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Dr. Reuven Guy's fantasy baseball injury report for Week 9 (2025). Read the latest injury updates for Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Cole Ragans, Dylan Crews and much more
As the baseball season rolls along, players are added to and taken off the IL. Sometimes, players are added to the IL rather quickly, while others take a few days to try to "get over" the issue without landing on the IL. Usually, starting pitchers go on the IL quickly, while hitters and relief pitchers are given a day or two to try to recover.
When hearing what the MLB team has to say about the injured players not on the IL, a lot could be learned. Also, the amount of time given to each player to recover is telling as well. If a player has sat out four or five days, the team is doing its best to avoid an IL stint while still being able to backdate the IL trip. Also, consider what type of injury it is and how it would affect the injured player. Some teams are better at getting us this information than others. The Yankees are a poor source of information, the Mets are tight-lipped, the Dodgers are over-cautious, and other teams do not have great track records of injured players. I will continue to give updates for the fantasy-relevant players to try to help you sift through all of the noise and help you manage your roster better.
Here's a little about myself for both new and returning readers. My name is Reuven Guy, and I am a practicing orthopedic/pain management physician assistant. I have been dealing with sports injuries for the past 19+ years. Therefore, I have knowledge of orthopedic injuries and their recovery times based on my medical experience. I also played fantasy baseball during that time. This has helped me get an advantage in this aspect of fantasy baseball, which I hope to share with you. I am also the co-host of the 2025 FSWA award-winning podcast "Beat the Shift." Stay updated on the latest MLB breaking news with our award-winning news desk and our free fantasy baseball mobile app with 24/7 push notification alerts!
Injured Hitters for Fantasy Baseball
Ronald Acuna Jr. (OF, ATL)- Knee
Acuna continues to recover from left knee surgery from last year. He is on a rehab assignment at Triple-A and could be activated from the IL by the end of May.
Ronald Acuña Jr. continues his rehab assignment with #Braves Triple-A Gwinnett this week. They're on the road in Louisville starting tonight.
Acuña – who's 4-for-9 with a HR, 6 BB, and 6 R in 4G – will up his innings in the field as he ramps up for a return in the near future.
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) May 20, 2025
Andres Gimenez (2B, TOR)- Quad
Gimenez is on the IL with a right quad strain. He will resume running this weekend and has already been taking grounders and hitting in the batting cage this week. There is no timeline for his return.
Carlos Correa (SS, MIN)- Head
Correa is on the seven-day concussion IL. He must clear concussion protocols prior to being activated, which would be at least seven days. Ryan Fitzgerald was called up, and Brooks Lee has been filling in.
Yordan Alvarez (OF, HOU)- Hand
Alvarez is on the IL with inflammation in his right hand. Astros manager Joe Espada said that Alvarez is improving daily but still feels the muscle strain in his right hand. Espada indicated that the Astros want to ensure the issue "completely goes away" before bringing Alvarez off the IL.
Corey Seager (SS, TEX)- Hamstring
Seager was placed on the IL with a right hamstring strain. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said this week that Seager may stay on the IL longer than the minimum time. Josh Smith and Ezequiel Duran have gotten more playing time.
The Rangers have placed Corey Seager back on the 10-Day IL due to a right hamstring strain.
Seager was previously on the injured list from April 23rd-May 3rd with a right hamstring strain. pic.twitter.com/kaE7Iif0tx
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 13, 2025
Christian Encarnacion-Strand (1B, CIN)- Back
Encarnacion-Strand is "continuing to take steps" forward in his recovery process and could begin ramping up his baseball activities next week according to Reds manager Terry Francona. He has gotten two epidural injections and has already been swinging off a tee and doing some running in the field. There is no timeline for his return.
Byron Buxton (OF, MIN)- Head
Buxton was placed in the seven-day concussion protocol. He must clear concussion protocols before being activated, which would be at least seven days.
Byron Buxton and Carlo Correa collide on a shallow fly to center, Buxton somehow hangs on to the ball pic.twitter.com/XzA3imOkBd
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) May 15, 2025
Mike Trout (OF, LAA)- Knee
Trout was placed on the IL with a left knee contusion. Trout has progressed to on-field jogging but remains without a return timeline.
Oswaldo Cabrera (3B, NYY)- Ankle
Cabrera fractured his ankle sliding into home on a sacrifice fly. He had surgery for his broken ankle and is unlikely to return this year. DJ LeMahieu is back from the IL to try to win back the Yankees’ third base job.
Noelvi Marte (3B, CIN)- Oblique
Marte is on the IL with a Grade 2 oblique strain. He had his scheduled MRI follow-up moved up one week because the Reds team medical staff is pleased with his progress. A clearer timeline for his return should be available after this test.
Tyler O'Neill (OF, BAL)- Shoulder
O’Neill was placed on the IL this past week with left shoulder discomfort. The Severity is unknown, but this is the second time on the IL for this issue. Dylan Carlson was called up, and Heston Kjerstad should fill in while O'Neill is out.
Evan Carter (OF, TEX)- Quad
Carter was placed on the IL with a Grade 2 right quad strain. A strain like this could sideline Carter for up to six to eight weeks.
Bruce Bochy said Evan Carter has a Grade 2 quad strain. He said it’s worse than they all expected and he’ll be out for about two weeks at least.
— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) May 18, 2025
Andrew Benintendi (OF, CHW)- Calf
Benintendi has begun a rehab assignment for his calf strain. He could return to the White Sox lineup by the last week of May.
Thairo Estrada (2B COL)- Wrist
Estrada continues to recover from a fractured right wrist. He has taken batting practice for the past few days, and a rehab assignment is imminent. Barring any setbacks, Estrada could be activated within the next two weeks.
Dylan Crews (OF, WAS)- Oblique
Crews is on the IL with a left oblique strain. Severity is not yet known. It occurred during a check swing during an at-bat. Robert Hassell III was called up, and with Jacob Young also out, Alex Call could see more playing time.
#Nationals Dylan Crews left with an injury. Appeared to occur on this swing. pic.twitter.com/oUtF7gJX34
— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) May 21, 2025
Jake Fraley (OF, CIN)- Calf
Fraley was placed on the IL with left calf tenderness. Severity is not yet known. Connor Joe was called up to replace Fraley on the Reds active roster.
Jeimer Candelario (1B, CIN)- Back
Candelario was placed on the IL with a lumbar strain. He played catch this week but remains without a timetable for a return.
Injured Starting Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Logan Gilbert (SP,SEA)- Elbow
Gilbert was placed on the IL with a right elbow flexor strain. Gilbert had two bullpen sessions and requires at least one more before throwing to live hitters.
Cole Ragans (SP, KC)- Groin
Ragans was placed on the IL this week due to tightness in his left groin. There is no timeline for his return.
Bryce Miller (SP, SEA)- Elbow
Miller was placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation. The severity is not known, and there is no timeline for his return. He had a cortisone injection, and the Mariners hope he will be back sooner rather than later.
Bryce Miller had an MRI on Monday night and it showed no structural damage in his elbow. He’s hopeful he’ll need only the minimum IL stint. pic.twitter.com/Ny7HRWUAHi
— Adam Jude (@A_Jude) May 14, 2025
Tyler Glasnow (SP, LAD)- Shoulder
Glasnow left his last start and was placed on the IL due to right shoulder inflammation. Glasnow threw from flat ground but has not yet begun mound work.
Blake Snell (SP, LAD)- Shoulder
Snell is on the IL with left shoulder inflammation. He was moved to the 60-day IL, and the soonest he could be activated is June 5. Snell began a throwing program this week.
Hayden Wesneski (SP, HOU)- Elbow
Wesneski will require Tommy John surgery and was transferred to the 60-day IL. He is done for the season.
Houston Astros right-hander Hayden Wesneski set for season-ending Tommy John surgery https://t.co/GvhaMUQfW5
— Chicago Tribune Sports (@ChicagoSports) May 19, 2025
Casey Mize (SP, DET)- Hamstring
Mize was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Mize threw a five-inning sim game this week and is trending to a weekend return from the IL.
Roki Sasaki (SP, LAD)- Shoulder
Sasaki was placed on the Il this week with right shoulder impingement. Sasaki has been shut down from all throwing. There is no timeline for his return.
Aaron Nola (SP, PHI)- Ankle
Nola was placed on the IL with a right ankle sprain. He was injured prior to his last start. There is no timeline for his return. Mick Abel filled in for Nola in the Phillies' rotation.
Aaron Nola (right ankle sprain) hasn't yet thrown off a mound since going on the IL last Friday. He's still a little sore when putting his shoe on. Phillies hope to have him throw a bullpen session this weekend in Sacramento but it's not definite.
— Corey Seidman (@CSeidmanNBCS) May 20, 2025
Eduardo Rodriguez (SP, ARI)- Shoulder
Rodriguez was placed on the IL this week due to left shoulder inflammation. He has been shut down for throwing and will be further evaluated. Scott McGough and Christian Montes De Oca were called up.
Hunter Greene (SP, CIN)- Groin
Greene is on the IL due to a groin strain. Reds manager Terry Francona said this week that Green should return from the IL to start this weekend.
Reese Olson (SP, DET)- Finger
Olson was placed on the IL with inflammation in his right ring finger. The severity of the inflammation is unknown, and there is no timeline for his return.
In the Tigers' medical update today:
--Alex Cobb is getting another series of injections to relieve inflammation in his hip.
--Reese Olson was diagnosed with mild inflammation in his right ring finger. He will have more tests later this week before re-starting throwing program— Chris McCosky (@cmccosky) May 20, 2025
Seth Lugo (SP, KC)- Finger
Lugo was placed on the IL with inflammation in the right middle finger. The Severity is not yet known. Noah Cameron was called up to start instead of Lugo.
Jose Quintana (SP, MIL)- Shoulder
Quintana is on the IL with left shoulder impingement. He went for a second opinion for his shoulder and remains without a timeline to return, pending that visit. He is scheduled for some mound work later this week.
Sean Manaea (SP, NYM)- Oblique
Manaea continues to rehab an oblique injury suffered early this spring. He has thrown a few bullpen sessions. He should then progress to live hitters and then a rehab assignment. Manaea could be out for another four to five weeks.
Ronel Blanco (SP, HOU)- Elbow
Blanco was sent back to Houston this week, during the Astros road trip, to get his right elbow soreness checked out. His status going forward is up in the air.
Jared Jones (SP, PIT)- Elbow
Jones had Tommy John surgery this week. He is out for the year and is expected to miss around ten to twelve months.
Brandon Woodruff (SP, MIL)- Shoulder
Woodruff continues to rehab from shoulder surgery last year and is on the IL. He began a new rehab assignment and should need two rehab starts before activation from the IL.
Max Scherzer (SP, TOR)- Thumb/Lat/Back
Scherzer left his last start with a lat issue and has dealt with thumb and back issues since. He has begun mound work but remains weeks away from returning.
Max Scherzer felt good after throwing a 33-pitch bullpen per John Schneider Sounds like Scherzer will likely throw off a mound a couple more times before facing hitters again and going on an eventual rehab assignment.
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) May 20, 2025
Injured Relief Pitchers for Fantasy Baseball
Porter Hodge (RP, CHC)- Oblique
Hodge was placed on the IL with a left oblique strain. The severity is not known, but it will tell us how long he will be out. Daniel Palencia and Ryan Pressly should close for the Cubs.
Craig Counsell said Porter Hodge's oblique injury is very similar to Ian Happ's. pic.twitter.com/CQJkzPB8nt
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 20, 2025
Evan Phillips (RP, LAD)- Elbow
Phillips was placed on the IL and shut down for throwing for two weeks due to right elbow inflammation. He missed the first month of the season with a shoulder injury. There is no timeline for his return.
Danny Coulombe (RP, MIN)- Forearm
Coulombe was placed on the IL with an extensor strain in his left forearm. The severity of the strain is unknown, and there is no timeline for his return.
Chris Martin (RP, TEX)- Shoulder
Martin was placed on the IL with right shoulder fatigue. He had left a game earlier in the week with an elbow issue. There is no timeline for his return.
A.J. Puk (RP, ARI)- Elbow
Puk was placed on the IL with left elbow inflammation. Puk has begun a throwing program this week. There is no timeline for a return yet.
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