Here is the Fantrax Injury Report for Sunday, March 24, 2024. In today’s edition, Nolan Jones suffers an injury that looked scary, Eduardo Rodriguez says that he is DTD and nothing more, and the Blue Jays have some decisions to make regarding their bullpen. All that and more in today’s MLB Injury Report from Fantrax.
Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Sunday, March 24, 2024
Nolan Jones – OF Colorado Rockies
#Rockies Bud Black on Nolan Jones’ knee injury: pic.twitter.com/EprwlbWIl2
— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) March 23, 2024
Jones fouled a pitch off of his knee and was in a lot of pain. He couldn’t put any pressure on it and needed to be helped off of the field. It’s seemingly a good sign here that no X-rays were needed and that it’s labeled just as a contusion. That being said, most players will likely advocate for their health and downplay the seriousness of a situation. We shall see in the coming days if he will require a stint on the Injured List.
Ian Happ – OF Chicago Cubs
Ian Happ’s recovery from left hamstring strain has plateaued per Counsell.
Happ hasn’t played in 3 days, won’t be in lineup til Mon. Focusing on exerted running
Counsell: Opening Day not in jeopardy “not right now no.
“Goal is to put it behind him & it’s not quite behind him.”
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) March 23, 2024
Happ has struggled to get going at the plate since returning, and one has to wonder if it’s because of this hamstring strain. He may need some additional time to ensure that it’s gone away permanently. A trip to the Injured List isn’t completely out of the question here. Stay tuned.
Justin Steele – SP Chicago Cubs
Justin Steele is still in line to start Opening Day, Craig Counsell said.
— Andy Martínez (@amartinez_11) March 23, 2024
Some potentially good news here for the Cubs, as the contusion that Steele suffered might not be bad enough for him to miss any time. There should be updates on this in the coming days.
Gerrit Cole – SP New York Yankees
Cashman said Cole would be a candidate to go on the 60-day IL if Yankees need the 40-man roster spot because "he’s gonna miss that time regardless. So end of May/early June would likely be the earliest Cole could be back.
— Greg Joyce (@GJoyce9) March 16, 2024
It makes sense for the team to place Cole on the 60-day Injured List, since, as it states, he’s going to miss that time regardless. While the earliest ETA is a very optimistic timeline, anything before the All-Star Break should be considered a blessing. Needless to say, it will be a while before he returns.
Anthony Rizzo – 1B New York Yankees
Aaron Boone on Anthony Rizzo being removed from today's lineup.#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/MfYDU0jHMl
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) March 22, 2024
The good news is that the injury seems to be something Rizzo is familiar with. Both he and the Yankees remain confident that he’ll be ready for Opening Day, though nothing is certain. We should know more as we get closer to that day. For now, consider him DTD.
Corey Seager – SS Texas Rangers
2-for-2 spring debut for @coreyseager_5. 😎 pic.twitter.com/jMZmW9kGwJ
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) March 23, 2024
Seager returned and had two hits over two at-bats. He said at a press conference afterward that he had no limitations and that he almost returned a day prior. He should be ready for Opening Day.
Josh Jung – 3B Texas Rangers
Josh Jung on first spring game … pic.twitter.com/5YUx8D9kqq
— Stefan Stevenson (@StefanVersusTex) March 23, 2024
Jung also returned yesterday and recorded one hit over two at-bats. He said that the biggest hurdle for him was his defensive metrics and timing with his feet, but that he should be fine in due time. He should will be ready for Opening Day.
Jordan Romano – RP Toronto Blue Jays, Erik Swanson – RP Toronto Blue Jays
Erik Swanson (forearm) played catch Friday for a second consecutive day
Jordan Romano (elbow) is expected to start playing catch on Saturday
Blue Jays plan to wait until end of camp before making final decisions on their availability for start of regular season
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) March 22, 2024
Both relief options played catch on Saturday, though the updates for their results have yet to be revealed. Their status for Opening Day will be determined at seemingly the last minute, and fantasy owners may be left scrambling for alternatives. Romano has said that he will not rush toward returning even though all of the inflammation is gone. It’s more of a case where he needs to ramp himself up and get into games since he’s missed so much time.
Austin Hays – OF Baltimore Orioles
Austin Hays said his right shoulder is a little sore, but he’s making the trip to Fort Myers with #Orioles for today’s spring finale.
Hays confident he’ll get enough ABs between today’s game and live BPs to be ready for Opening Day on Thursday.
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) March 24, 2024
Hays got hit in the shoulder by a pitch and was forced to leave early. It is great news that he will be with the tam in in today’s Spring finale.
Kyle Bradish – SP Baltimore Orioles, John Means – SP Baltimore Orioles
Kyle Bradish and John Means should pitch early in first half of the season, Elias says. #Orioles
— Rich DubroffMLB (@RichDubroffMLB) March 22, 2024
Both pitchers will miss some time to begin the season, but this new report suggests that it may not be as long as first projected. Both have been progressing nicely and at their own pace. Means has thrown from the mound while Bradish has thrown bullpen sessions with varying types of pitches.
St. Louis Cardinals – Team Update
Sonny Gray to start on IL.
Will make two rehab-like starts before joining rotation.
Zack Thompson into rotation.
Matthew Liberatore into bullpen.
Lars Nootbaar starting year on IlL.— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) March 22, 2024
Both Gray and Nootbar beginning the season on the Injured List should not be a surprise to anyone. Gray seems closer to making his debut even though pitchers are required to stay away for a minimum of fifteen days.
Eduardo Rodriguez – SP Arizona Diamondbacks
Eduardo Rodriguez said he’s “95% close to normal” when it comes to his lat strain and is currently day-to-day. pic.twitter.com/Cq2gXxyjgP
— PHNX Diamondbacks (@PHNX_Dbacks) March 22, 2024
Interesting development. A little earlier in the day, it was revealed that Rodriguez would be shut down until symptoms go away. Now, it looks like he’s almost ready to get back out there and throw again. Despite all of this, there is no timeline for when he will throw and begin to ramp up again. As it stands, he is slated to begin the season on the Injured List.
For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2024 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.