We are coming to the home stretch of Spring Training and the MLB regular season will be here before you know it. However, we still have to deal with the biggest buzzkill in fantasy baseball and that is MLB injuries. Nothing torpedoes your chances at a fantasy baseball championship than having your guys needing a trip to the injured list and being out of your lineups. The World Baseball Classic has made injury situations worse, and now we will also deal with teams being cautious with their players as we are very close to Opening Day. So, let’s take a look at the latest in MLB injuries with the second of three fantasy baseball injury reports. 

 

 

MLB Spring Training Injury Updates

Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals

The World Baseball Classic almost claimed its third major injury as the Cardinals third baseman was hit by a pitch in the hand Sunday night. Unlike Jose Altuve, however, Arenado’s x-rays came back negative, and he is considered day-to-day. He is likely to miss a little time here in the exhibition season, but Arenado is a vet and already has plenty of at-bats under his belt for the WBC and likely doesn’t need much to consider himself ready for the season. Continue to select the slugger with full confidence in your upcoming drafts. 

Juan Soto, San Diego Padres

Another guy who at least appeared to avoid a more serious injury is Soto. He was removed from Sunday’s game with what is being described as a mile left oblique strain. The Padres are sure to put him through some tests and all, but the initial report is at least something minor. Keep a watch out on news in the coming days, but unless we hear something different, expect the Padres to be cautious with him but it looks like fantasy players dodged a bullet on this one.

Yoan Moncada, Chicago White Sox

Sunday was a terrible day for Major League players with near injuries in the World Baseball Classic as Yoan Moncada was involved in an outfield collision during the game but the reports are that he did not suffer a concussion or any other real injury as a result. Third base is already pretty weak in fantasy baseball, and losing Moncada, whose stats have been slipping recently, would have been a bigger blow to the position. He isn’t the guy he was back in 2019 but he is still a viable starting third baseman and should be fine heading into the 2023 season. 

Eloy Jimenez, Chicago White Sox

You never like to see this guy show up in an injury article as he has had some trouble staying healthy, but we might have the best case scenario here. Jimenez was pulled from a game on Monday with a right calf injury, but the White Sox are calling it cramping and it doesn’t appear that it will be anything that should put his Opening Day availability into question. He is looking to be a safe bet to begin the season at near 100% which is always a good thing. 

Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros 

We don’t like hearing word of Alvarez dealing with hand trouble, but all in all it isn’t overly bad news. He took some batting practice last Friday, and the Sunday manager Dusty Baker said that he could get into a Spring Training game this week. As of right now, it appears that he should be ready to go for Opening Day barring anything unforeseen popping up in the next two weeks. I won’t be surprised if the Astros give Alvarez a day off more frequently this season, but the big masher looks to be in the lineup when the season kicks off. 

Jose Altuve, Houston Astros 

No doubt you already know that Altuve broke his thumb or else you might be living under a rock that does not include fantasy baseball. However, even as we hear the timetable of 8-10 weeks, Altuve is not even having the surgery yet because of swelling and he is likely to be re-evaluated in that 8–10-week timeframe. There will also definitely be a minor league rehab assignment in there, and that is assuming no setbacks in his recovery. I am not here to be all doom and gloom here on Altuve, but don’t be surprised if it is slightly more than the timetable that is out there already and that is a third of the season. I’m not saying completely shy away from him in drafts, but this is a significant injury and keep that in mind when hitting the draft button.

Jorge Polanco, Minnesota Twins

The Twins second baseman has not played in a game this Spring and it appears to be the left knee that is bothering him still as the reason. It is hard to say if the Twins are just being cautious or if there is something a little more serious lingering here. The latest word out of Minnesota is that he even could start the season on the Injured List and if they are saying that with two and a half weeks to go before the season starts, it would seem like that is a likely scenario. Draft him with caution, or at least draft yourself a backup plan in case this injury stretches out longer. 

Brandon Nimmo, New York Mets

He took a funky slide into second base on Friday and Nimmo left the game after that. Thankfully, no structural damage was revealed and the Mets avoided a more serious problem for one of their outfielders. It is being declared a right knee and ankle sprain. There’s a chance that he won’t be ready on Opening Day, but it doesn’t appear that he will need to spend any time on the Injured List. 

Mike Soroka, Atlanta Braves

He hasn’t pitched in the Major Leagues since 2020 and even that was only three starts, but Soroka looks like he might be inching towards getting back on a professional mound in a game that matters. He will pitch two innings on Wednesday in a spring training game as he tries to build up his arm to be ready for the season. These last two and a half weeks aren’t enough time to do that so he isn’t going to start the season with the Braves, but assuming no setbacks (which is a huge assumption with Soroka) he could be pitching for Atlanta by the end of April. 

Andrew Vaughn, Chicago White Sox

You never like to hear about back pain, especially in the lower back, but so far it seems like it is much ado about nothing for Vaughn this Spring. He took some ground balls on Sunday and participated in fielding drills on Monday. Manager Pedro Grifol also said that he expected Vaughn to be ready for Opening Day. Continue to draft him as usual as a first baseman or for your outfield. 

C.J. Cron, Colorado Rockies

He was scratched from a game late last week and Cron was diagnosed with back spasms. The team isn’t making this out to be an overly big deal, and he is only expected to miss a few days. The fact that the National League has the designated hitter makes this an even less relevant injury as even if his back is still a little balky in two weeks, it doesn’t sound like this is so serious he wouldn’t be able to hit. Cron is a great corner infield or utility spot fill in for his ability to hit 30 homers in a season. 

 

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