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When will Rodriguez, Woodruff, and Kirby return and play? Will Rodriguez, Woodruff, and Kirby be back again this season? Read the latest fantasy baseball injury updates and return date for Week 2 of the 2025 MLB season.
We are over a week into the MLB regular season, and fantasy baseball is off to a flying start for many squads. Like MLB teams, it's been a bumpy start for some fantasy teams. One contributing factor to many slow starts is injuries to key players. Specifically, starting pitcher injuries can be hard to overcome and test the depth of teams' rosters. Three of the starting pitchers who have yet to make their debut his year are Grayson Rodriguez of the Baltimore Orioles, Brandon Woodruff of the Milwaukee Brewers, and George Kirby of the Seattle Mariners. Let's take a look at the latest on when fantasy players and fans can expect to get these key arms back in play.
As every fantasy baseball player knows, injuries are a normal but brutal part of running a fantasy baseball team. Successfully navigating IL stints and managing your roster through the changing landscape of starting pitchers is critical to success. Keeping up with all the injury news can help you correctly value players for redraft or dynasty leagues.
Rodriguez and Kirby were counted on as foundations in their teams' rotations, while Woodruff was a popular sleeper or depth addition. Since all three are still on the IL, let's examine when they'll be back in action and how their return could impact the other starters in each team's current starting rotation.
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Grayson Rodriguez Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
The Orioles were counting on Rodriguez to be a key part of their starting rotation this season, but he was sidetracked in spring training by elbow inflammation.
The 25-year-old first-round pick was in the midst of a breakout season last year, going 13-4 in 20 starts with a 3.86 ERA, 3.66 FIP, and 10.0 K/9. He gave up two runs or fewer in 10 of his first 12 starts of the season, going 8-2 with 77 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings through mid-June.
He had a few rough outings and then was shut down at the end of July with a mild shoulder strain. He ramped up but could not return before the season's end.
Rodriguez started this spring training fully recovered and healthy heading into the Grapefruit League, but he was pulled after just one 1/3 innings in his second start. His velocity was noticeably down, and he said he had trouble getting loose. Initially, the team said it was triceps soreness, but then he was diagnosed with elbow inflammation and given a cortisone shot to help reduce the inflammation.
In mid-March, he started ramping up his throwing program, eventually stretching out to 90 feet. He threw his first bullpen session of his recovery last Wednesday. According to coach Drew French, it was a "light side" last week, and Rodriguez worked up to a full bullpen on Monday.
Orioles pitching coach Drew French provides updates on Grayson Rodriguez's recovery, Kyle Gibson's timeline and what Charlie Morton brings to the table. pic.twitter.com/EgyeM9kNsS
— Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) April 6, 2025
Rodriguez's bullpen of fastballs and changeups will hopefully set him up to start his minor-league rehab assignment if all goes well and his arm responds well to the increased work. He may need another bullpen or two as part of his normal spring ramp-up before heading out to Norfolk for a rehab outing or two.
He could still push it and be back by the end of the month, but an early May timeline seems more realistic. It will also be critical to watch carefully for setbacks since Rodriguez's issues have been ongoing for a while now and have been described in various ways.
While he has been out to start the season, the Orioles are using Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, Dean Kremer, Tomoyuki Sugano, and Cade Povich as their five-man starting rotation. Morton, Povich, and Kremer each have an ERA over 6.00 after their first two starts of the season, so Rodriguez will be a welcome addition as soon as he's ready.
Since he has upside as a top-25 starting pitcher, he's still a hold at this point in standard leagues, especially if you have him stashed in an IL spot.
Brandon Woodruff Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff is also getting close to heading on a rehab stint, but his recovery has been a much longer process than Rodriguez's. In fact, Woodruff's last major league outing was in September of 2023.
In that game against the Marlins, Woodruff suffered a shoulder injury that took him out of the team's rotation for the playoffs, where they lost to the Diamondbacks in the Wild Card Series. He finished the year 5-1 in 11 starts, compiling a 2.28 ERA, 3.60 FIP, and 9.9 K/9. He showed an even higher strikeout ceiling earlier in his career with a 2.84 ERA and 10.9 K/9 over his previous three seasons combined.
In October of 2023, he underwent shoulder surgery to repair the anterior capsule in his right shoulder. He missed all of the 2024 season but is working his way back into the Brewers' plan with a strong preseason. He threw just one inning of competitive action this spring but worked in several simulated games.
His one inning in the Cactus League came against the Guardians, and he showcased good velocity and an improved changeup.
As he continues to make his way back, he has a clearer timeframe than either of the other two starters highlighted in this post.
Sim game tomorrow at AmFam, then to Nashville to start a 30-day rehab assignment. https://t.co/Kmlsi687CB
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) April 6, 2025
Assuming Monday's simulated game in Milwaukee goes well, he'll start his 30-day rehab assignment with the Nashville Sounds next week. He could be back in mid-May, and if he's able to return to near his previous form, he'll be a great addition if available on waiver wires. He's available in almost half of the leagues on Yahoo!, so scoop and stash him on IL if possible.
When he returns, he'll be a key for the team since eight of the Brewers' top 13 pitchers have been on the shelf for various reasons. Nestor Cortes (elbow), Aaron Civale (hamstring), Tobias Myers (oblique), DL Hall (lat), and Robert Gasser (elbow) are all dealing with early-season injuries, leaving Freddy Peralta, Tyler Alexander, Elvin Rodriguez, and Chad Patrick in the starting rotation.
Quinn Priester was also just acquired from the Red Sox via trade, and he may be pressed directly into the starting rotation with so many injuries.
The Brewers will be cautious with Woodruff despite their shortage, but so far, all the signs have been encouraging for the 32-year-old right-hander.
George Kirby Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
Kirby was the highest fantasy draft pick of the three pitchers in this post and is a true ace when he's at his best. Until this year, Kirby has been remarkably durable throughout his career. Last year, he made a league-leading 33 starts and went 14-11 with a 3.53 ERA, 3.26 FIP, and 8.4 K/9.
He was shut down this spring after his first spring training start due to shoulder inflammation. Even though an MRI showed no structural damage, the team shut him down for a few weeks to allow the inflammation to subside. He has been working his way through a throwing progression and has slowly but steadily made progress.
On Monday, general manager Justin Hollander gave the first meaningful update on Kirby in a few weeks.
George Kirby threw a normal bullpen this weekend and is “doing great,” Hollander said. Kirby’s on a regular spring-training buildup plan. Sounds like a May return is likely, but no specific timeline.
— Adam Jude (@A_Jude) April 7, 2025
Even though Hollander declined to give a specific timeline, it's an encouraging report overall. The team will continue to proceed cautiously since any shoulder injury for a pitcher is cause for concern. He is still ramping up before a minor league rehab stint that will probably take a few weeks.
He's likely looking at mid-May to return to the Mariners' rotation. If you've been holding Kirby on your bench or IL spot, continue to do so until he's ready for his season debut.
While Kirby is unavailable, the Mariners are going with a rotation of Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo, and Luis F. Castillo, who replaced Emerson Hancock. The Mariners will likely continue to patch together the final spot in their rotation until Kirby is ready to return, giving them one of the most effective and deep rotations in the MLB.
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