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Dr. Reuven's (@mlbinjuryguru) fantasy baseball injury updates for Week 17 of the 2021 MLB season. His medical background helps analyze the injured MLB players and their recoveries.
It was strange to not see any baseball highlights for a few days this week but thankfully it was a quiet injury week as a result. Following the All-Star break, a number of injured players will be beginning/finishing their rehab assignments in the hopes of returning to their respective teams. Please keep in mind that some players that were placed on the IL last week may only be out the minimum amount of time based on injury type because this way players are able to rest up for 10 days and miss as few games as possible due to the All Star break.
This week, I will be highlighting a few of the previously injured players on the IL and their hopeful return timeframe. All of these return dates are subject to change based on how certain teams want players to "build up" and also could change based on setbacks.
Now, let's look at the latest injury breakdown as we enter Week 17 of the 2021 fantasy baseball season.
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Injured Players - New Listings
Ronald Acuna Jr. (OF, ATL)- Acuna was placed on the IL with a torn ACL in his right knee. Surgery is needed and he is done for the year, but he should be good to go for next year. The question will be how many steals he will attempt next year following this injury.
Ian Anderson (SP, ATL)- Anderson was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to July 13. There is no timeline for return yet. Touki Toussaint was activated from the 60-day IL to take his spot on the roster and likely in the rotation too.
Yu Darvish (SP, SD)- Darvish landed on the IL with left hip inflammation. He was taken out of his last game due to back and hip tightness. No word on severity or his timeframe for return.
Injured Players - Updates
Hopeful July Return
Manuel Margot- (OF, TB) Margot was placed on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Severity is not known. He is eligible to return after the All-Star break and the earliest Margot is expected to return from the IL is at least the team's July 27- 29 series.
Clayton Kershaw- (SP, LAD) Kershaw was placed on the IL with left forearm inflammation. It was originally called left elbow inflammation but the MRI revealed forearm inflammation instead. Kershaw has resumed playing catch Saturday. There is a chance that he could return shortly after the All-Star break.
Eddie Rosario- (OF, CLE) Rosario was placed on the IL with an abdominal strain. Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti described the injury as "mild," so there is a chance he could return post-All-Star break.
Mike Trout- (OF, LAA) Trout has been on the IL with a calf strain. Trout took batting practice and has been doing baseball activities. The earliest he could be activated is July 17. Watch for him to start some rehab games in a week or two with a possible return end of July or the beginning of August.
Mark Canha- (OF, OAK) Canha is currently on the IL with a left hip strain. His MRI showed that he has left hip tendinitis and had a PRP injection to both of his hips. Athletics manager Bob Melvin said that he is progressing well. The earliest return, after a possible rehab assignment, would be towards the end of July.
Alex Bregman- (3B, HOU) Bregman was placed on the IL with a left quad strain. Bregman said he expects to begin his rehab assignment in mid-July. If all goes well, Bregman could return the last week in July.
Tejay Antone- (RP, CIN) Antone is on the IL with a forearm strain. He received a PRP injection and is expected to return from the IL at the end of July.
Tommy La Stella- (2B, SF) La Stella was on the IL rehabbing from a hamstring injury when he fractured his thumb. La Stella is currently on a rehab assignment and could return next week.
Austin Nola- (C, SD) Nola is on the IL with a knee sprain. Nola has begun a rehab assignment and has been playing at first base so far. As soon as he shows he is able to catch consistently without issue, he should return.
Lucas Sims- (RP, CIN) Sims is on the IL with an elbow strain. He is expected to miss two to three more weeks. The earliest he could return from the IL will be in late July.
John Means (SP, BAL) Means is on the IL with a shoulder strain. Means is expected to pitch one more rehab start which could potentially put him on track to rejoin the Orioles next week.
Sonny Gray (SP, CIN)- Gray is on the IL with a rib cage injury. He has been doing well and is expected to be activated over the weekend.
Hopeful August Return
Eloy Jimenez- (OF, CHW) Jimenez had surgery late March for a torn left pectoral muscle. Jimenez is currently doing well on a rehab assignment and he is expected to be back by the end of July or the beginning of August.
Miles Mikolas- (SP, STL) Mikolas is on the IL with a forearm strain. According to the team's official site, Mikolas has resumed throwing bullpen sessions and appears to be on target for a rehab assignment in late July and a possible return in August.
Nick Anderson- (RP, TB) Anderson is on the IL with a partial tear of his elbow ligament. Anderson had a bullpen session last weekend, feels good, and remains on target for a return at some point in August.
Ryan Weathers- (SP, SD) Weathers is on the IL with a right foot injury/sprain and was diagnosed with a small foot/ankle fracture. Weathers underwent an MRI of his foot last Sunday and the Padres expect him to be sidelined until at least the early part of August.
Luis Severino- (SP, NYY) Severino is currently on the IL rehabbing from Tommy John surgery last year. He then suffered a Grade 2 groin strain during his rehab stint. Luis Severino has tossed a couple of bullpens last week in Somerset. His next step is facing hitters. He is said to be trending in the right direction.
Yasmani Grandal- (C, CHW) Grandal was placed on the IL with a torn tendon in his left knee. He has already had surgery on it and is expected to miss about four more weeks, or a mid to late August return. Zack Collins will be the primary catcher for the White Sox until Grandal's return.
Maikel Franco- (3B, BAL) Franco was placed on the IL with a right ankle sprain. Ankle sprains typically take two to four weeks to heal. He is one week in which could put him on target to return around the first or second week in August.
Chris Sale- (SP, BOS) Sale is on the IL rehabbing from Tommy John surgery last year. Sale has begun a rehab assignment, starting with two innings. Pitching coach Dave Bush said that Sale will not be activated from the IL until he is stretched out to throw five to six innings.
Hopeful September Return
Corey Kluber (SP, NYY) Kluber is on the IL with a subscapularis strain, or a shoulder strain. Yankees GM Brian Cashman said last week that he does not expect Kluber to return from the IL until September.
Players with no clear timeline for return
This is a list of current players on the IL with no clear return date from their injuries. This does not mean they are out for the season or that they cannot return next week. When the teams have more information on these players, we all will have a better idea when they will return.
Eddie Rosario (OF, CLE)- Abdomen
Justus Sheffield (SP, SEA)- Forearm
Anthony Rendon (3B, LAA)- Hamstring
Joe Ross (SP, WAS)- Forearm
Brandon Belt (1B, SF)- Knee
Dinelson Lamet (SP, SD)- Elbow
Jose Urquidy (SP, HOU)- Shoulder
Ketel Marte (OF, ARI)- Hamstring
Michael Fulmer (RP, DET)- Neck
Corey Seager- (SS, LAD) Seager is currently on the IL after fracturing the fifth metacarpal on his right hand. Seager is scheduled to take at bats in a sim game over the weekend and further knowledge of his return date will be known afterwards.
Adalberto Mondesi (SS, KC)- Oblique
Carlos Carrasco- (SP, NYM) Carrasco has been on the IL since the start of the season with a hamstring injury. Carrasco pitched one inning in a rehab start this week. It is possible that the Mets could build him up to start in either the minors or in the majors.
Evan Longoria (3B, SF)- Shoulder
Shane Bieber (SP, CLE)- Shoulder
Aaron Civale (SP, CLE) Cleveland placed Civale on the IL with a finger injury in late June. He was expected to be out four to five weeks. No word yet on when he will begin his rehab assignment.
Buster Posey (C, SF)- Thumb
Tyler Glasnow (SP, TB)- Elbow
Carson Kelly (C, ARI)- Wrist
Zac Gallen (SP, ARI)- Hamstring
Jack Flaherty (SP, STL)- Oblique
Stephen Strasburg (SP, WAS)- Neck
Carlos Martinez (SP, STL)- Thumb
Corey Dickerson (OF, TOR)- Foot
Spencer Turnbull (SP, DET)- Forearm
Noah Syndergaard (SP, NYM)- Elbow
Justin Upton (OF, LAA)- Back
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