Here is the Fantrax Injury Report for Saturday, May 6, 2023.
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Kyle Wright – SP Atlanta Braves
The Braves say Wright's MRI showed a shoulder strain. No timetable given
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) May 5, 2023
Ugh, not great at all. This has the potential to be a month-by-month situation here. There was no structural damage, so there’s still hope for him to return this season, but the overall news isn’t great. Look for him to be transferred to the 60-day Injured List if the team needs a roster spot.
Kutter Crawford – RP Boston Red Sox
Per source, Kutter Crawford's hamstring strain is mild, but the Red Sox want to be careful with him, and also not overload the rest of the bullpen without him.
Putting him on the IL enables him to rest without rushing back, and adds another arm in the meantime.
— Gabrielle Starr (@gfstarr1) May 5, 2023
Here’s some context to the situation with Crawford. He’s obviously an important part of the bullpen, so the team wants to take their time and ensure he’s right.
Chicago Cubs – Team Update
Injury updates…
• Codi Heuer to throw one inning with Iowa on Saturday to start Minor League rehab stint
• Kyle Hendricks throwing bullpen Saturday in Chicago
• Brandon Hughes playing catch today
• Gomes doing conditioning/light baseball activities today— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) May 5, 2023
Heuer is returning from Tommy John Surgery and is a big part of the team’s future. Expect the Cubs to take their time with him. Hendricks has been slowly brought along, and that is expected to continue when he rehabs. As for Hughes, his injury is a long-term issue, so he won’t be back for a while.
Wil Myers – OF Cincinnati Reds
Wil Myers is back with the club but not active yet. He said he was down with Covid for a few days. While the team was out of town, he worked out at GABP. Myers hopes he can be back in the Reds lineup on Saturday.
— Mark Sheldon (@m_sheldon) May 5, 2023
Be prepared.
Luis Garcia – SP Houston Astros
Update on Luis Garcia. pic.twitter.com/e3hTqzjXn8
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 6, 2023
The already depleted pitching rotation of the Astros takes a massive hit here, as Garcia had seemingly started to turn things around. He will miss this season and some of next year while he recovers. JP France is likely to take his spot for today, but going forward is clouded with uncertainty.
Chas McCormick – OF Houston Astros, Michael Brantley – OF Houston Astros
Chas McCormick and Michael Brantley won’t join the Astros until possibly the upcoming Angels series, Dusty Baker said.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) May 6, 2023
McCormick’s return continues to get delayed, and it’s starting to get concerning. As for Brantley, it’s great news as his long journey back from shoulder surgery looks to be over.
Max Muncy – INF Los Angeles Dodgers
#Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Max Muncy was sick all day and he wanted to get him off the field at that point in the game.
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) May 6, 2023
It begs the question of why even play him at all.
Tyler Mahle – SP Minnesota Twins, Alex Kirilloff – 1B Minnesota Twins
A busy Friday. Twins have:
— called up OF/1B Alex Kirilloff from St. Paul;
— added RHP Dereck Rodriguez from St. Paul;
— placed LHP Caleb Thielbar on 15-day injured list (oblique);
— moved RHP Tyler Mahle to 60-day injured list.One move left to open a 26-man roster spot.
— Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) May 5, 2023
The news about Mahle is merely a formality, as he will be shut down for four weeks before even picking up a baseball. This does allow for the Twins to reinstate Kirilloff, who is hopefully healthy now and ready to prove his worth.
Carlos Rodon – SP New York Yankees
Carlos Rodon said he has been told his back issue is "chronic." He is tentatively scheduled to have the cortisone injection next week. Asked if a July return is realistic, he said: "I can't put a timeline on anything. I'll get this injection and I want to throw as soon as I can."
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) May 5, 2023
Not the news anyone wanted to hear, as this could be a career-altering injury. The word chronic means that this could and might reoccur periodically over time. The hope is that these injections will make it so that he can pitch, but even that seems like a band-aid over a scar. It’s looking like a return before the All-Star Break would be nothing short of a miracle.
Josh Donaldson – 3B New York Yankees
While it looks like Donaldson is improving, chances are the team brings him back slowly, due to his extensive injury history.
Aaron Judge – OF New York Yankees
Aaron Judge ran, threw and did defensive work at the #Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa Friday morning. He and Josh Donaldson hit inside.
Boone said Tuesday is the current target for Judge’s return.
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) May 5, 2023
Judge has been working out all week and is looking ready to go. His return to the team on Tuesday would mean he should be locked and loaded in lineups next week.
Vince Velasquez – P Pittsburgh Pirates
We have placed RHP Vince Velasquez on the 15-day Injured List with Right Elbow Inflammation.
We have also ended RHP Chase De Jong’s Rehabilitation Assignment and activated him to the Major League Roster.
In addition, INF Drew Maggi has cleared waivers and was outrighted to…
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 5, 2023
Velasquez himself thought that it wasn’t serious, but apparently, it was worse than anyone thought. While missing time on the Injured List, Luis Ortiz seems like a reasonable option to come in and replace him. He was pulled last night from his rehab start after three scoreless innings….and was healthy.
Luis Campusano – C San Diego Padres
Also, Luis Campusano is receiving pitches for the first time since spraining his left thumb.
He has been swinging a bat for a couple days.— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) May 5, 2023
It’s been a while since Campusano went on the Injured List, and it would appear that his thumb is all but healed. Stay tuned.
Tyler O’Neill – OF St. Louis Cardinals
As expected, the #STLCards make a flurry of moves prior to today’s game vs. the Tigers. pic.twitter.com/lttxxb7YT7
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) May 5, 2023
O’Neill has scuffled all year, on and off the field, and this is another setback. Yepez figures to be a bench option for the team while O’Neill tries to get himself right.
Brandon Lowe – 2B Tampa Bay Rays
#Rays Cash said B. Lowe is out of the lineup for a second straight day due to a slight back issue, different than what sidelined him last year. But he plans to go through a full workout today and should be available off the bench.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 5, 2023
This could be something significant if it’s not taken care of. Keep an eye on this situation as the team might want to go slowly with him in order to avoid last year’s disaster.
Tyler Glasnow – SP Tampa Bay Rays
Tyler Glasnow's first Triple-A rehab start:
2 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4:2 K:BB on 46 pitches.
9 whiffs on 18 swings 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nX3g2f43TJ
— Underdog MLB (@Underdog__MLB) May 5, 2023
This was the first of three outings for Glasnow, and he looked locked in from the mound. Stay tuned as he could be back within the next week or so.