fighting for that 4th OF spot, but here we are.
— Blake Street Banter ?? (@blakestbanter) February 23, 2023
Jordan Luplow (ATL)
OF Luplow is currently out with oblique soreness. The injury is not considered serious, which would be good for Luplow who has a chance at being on the Opening Day roster.
Jordan Luplow is dealing with oblique soreness. He said he’s not far off, and he’s easing into things in the first days of camp.
Caught up with him this morning.https://t.co/AulFGHKPWW
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) February 23, 2023
Lance McCullers Jr. (HOU)
McCullers Jr. will miss Opening Day because of a strained muscle in his arm. The injury is not considered serious but because of his other injuries, the Astros are taking it slow with McCullers. McCullers’s previous injuries which include Tommy John surgery in 2019 and a right flexor pronator strain in 2021.
Ben Rortvedt (NYY)
Rortverdt, a catching prospect, was a part of the deal between the Yankees and the Twins that saw Rortvedt, Josh Donaldson, and Isiah-Kiner Falefa go to New York while Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela went to Minnesota. Rortvedt has had some lengthy injuries to the knee and oblique. Now, Rortvedt is suffering from an aneurysm in an artery in his left shoulder and will continue to stay off the field for at least a month.
Ben Rortvedt had surgery today to address an aneurysm of the posterior artery near his left shoulder. No baseball activities for a month. #Yankees
— Bryan Hoch ?? (@BryanHoch) February 22, 2023
Sixto Sánchez (MIA)
Today the Marlins announced that Sánchez will not be ready to play until this summer as he continues to recover from arthroscopic shoulder surgery he had in fall 2022. Sánchez has ongoing shoulder issues and has had surgery twice since 2021 to address the issues. The Marlins are stacked with pitchers. So, there is no rush for Sánchez to return.
That is it for our new visitors to RazzBall Memorial Hospital. Flowers and balloons are available in the gift shop.
Have any of your drafts or draft plans fallen apart yet? Share with me in the comments or over on Twitter: @keelin_12ft.
