Fantasy Baseball Preseason Injury Updates

Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for the 2021 preseason. His medical background helps analyze the injured MLB players and their recoveries.

Injuries remain commonplace in all sports. Baseball has seen the rate of injury continue to rise over the past few years. In fantasy, if someone is not in the medical field, it is hard to gauge how long a player will be out and whether they need to be replaced in a lineup. Sometimes this could mean playing a dead roster spot and losing the opportunity to have a full week of stats. Watching a play and watching the mechanism of injury can say a lot about the type of injury that has been sustained. The mechanism of injury is one of the ways of diagnosing the problem.

My name is Reuven Guy. I grew up playing baseball, watching baseball, and wanting to go into medicine. I was able to combine both of my loves. I am a practicing physician assistant in the state of New York in the fields of orthopedics and physical medicine/pain management. I have been treating patients with the same type of injuries that have been affecting athletes in a private practice setting for the past 16 years. Having this base of knowledge, it is easier to “predict” what the injury could be and how long a player will be out.

During the course of the season, I will have a weekly article going over MLB player injuries. I will be hunting down the latest updates and have sources to back me up. I will be highlighting the type of injury it is, try to diagnose an injury that has not been diagnosed yet, discuss the extent of injury, and how long the player will be out. I will also be listing the “next man up” when it comes to playing time if the player will be out. And just like last year, due to the current circumstances, I will have a listing of all fantasy-relevant players affected by COVID-19 and COVID-19 protocols. Hopefully, this will help you create and manage a more competitive fantasy lineup.

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Injury "Guy"de for the Week of February 8, 2021

Over the course of the next few weeks, I will be giving the most recent available injury updates from the offseason. These updates will undoubtedly change as Spring Training gets closer and it begins. These updates should be used as a "refresher course" for players coming back from injury and players working their way through their current rehab process.

Ken Giles (RP, TOR) - Forearm - Giles underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2020. He is not expected to pitch this season.

Kirby Yates (RP, TOR) - Elbow - Yates had elbow surgery in August 2020 due to bone chips in his elbow. Yates has completed his rehab process and has already thrown a series of bullpens. He is slotted in to take over the closer job in Toronto.

James Paxton (SP, NYY) - Forearm - Paxton has thrown for MLB scouts, reaching 94 MPH. Paxton was dealing with an elbow/forearm issue but his UCL was “intact.” Paxton made only five starts last season before being shut down with a forearm issue, had a subsequent setback, and then began throwing again in September. Paxton also had a cyst removed from his back early in 2020.

Zack Wheeler (SP, PHI) - Finger - Wheeler underwent a successful right middle fingernail resection procedure on October 12. He is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

Dakota Hudson (SP, STL) - Elbow - Hudson underwent successful Tommy John surgery at the end of September 2020 and is expected to miss the 2021 season.

Jake Arrieta (SP, FA) - Hamstring - Arrieta missed the end of last season with a right hamstring strain. Arrieta is scheduled to have a showcase soon to show MLB clubs that he is healthy.

Rhys Hoskins (1B, PHI) - Elbow - Hoskins had a modified Tommy John procedure, internal brace repair, performed in October 2020. It is a slightly different surgery than the traditional Tommy John surgery. He began to hit in the cage end of December/beginning of January and is currently on track to be ready for Opening Day, as per his manager.

Paul Goldschmidt (1B, STL) - Elbow - Goldschmidt underwent a procedure to remove a bone spur from his right elbow after last season ended. He had been dealing with chronic elbow issues throughout 2020. He is expected to be ready for 2021.

Josh James (SP, HOU) - Hip - James had hip surgery to repair a labral tear when the season ended. James is scheduled to be out six to eight months following this surgery on his left hip. Late April, early May return the earliest.

Luis Perdomo (P, MIL) - Elbow - Perdomo underwent Tommy John in mid-October. He is expected to miss the 2021 season.

Luis Severino (SP, NYY) - Elbow - Severino's rehab has been going well, and he could return to the majors by June or July, late summer, as per GM Brian Cashman. Severino had Tommy John surgery in February 2020.

Brandon Belt (1B, SF) - Heel - Belt underwent surgery to have a bone spur removed from his right heel in mid-October. No timeline for his recovery was given yet but he should be good to go for Spring Training.

Mike Clevinger (P, SD) - Elbow - Padres GM A.J. Preller said that he did not expect Clevinger to require offseason surgery. Clevinger had been dealing with elbows/biceps issues along with a drop in velocity during the tail end of the 2020 season. Tests haven't revealed anything overly concerning and/or structural damage.

Nick Madrigal (2B, CHW) - Shoulder - Madrigal underwent surgery on his left shoulder in mid-October. Recovery time is expected to require 5-to-6 months, or around May 2021.

Dinelson Lamet (SP, SD) - Elbow - Padres GM A.J. Preller has said that Lamet was not expected to require offseason surgery. He was dealing with a biceps/elbow injury and had a PRP injection performed which gave them some optimism.

Luke Voit (OF, NYY) - Foot - Voit was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis and required a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection to address the injury. This is an injury that could linger and flare up and could zap power from hitters, as seen during the 2020 playoffs.

Wander Franco (SS, TB) - Elbow/Biceps - Franco was diagnosed with biceps inflammation and shoulder soreness. Franco stopped playing in the Dominican Winter League due to this arm injury. He is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

Julio Rodriguez (OF, SEA) - Quad - Rodriguez began having quad discomfort while playing in the Dominican Winter League club Leones del Escogido. Rodriguez was shut down as a precaution and should be ready for Spring Training.

Mike Soroka (P. ATL) - Achilles - Soroka is expected to be ready to throw by the time spring training begins. Soroka had surgery to repair his torn Achilles tendon in early August 2020.

Nick Burdi (RP, SD) - Elbow - Burdi underwent his second Tommy John surgery in October and was designated for assignment by the Pirates. He is expected to miss the 2021 season.

David Dahl (OF, TEX) - Shoulder - Dahl underwent surgery on his right shoulder at the end of September and is expected to be ready for the start of spring training in 2021.

Corbin Burnes (SP, MIL) - Oblique - Brewers GM David Stearns said that Burnes would not require offseason surgery and is expected to make a full recovery from his left oblique strain with rest and rehab. He's not dealing with any significant structural damage to the core-muscle area.

Corey Kluber (SP, NYY) - Shoulder - Kluber has been cleared to resume a throwing program. Kluber pitched one inning in 2020 and was diagnosed with a Grade 2 tear of the teres major muscle in his right shoulder. He threw in a showcase for his free agency and was signed by the Yankees.

Trey Mancini (1B/OF, BAL) - Cancer - Mancini is building up his strength and working his way towards baseball activities. He is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

Shohei Ohtani (SP/DH, LAA) - Elbow - Ohtani has been throwing for the past few months and has reached 120 feet. Ohtani is looking to bounce back as a two-way player in 2021.

Aaron Sanchez (SP, FA) - Shoulder - Agent Scott Boras said Sanchez has recently thrown for multiple teams. Sanchez had shoulder surgery in September 2019

Eduardo Rodriguez (SP, BOS) - COVID/Myocarditis - Rodriguez is on track in his recovery from myocarditis and is lined up to be ready for the start of the 2021 season.

Chris Sale (SP, BOS) - Elbow - Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom has said that Sale continues to make progress from his TJ surgery and could be fully stretched out by the middle of next summer. He is scheduled to pitch off of a mound late January.

Noah Syndergaard (P, NYM) - Elbow - Syndergaard had Tommy John surgery late March 2020 and his rehab “on schedule.” The earliest he could return is the end of the first half of 2021.

Gio Urshela (3B, NYY) - Elbow - Urshela had right elbow surgery early December 2020 to remove a bone chip. He is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

Aaron Hicks (OF, NYY) - Elbow - Hicks has said that his arm/elbow still doesn't "feel the same" after undergoing Tommy John Surgery in October 2019.

Reyes Moronta- (RP, SF) - Shoulder - Giants manager Gabe Kapler has suggested that Moronta will be given the opportunity to compete for the closer's job in spring training. Moronta missed 2020 season rehabbing for shoulder surgery.

Matt Chapman (3B, OAK) - Hip - Chapman had right hip surgery September 2020 to repair a torn right labrum. Recovery time is four months and has received clearance for increased activity and should be ready for the start of spring training.

Jordan Hicks (RP, STL) - Elbow - Hicks is expected to enter spring training on a normal throwing schedule. He opted out of the 2020 season, recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Miles Mikolas (SP, STL) - Forearm - Mikolas is expected to begin spring training on a normal schedule. Mikolas had surgery on his right flexor tendon in late July 2020.

Tommy Pham (OF, SD) - Wrist - Pham underwent surgery to repair a tear of the TFCC (triangular fibrocartilage complex) in his left wrist at some point in the past couple of months. Pham has had three surgeries since mid-August. The first was to repair a broken hamate bone in his left hand. The second was to treat a stab wound in his lower back. This final procedure was to address the worsening of a tear in the cartilage structure on the small finger side of his left wrist. He is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

Starlin Castro (2B, WAS) - Wrist - Castro is considered fully healthy and wanted to play winter ball, but the Nationals told him to rest and prepare for spring training. Castro had surgery for a fractured wrist August 2020.

Stephen Strasburg (P, WAS) - Wrist/Hand - Strasburg has resumed throwing and is expected to be ready for spring training. Strasburg had carpal tunnel surgery August 2020.

Mitch Haniger (OF, SEA) - Multiple injuries - Haniger has resumed full baseball activities. Haniger underwent sports hernia surgery and back surgery in February 2020 and missed all of the 2020 season.

Tom Murphy (C, SEA) - Foot - Murphy is fully healed from his foot injury and participating in full workouts. Murphy missed the 2020 season with a broken bone in his foot.

Brent Honeywell (SP, TB) - Elbow - Honeywell underwent a minor procedure on his elbow that isn't expected to impact his availability for 2021. Considered a "truly a minor procedure", Honeywell wanted to eliminate any doubt in his mind about being good to go after experiencing some slight discomfort.

Gregory Polanco (OF, PIT) - Wrist - Polanco fractured his right wrist in the Dominican Winter League but is expected to be ready for baseball activities by the beginning of spring training. Recovery time is usually four to six weeks.

J.T. Realmuto (C, PHI) - Hip - Realmuto says he feels 100% from the hip flexor strain that he had at the end of last year.

List of Fantasy-Relevant Players Affected by COVID-19/COVID-19 Protocols in 2020

This is a list of players that were affected in some way by COVID-19 or MLB protocols related to COVID-19. It is interesting to note that some players were affected more than others. Please use this as a tool when deciding who to draft during draft season and how random the effects were. This list may also give us all insight as to which player's projections and current fantasy value were affected by an even shorter season last year.

Alcantara, Sandy (SP, MIA
Alvarez, Yordan (DH, HOU)
Astudillo, Willians (C, MIN)
Beer, Seth (1B, ARI)
Blackmon, Charlie (OF, COL)
Brito, Socrates (OF, PIT)
Brinson, Lewis (OF, MIA)
Cabrera, Genesis (RP, STL)
Calhoun, Kole (OF, ARI)
Cano, Robinson (1B/2B, NYM)
Chapman, Aroldis (RP, NYY)
Cessa, Luis (RP, NYY)
Chirinos, Yonny (SP/RP, TB)
Cooper, Garrett (1B/OF, MIA)
d'Arnaud, Travis (C, ATL)
Davidson, Matt- (DH, CIN)
DeJong, Paul (SS, STL)
DeShields, Delino (OF, CLE)
Diaz, Elias (C, COL)
Dietrich, Derek (1B/OF, CHC)
Dozier, Hunter (3B/OF, KC)
Drury, Brandon (3B, TOR)
Elias, Roenis (RP, SEA)
Engel, Adam- (OF, CHW)
Flowers, Tyler (C, ATL)
Freeman, Freddie (1B, ATL)
Garica, Jarlin (RP, SF)
Gimenez, Andres (2B/SS/3B, CLE)
Glasnow, Tyler (SP, TB)
Gomber, Austin (P, STL)
Grichuk, Randal (OF, TOR)
Guerra, Junior (RP, ARI)
Hamilton, Billy (OF, FA)
Haseley, Adam (OF, PHI)
Hayes, Ke'Bryan (3B, PIT)
Hernandez, Darwinzon (RP, BOS)
Hirano, Yoshii (RP, SEA)
Hunter, Tommy (RP, PHI)
Jansen, Kenley (RP, LAD)
Joyce, Matt (OF, MIA)
Kela, Keone (RP, PIT)
Keller, Brad (SP, KC)
Kendrick, Howie (1B/2B/3B/OF, WAS)- Retired
Kingery, Scott (2B/3B/SS/OF, PHI)
Lauer, Eric (SP, MIL)
LeMahieu, DJ (1B/2B, NYY)
Luzardo, Jesus (SP, OAK)
McKay, Brendan (SP, TB)
Mahtook, Mikie (OF, DET)
Margot, Manuel (OF, TB)
Martinez, Carlos (SP/RP, STL)
Mateo, Jorge (SS, SD)
Mazara, Nomar- (OF, FA)
Meadows, Austin (OF, TB)
Mengden, Daniel (SP, OAK)
Moncada, Yoan (3B, CHW)
Molina, Yadier (C, STL)
Neris, Hector (RP, PHI)
Nido, Tomas (C, NYM)
Nola, Aaron (SP, PHI)
Norris, Daniel (SP, DET)
O'Hearn, Ryan (1B, KC)
Oviedo, Johan (SP, STL)
Perez, Salvador (C, KC)
Pham, Tommy (OF, SD)
Quinn, Roman (OF, PHI)
Robles, Victor (OF, WAS)
Rodriguez, Eduardo (SP, BOS)
Rojas, Miguel (SS, MIA)
Ruiz, Keibert- (C, LAD)
Sano, Miguel (1B/3B, MIN)
Senzel, Nick- (2B, CIN)
Smith, Caleb (SP, MIA)
Smith, Will (RP, ATL)
Soto, Juan (OF, WAS)
Suero, Wander (RP, WAS)
Teheran, Julio (SP, LAA)
Toussaint, Touki (SP/RP, ATL)
Urena, Jose (SP, DET)
Urias, Luis (2B/SS, MIL)
Urquidy, Jose (SP, HOU)

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