The start of the 2025 MLB season is right around the corner and the list of fantasy baseball injuries already looks like when you take your family to Target after pay day. It looks like a CVS receipt when someone in your family is sick and you’re trying to keep everyone else healthy. It looks like – you get the idea.

There are a LOT of fantasy baseball injuries around the league, and there are going to be a lot more throughout the year. But let’s dive into the first edition of our MLB injury report for 2025 as fantasy baseball drafts are in full swing!

 

 

 

MLB Injuries: Starting Pitchers

Spencer Strider Injury Update - Elbow

Despite general manager Alex Anthopoulos saying that Spencer Strider will not open the season in the rotation, it won’t be too long after Opening Day that he makes his debut. MLB Network’s JP Morosi reported that Strider is meeting all of his checkpoints and is trending towards a very fast return after the season kicks off.

Tyler Glasnow Injury Update - Elbow

We heard from Tyler Glasnow has February kicked off and he said an MRI on his elbow revealed nothing but tendinitis. He’s throwing bullpens and hasn’t been limited at all. He enters the 2025 campaign healthy and doesn’t seem concerned with his elbow tendonitis from ‘24.

Brandon Woodruff Injury Update - Shoulder

In speaking with Brewers manager Pat Murphy, the media learned that Brandon Woodruff will not be ready for Opening Day. He had surgery back in October of 2023, but his rehab was stalled in August of 2024, so it’s pushed his timeline back a bit.

Shane Bieber Injury Update - Elbow

The Guardians and Shane Bieber came to an agreement on a one-year deal this offseason despite Bieber being the middle of Tommy John rehab. He’s expected to return in the middle of the 2025 campaign, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Joe Ryan Injury Update - Shoulder

A non-issue. That’s what Twins front-line starter, Joe Ryan, is saying about his shoulder strain. Looks like Ryan enters the 2025 season completely healthy.

Sandy Alcantara Injury Update - Elbow

We’re going to see Sandy Alcantara toe the rubber for the Marlins in their first Spring Training game and he’s going to also open the season for the Marlins if he gets through the spring unscathed. 

Cristian Javier Injury Update - Elbow

Cristian Javier broke the news himself on his Instagram that he was back throwing. Now, he’s coming off Tommy John and isn’t expected back until later in the summer, but it’s a good sign he’s on the mound.

Kyle Bradish Injury Update - Elbow

The last update we got out of the team on Kyle Bradish was in November when general manager Mike Elias said he’d return during the middle of the 2025 season. Bradish himself posted a video on his Instagram in December that he was throwing again.

Eury Perez Injury Update - Elbow

It’s been reported that Eury Perez has thrown at least seven bullpens this offseason. He’s still slated to return after the All-Star break, but that’s good news that he's on the mound.

Lucas Giolito Injury Update - Elbow

Lucas Giolito has reported to Spring Training early and told Rob Bradford of WEEI that he’s a full-go for the start of the 2025 MLB campaign.

Lance McCullers Injury Update - Forearm

After returning to the mound in January, Lance McCullers Jr. is poised to return to a major league mound early on in 2025, but it won’t be Opening Day. According to general manager Dana Brown, it will be soon after Opening Day when we’ll see McCullers again. He last pitched in 2022.

 

 

 

MLB Injuries: Relief Pitchers

Felix Bautista Injury Update - Elbow

After being arguably the best relief pitcher in 2023, Felix Bautista was shut down for the 2024 season and had Tommy John surgery. According to Rich Kubatko of MASN, Bautista will be ramped up in Spring Training and is expected to be ready for Opening Day.

Jordan Romano Injury Update - Elbow

As long as there are no setbacks, Jordan Romano should be ready for the start of the season. He was ramping up at the end of the 2024 season after injuring his elbow and getting arthroscopic surgery.

Michael Kopech Injury Update - Probable

Conflicting reports put Michael Kopech on different timelines, but general manager Brandon Gomes said some of the reports seem untrue. Kopech, reportedly was going to miss the first month of the year per Bob Nightengale, is in the midst of his regular offseason throwing program.

Joe Jimenez Injury Update - Knee

This news…stinks. Back in November, Joe Jimenez underwent knee surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his left knee and it’s going to keep him sidelined for 8-to-12 months.

Abner Uribe Injury Update - Knee

Abner Uribe underwent surgery on his knee this past July but is already back throwing on the mound. Matt Arnold, general manager, said Uribe is going to be ready for Spring Training and there are some rumblings that Uribe is a dark horse for save opportunities.

 

 

 

MLB Injuries: Catchers

David Fry Injury Update - Elbow

After postseason heroics for David Fry, he went under the knife and got Tommy John surgery, taking him out of playing the field for the next 12 months. Fry will be able to start batting in May or June.

Endy Rodriguez Injury Update - Elbow

As the season is set to kick off, Endy Rodriguez is healthy, and his elbow feels good. He’s likely going to operate as the team’s backup catcher, but if he has a good spring, he could usurp Joey Bart as the starter.

MLB Injuries: First Basemen

Freddie Freeman Injury Update - Ankle

According to Fabian Ardaya, Freddie Freeman has yet to start running but is swinging a bat. The most important thing is that Freeman expects to be ready to go when the team opens their season in Tokyo.

MLB Injuries: Second Basemen

Nico Horner Injury Update - Elbow

There’s nothing official in terms of a timeline for when Nico Hoerner is going to return to the lineup as the Cubs would not commit to him being available for Opening Day. Seems like that is not going to be the likely scenario, but he will play a lot of games per general manager Carter Hawkins.

Jonathan India Injury Update - Ankle

Before being dealt to the Kansas City Royals, Jonathan India had ankle cleanup surgery after the season. He’s expected to be good to go for Spring Training and the start of the regular season.

Luis Rengifo Injury Update - Wrist

After getting wrist surgery last summer that ended a career year, Luis Rengifo is back in the cages and is hitting. He’s past the wrist injury and looking to have a repeat 2024 before the injury.

 

 

 

MLB Injuries: Third Basemen

Josh Jung Injury Update - Wrist

After season-ending wrist surgery ended his 2024 early, Josh Jong told Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports that he’s fully recovered from it and is 100% healthy for Spring Training. He enters 2025 with a full bill of health.

Maikel Garcia Injury Update - Elbow

After going through an entire season in which he did not hit the injured list once, Maikel Garcia complained about elbow soreness and thus, went under a minor procedure back in December. It’s not something that is expected to keep him out of any game action and Garcia’s expected to be ready for Spring Training.

MLB Injuries: Shortstops

Corey Seager Injury Update - Hip

After TWO hernia surgeries a year ago, Corey Seager told WFAA that he’s had a normal offseason and is going to be ready by day one of Spring Training. That’s great news for the oft-injured superstar shortstop.

Zachary Neto Injury Update - Shoulder

The fact that the injuries have not given a singular update on Zachary Neto’s shoulder is concerning. He got surgery in November and neither general manager Perry Minasian nor manager Ron Washington won’t say anything. When Neto originally had surgery, Minasian said there was a chance Neto would miss the start of the year.

Ha-Seong Kim Injury Update - Shoulder

Ha-Seong Kim underwent surgery on his shoulder back in October and is reportedly on track to return in May. He’s going to plug right into the lineup as the Rays’ starting shortstop. He signed a two-year deal with Tampa Bay at the end of January.

 

 

 

MLB Injuries: Outfielders

Ronald Acuna Injury Update - Knee

It seems as if the Braves are playing this very safe considering Ronald Acuna has had multiple major knee injuries and surgeries during his career. I say that because the timeline remains May and May puts him at 13 months since the surgery, an injury that most players return in a year from.

Mike Trout Injury Update - Knee

Mike Trout posted a video on his Instagram of him and the knee looks healthy. It looks strong, especially considering what injury he suffered. There has been nothing suggesting he won’t be ready to start the year.

Brandon Nimmo Injury Update - Foot

Brandon Nimmo reported to the Mets facility already and was seen taking batting practice. He’s expected to be ready for Opening Day despite still dealing with plantar fasciitis.

Christian Yelich Injury Update - Back

It’s not going to impact him for the start of the regular season, but Brewers manager Pat Murphy said the team is going to bring Christian Yelich around slowly this spring. As long as he’s healthy for the year, it does not matter how slow slow is.

Brent Rooker Injury Update - Forearm

Back in October, Brent Rooker said he was dealing with a forearm injury throughout the season and because of it, went under the knife and got surgery on it. He’s expected to be ready for start of the season.

Evan Carter Injury Update - Back

Everything is trending in the right direction for Evan Carter as he returns from a back injury. He has resumed baseball activities and is entering the spring without any restrictions.

Adolis Garcia Injury Update - Knee

There have been no setbacks for Adolis Garcia, and he’s positioned himself to enter Spring Training without any restrictions.

Esteury Ruiz Injury Update - Knee

After being ruled out for the remainder of the 2024 season with a wrist strain, Esteury Ruiz underwent knee surgery in September. There haven’t been many updates on Ruiz since, but there hasn’t been anything suggesting he won’t be ready for Opening Day.

 

 

 

MLB Injuries: Designated Hitters

Shohei Ohtani Injury Update - Shoulder

Oh boy. Shohei Ohtani is on schedule to start the year as a hitter on schedule and when it comes to pitching, that’s looking like May. The Dodgers shared a video of him throwing and the thought of how crazy it is that he’s coming off a 50-50 season and now will be pitching hurts my brain.

Masataka Yoshida Injury Update - Shoulder

After undergoing shoulder surgery after the season, Masataka Yoshida is reportedly already there as an early arrival and is looking very healthy. We’ll see if he’s ready for Opening Day, however. That seems still up in the air at this point.