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When will Leiter, Torres, and McClanahan return and play? Will Leiter, Torres, and McClanahan be back again this season? Read the latest fantasy baseball injury updates and return date for Week 2 of the 2025 MLB season.
We're headed into the second full week of the MLB season, but some teams are still missing key pieces of their roster due to injury. Some players were injured in spring training, while others made their debut but suffered an injury shortly after that. Heading into another week full of plenty of MLB action, let's take a look at the latest updates on the injuries to Jack Leiter of the Rangers, Gleyber Torres of the Tigers, and Shane McClanahan of the Rays.
As both fantasy baseball veterans and rookies are well aware, injuries are a normal part of fantasy baseball. Successfully navigating injuries and surviving the absence of key contributors is critical to the success of your squad. Injuries also open opportunities for other players to step up, and keeping up on the latest news can help you correctly value players in both redraft and dynasty leagues.
Coming into the season, McClanahan was a high draft pick or an expensive ace that many fantasy teams were counting on to anchor their rotation. Torres was expected to be the everyday second baseman for the Tigers and hit near the top of the order, and Leiter was off to a fast start before landing on the injured list. All three players have definite fantasy value when healthy, so let's take a look at when they'll be able to return.
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Jack Leiter Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
Leiter landed on the injured list with a blister issue after being removed from his second start of the season. He was dominant in both of his outings and looked like he was ready to realize his potential before being derailed by this blister issue.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft had struggled in his time in the minors with a high ERA and FIP despite his high strikeout rate. He appeared in nine games last season for the Rangers and was hammered for an 8.83 ERA, 5.66 FIP, and 7.8 K/9.
This spring, though, he showed up to spring training with added velocity and was very effective. He allowed just eight runs in 20 2/3 innings with 21 strikeouts and 10 walks. In his first start of the regular season, he went five innings against the Red Sox, allowing one run on four hits with four strikeouts. He was even more effective in his second start against the Reds.
JACK LEITER'S FINAL LINE
5.0 IP
0 R
1 H
6 K
0 BB70 Pitches
11 Whiffs🔥🔥🔥
Here's there final pitch of his day pic.twitter.com/2VsakHRWrE
— Jared Sandler (@JaredSandler) April 2, 2025
He departed that start after developing a blister on his throwing hand. The Rangers opted to take a cautious approach, placing him on the 15-day IL to let the issue fully clear up rather than trying to manage it in each start for an extended period.
The issue is expected to be resolved quickly, and he should be back in action by the end of the month. Given his excellent performance before the injury, fantasy managers should continue to hold Leiter in an injured reserve spot or a bench spot.
The Rangers recalled veteran lefty Patrick Corbin to take Leiter's spot. Corbin will make a few spot starts but is not an option in any formats after he struggled to a 5.62 ERA across 174 2/3 innings last season.
Gleyber Torres Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
Like Leiter, Torres also landed on the IL after the season began. He injured his oblique while hitting a home run in the second game of the season against the Dodgers. He went 3-for-7 (.429) with that home run, along with a stolen base, a walk, and an RBI.
Before that strong start to the season, Torres went 10-for-42 (.238) with three home runs, 11 RBI, and a .369 wOBA in his first spring training with the Tigers after signing as a free agent this offseason.
Torres originally went on IL on March 31, so he's almost to his minimum days and eligible to return. However, it doesn't look like he'll be ready quite yet. He did resume swinging on Saturday, though.
Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres (oblique) took some swings off a tee in the batting cage this morning and said he felt great.
He doesn't have a timeline, but he says, "I’m getting close. I really feel way better."
— Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) April 5, 2025
Torres doesn't seem headed for a long absence, and it isn't clear if he'll need a minor-league rehab assignment. Until he has a firm timetable, it makes sense to stash Torres on an IL spot or on your bench in standard leagues.
When he returns, Torres will boost the Tigers' lineup, but this will also create a tricky situation for playing time. Colt Keith has been playing 2B while Torres has been out, allowing Spencer Torkelson to play first base.
Coming into the season, Keith was expected to move to 1B in the regular lineup with Torkelson not in the mix. Torkelson has been red hot to start the year, though, but he could move to DH with Justyn-Henry Malloy either working in the outfield or returning to Triple-A. Malloy was called up when Torres landed on IL, but has gone 3-for-15 (.200) with two doubles, eight walks, and four runs scored.
Shane McClanahan Injury Update For Fantasy Baseball
McClanahan didn't make it to Opening Day before he was placed on the injured list. He is working his way back from Tommy John surgery after missing all of 2024. He had the surgery in August of 2023, but worked his way back to full strength and looked ready to return in time for Opening Day. In fact, he was even named the Rays' Opening Day starter.
However, everything went sideways on March 22 against the Red Sox when he grabbed the back of his throwing arm in immediate pain after making a pitch. Before the injury, he had worked seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and excellent command of his entire arsenal. After being removed from that start, it was feared that he had a significant setback, but imaging revealed an inflamed nerve in his left triceps.
While that injury is not a minor issue, it was the best-case scenario given the pain he was dealing with on the mound.
Tampa Bay Rays ace Shane McClanahan has an inflamed nerve in his left triceps, manager Kevin Cash said. Of all the potential outcomes after he left yesterday's game in pain, this is perhaps the best-case scenario. Will start the year on the IL but shouldn't miss significant time.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 23, 2025
He was shut down immediately and has not yet been able to return to throwing. He does not have a timetable and will need some time to ramp back up, most likely with multiple minor-league rehab starts.
When he's at his best, McClanahan can be one of the best pitchers in baseball. He had a breakout campaign in 2022, going 12-8 with a 2.54 ERA, 3.00 FIP, and a 0.93 WHIP. He racked up 194 punchouts in 166 1/3 innings and finished sixth in the voting for the AL Cy Young Award. He made 21 starts before the injury in 2023, going 11-2 with a 3.29 ERA and a 3.92 FIP.
If you can stash McClanahan in a spot on your IL, he's worth waiting for based on his elite ceiling, even though he has no clear timeline yet to return to the mound.
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