Fantasy Baseball Week 9 Injury Report - Updates on Alex Bregman, Cole Ragans, Yordan Alvarez, Mike Trout, Byron Buxton, Shohei Ohtani, more

Dave Funnell's Fantasy Baseball Week 9 Injury Report - Updates on Shohei Ohtani, Alex Bregman, Cole Ragans, Yordan Alvarez, and more

Welcome, RotoBallers, to my fantasy baseball injury report for May 25. Every week, we look back at the major injury developments in baseball and look ahead at what might transpire. Today, we examine recent injuries and updates for Shohei Ohtani, Alex Bregman, Cole Ragans, Yordan Alvarez, and more

Injuries are an unfortunate part of the game, but how you handle them can mean the difference between a last-place finish and somewhere near the top of your league's standings.

The hope is that whatever comes your way, you can understand what the injury is, what it means for your fantasy team, and what actions you should take. Let's get right to this week's injury-related news.

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Shohei Ohtani - DH/SP Los Angeles Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani will not throw live BP on Saturday after all. Postponed to Sunday after the late finish tonight. "Shohei's call," #Dodgers Dave Roberts said

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) May 24, 2025

This is major news for the development of arguably the best player in baseball, and it has some rippling effects that could impact the Dodgers significantly. First, let's examine the news itself for him as a pitcher. Ohtani, returning from his second major elbow surgery, was on track to pitch toward the start of the 2025 season, possibly. However, he also had shoulder surgery in the offseason, which complicated the issue. These two issues, compounded with him being an everyday hitter, were enough for the Dodgers to halt any throwing progression he may have made early in the season. The team wanted him to focus on hitting while not burning out his arm. That said, he continued throwing every so often, so as not to have his arm lose all of its ability to pitch.

Now, with Ohtani throwing to live batters this weekend, it would appear that the team is allowing him to ramp himself back up to the point of eventually being able to pitch again, possibly soon. With many more years left in his contract, and to win in October always in mind, the Dodgers might be planning long term here, but is this a good idea? It's hard to imagine him maintaining this elite level of offense while also throwing six to seven innings once a week. Doing that requires a ton of mental and physical preparation, which could be overwhelming. In essence, they might be stealing from Peter to feed Paul.

The other issue to support this gradual buildup is the situation with the rest of the rotation. Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell are recovering from their injuries, and both players have an extensive injury history. It's hard to imagine them returning and being the stabilized option out of the rotation. In addition, Roki Sasaki is currently on the Injured List, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto benefits from not having to pitch off just five days' rest. The Dodgers may need someone (like Ohtani) to give the rest of their pitchers a rest. After all, there is only so much that someone like Ben Casparius can do before he gets figured out or runs out of gas.

It's a tenuous situation in Los Angeles, with far more questions than answers. Here's what else is happening around the world of baseball injuries.

MLB Injury News Quick Hits

Alex Bregman injured his hamstring on Friday while rounding the bases on a base hit. He woke up feeling worse the day after, which is (obviously) never a good sign. With Rafael Devers ruled out to play third base, the team is looking for options, and one of those could be a prospect called up to take over at the hot corner. This isn't an ideal situation.

Cole Ragans has progressed to playing catch, which is great news for him and the Royals. In addition to that, he is expected to be ready to return when first eligible on June 1. There is still a lot of time between then and now, but things look good here. Meanwhile, Seth Lugo and his injured finger continue to get better, as he can now throw with increased intensity. He is also expected back when first eligible.

Yordan Alvarez continues to progress with his hand, recently to the point of hitting off a pitching machine and performing other baseball drills. While this is great news, it is somewhat concerning, given that we have received the same daily update on his improvement. It begs the question of how much better he can get without returning? Still, hitting off the machine was a big step forward, and perhaps we get to see Alvarez back in the lineup soon. Let's hope we don't get Kyle Tucker 2.0 this year.

Shota Imanaga aims to throw a bullpen session this Tuesday, which would be a major step forward in his recovery. Keeping a loose arm while battling a lower-body injury such as this is challenging, so any progress should be considered good. If all goes well in a few days, we should expect a live bullpen session sometime afterward.

Byron Buxton continues to improve, as he is progressing through concussion-protocol activities. Due to his extensive injury history, it makes it hard to trust that he can get healthy and stay healthy in the near future, but at least for now, he seems to be on the right track. Concussions are difficult to assess, since they affect different people in many ways and intensities.

MacKenzie Gore left his start on Friday early, after he experienced tightness in his leg once he was hit by a comebacker. It remains to be seen if he will require time off, but the team didn't seem to be worried about it at the time.

Mike Trout felt no pain in his injured knee after jogging on the field earlier this week. While he's not quite at 100% speed and intensity, he has progressed to a point just below that, giving hope for the future. He may require a rehab assignment before returning to the Angels, but there is currently no timeline for a return at all.

Kyle Finnegan is battling shoulder soreness, but the team insists that this is a day-to-day situation. With no structural damage, they could be right, but the slow approach to his eventual return seems like the best play here.

Michael King missed yesterday's start due to shoulder stiffness. After the fantasy world worried about the worst possible outcome, it was revealed that he slept awkwardly the night before, reminding us all that baseball players are, in fact, humans. There doesn't seem to be a concern about a long-term injury here, but this is a situation to monitor nonetheless.

Joc Pederson suffered a fractured hand yesterday. He has a six-week timetable for a return as an early estimate, but a lot can happen within that timeframe.

It looks like the Mariners and Bryce Miller have figured out the root of his problem, but the news isn't all positive. While his elbow is still structurally sound, doctors may eventually have to operate to correct the issue, and the impact of that surgery could result in extensive time missed. As such, he has said he will try to labor through this season before exploring options in the off-season.

Meanwhile, Logan Gilbert recently threw a two-inning simulated game and felt good during and afterward. He tossed 35 pitches, topped out at 95 miles per hour, and used different types of pitches throughout. He has stressed caution since the inception of his injury, and as such, his return to the rotation will be meticulously planned.

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