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When will Cowser, Ramirez, and Torres return and play? Will Cowser, Ramirez, and Torres be back again this season? Read the latest fantasy baseball injury updates and return date for Week 1 of the 2025 MLB season.
The Major League Baseball season is off to a great start, but during the first series of the season, some critical position players sustained injuries. While some of these injuries were minor, others definitely could be something more significant. Three of the injuries to key players that occurred on the opening weekend were to Colton Cowser of the Baltimore Orioles, Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians, and Gleyber Torres of the Detroit Tigers.
As every successful fantasy baseball player knows, injuries are an unfortunate reality of fantasy baseball. While they can hurt your team in both the short and long term, successfully navigating injuries and surviving the absence of key contributors can also be the key to success. Staying on top of the latest news and updates can help you plan for your players and your fill-in solutions to make the most impact on their return. It can also help you correctly value players in trades or on waiver wires for redraft or dynasty leagues.
Both Cowser and Ramirez were injured running the bases, while Torres left the team's second game of the season and has not returned. While all three players will have to overcome their injuries, they still have fantasy baseball value, so let's take a look at how you should approach each situation.
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Colton Cowser Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
After finishing second in the AL Rookie of the Year race in 2024, Cowser was hitting leadoff for the Orioles to start 2025. He went 2-for-16 (.125) with a walk, a single, a home run, and a .242 wOBA. In the top of the seventh inning, Cowser grounded out to first, and in an attempt to beat out the slow roller, he dove into first base. He and pitcher Brendon Little arrived at the base at the same time, but Cowser was called out. To add injury to insult, quite literally, he jammed his thumb into the base and was diagnosed with a fractured thumb on Monday.
#Orioles Colten Cowser broke his thumb sliding head first into first base. You can’t make this stuff up.
Just brutal luck pic.twitter.com/PSFtjmLlw7
— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) March 31, 2025
Manager Brandon Hyde said that Cowser is expected to miss a minimum of six to eight weeks. He was placed on the 10-day injured list, and the team called up Dylan Carlson to take his spot on the roster.
With Cowser out on Monday, Jordan Westburg moved into the leadoff spot against lefty Sean Newcomb. Gunnar Henderson (intercostal strain) is expected to return from his rehab stint on Thursday, and he'll likely take over leadoff responsibilities once he's healthy, at least against righties. Westburg could stay in the mix for leadoff at-bats against lefties.
Dylan Carlson had a strong spring, hitting .321 with two home runs and two stolen bases with a .459 wOBA. He could be in the mix for some of Cowser's at-bats in the outfield, but most of the work will likely go to Heston Kjerstad, who has crushed minor-league pitching over the last few seasons but hasn't gotten an extended look in the majors. He could have his chance now. He went 1-for-4 with an RBI in his start on Monday and could get at-bats against both lefties and righties for as long as Cowser is out.
Based on the timeline given, Cowser will likely be able to return in late May to early June, although he'll likely need a rehab stint after so much time out.
Jose Ramirez Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
The Guardians took two of three games from the Royals in their opening series in Kansas City, but on Saturday in their loss, they also lost Ramirez to a sprained wrist. Ramirez sustained the injury diving into second base on a stolen base attempt in the third inning.
Guardians second game of season: Jose Ramirez removed from game with a right wrist sprain. Jammed wrist in the infield dirt attempting to steal 2nd base #GuardsBall #ForTheLand #Guardians #MLB
pic.twitter.com/lD82GAZK5N— Jay7 (@LJayy7) March 29, 2025
Ramirez was out of the lineup on Sunday after being diagnosed with a sprained wrist, but he was listed in the lineup for Monday night's game against the Padres. The 32-year-old switch-hitter looks like he will try and play through the issue. In Monday's lineup, he is batting second and even playing third base, showing he doesn't have any apparent limitations due to his wrist issue.
For now, it looks like Ramirez and the Guardians have dodged major injury, but wrist injuries can be tricky. You'll definitely want to keep a close eye on his effectiveness over the next few days. He brings both power and speed when he's at his best, but he may be hesitant to attempt stolen bases if he isn't comfortable diving after the injury.
With Ramirez out on Sunday, Gabriel Arias stepped in and went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. If Ramirez misses any more time, Arias would likely be the next man up at the hot corner. Arias and Daniel Schneemann are battling for time at 2B as well, so his big game could help him earn playing time in that spot in the lineup as well.
Gleyber Torres Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
The Tigers signed Torres to a one-year deal this offseason as a free agent. He went 2-for-5 with a stolen base in his Tigers' debut on Thursday, but the team still lost 5-4. On Friday, he went 1-for-2 with a home run, but he left the game in the sixth inning with what the team originally called "rib tightness."
Torres did not play Saturday in the series finale, and the team announced on Monday after an off-day that Torres was placed on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain.
We have placed INF Gleyber Torres on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to March 29) with a left oblique strain.
INF/OF Justyn-Henry Malloy has been recalled from Triple-A Toledo.
— Tigers PR (@DetroitTigersPR) March 31, 2025
The team did not give any timeline, and there has not been any update on the severity of Torres's strain, which will determine if he's ready to come off the IL when first eligible or needs more time to recover. He joins a growing list of Tigers position players on the IL, along with Parker Meadows (arm), Matt Vierling (shoulder), and Wenceel Perez (back).
Without Torres in the infield, the Tigers will likely slide Colt Keith back to 2B and let Spencer Torkelson play 1B, where Keith was moving to make room for Torres. Keith went 0-for-10 in his first three games against the Dodgers, while Torkelson started fast, going 4-for-9 (.444) with five walks, a double, and a home run. With Torres out, both Torkelson and Keith should be regulars in the lineup for the Tigers. Torres will miss at least the team's series in Seattle and their first home series against the White Sox, which starts with their home opener on Friday.
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