Pitching Injuries to Monitor for 2026 Fantasy Baseball Drafts

Moving through draft season, the status of injured players becomes imperative when making roster decisions. Figuring out when a player is set to return, alongside the risk attached to that return, can help define draft cost and roster construction. With that in mind, here are the latest updates on some of the biggest pitchers in fantasy baseball.

2026 Fantasy Baseball: Pitching Injuries to Monitor

Zack Wheeler – SP Philadelphia Phillies

This excerpt was from Dr. Dinesh Dhanaraj, the Attending Orthopedic Surgeon at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, and the entire article is listed here. It is a recommended read. Essentially, the report is a positive one, stemming from the fact that Wheeler seems to be on track to return earlier than most would have been in his situation. Throwing from 90 feet is the key here, as it demonstrates that the body, which is recovering, is still able to withstand this gradual buildup toward pitching. And while he has only taken a few steps forward on this road to recovery, he is still on that road, which is a great sign.

There were other reports earlier in the offseason saying that he was behind other pitchers on his team. That is a fact, and anyone expecting him back soon would be fooling themselves. He is behind the other pitchers in the Phillies’ rotation, and as such, he won’t be ready to start the season when they are. And even though these reports paint a rosy picture, he still throws hard, and it’s unclear how his body will respond once he begins doing that again. There is a lot of risk involved in rostering Wheeler, given his age and the fact that the recovery/success rate here is low. Keep an eye on his progression, and once he begins throwing from a mound, without any setbacks, that would be a big step forward.

Carlos Rodon – SP New York Yankees

Great news here for the Yankees and for Carlos Rodon, as his offseason surgery was a minor one, leaving him almost ready to go for the start of the season. In fact, he began throwing around eight weeks post-operation, allowing him to have a reasonably normal offseason. He isn’t expected to be ready for Opening Day, but it’s not unreasonable to expect a 2026 debut by the first of May. Fantasy owners need to remember his extensive injury history when drafting Rodon, but this latest elbow surgery shouldn’t be something to worry about in terms of lingering effects.

Gerrit Cole – SP New York Yankees

The recovery of Gerrit Cole has been pretty straightforward since his injury. There haven’t been many setbacks, if any, in his process. By the time the 2025 season ended, Cole had progressed to throwing from 75 feet, and about one month later, he started throwing from a mound. All of his baby steps forward happened in the order that they should have, with no problems whatsoever. If there was an issue, it’s only that they all happened so slowly, which was done on purpose by the Yankees to help protect their best pitcher. In other words, it was a methodical progression.

As stated above, he won’t be ready for the start of the season. That was announced last October, but the good news is that the end is in sight. With a possible debut happening before the All-Star Break, the 35-year-old will look to help the Yankees down the stretch. Pitchers returning from Tommy John Surgery usually face difficulty with their command right away. It will be interesting to see how Cole handles this adjustment.

Justin Steele – SP Chicago Cubs

Fantastic news here, as Justin Steele has been steadily progressing. The event in question happened around the time of the team’s FanFest, and it was also the latest in Steele’s steps as he progresses back from his season-ending elbow injury from a year ago. He has been documenting his offseason journey with many social media updates and is a recommended follow.

The good news is that Steele hasn’t had any setbacks yet, and hopefully won’t have any going forward. He himself has said that he is pushing the envelope further and testing his body’s limits by opting to try more and more each day. All that being said, he may have some usage issues this season, as the team has said that they want him ready and at his peak for the playoffs.

As such, don’t be surprised if his return is slow-played. This could result in the Cubs taking their time before advancing him through his stages of recovery, an extended rehab assignment, and short-inning outings upon his ultimate return. There is risk involved in drafting Justin Steele.

Nathan Eovaldi – SP Texas Rangers

Nathan Eovaldi is feeling good heading into spring training😎 | #AllForTX

He opened up on his surgery rehab and more on the SportsDay Rangers podcast: https://t.co/InjtkwEHgn pic.twitter.com/5IMqbBURxu

— SportsDay Rangers (@dmn_rangers) January 25, 2026

This should be considered good news, as Nathan Eovaldi suffered two separate injuries down the stretch last year. Late in the season, the 35-year-old was shut down with a right rotator cuff strain, though surgery wasn’t deemed necessary. Once October hit, it was revealed that he also had sports hernia surgery, which would ultimately delay any throwing programs he was hoping to begin.

All that being said, from where we were in October, all of this seems to be a huge step in the right direction. Eovaldi has been moving around like he normally would. He has thrown multiple bullpen sessions and feels like he’s ready to go. It’s worth noting that he does have an extended injury history and has had issues all over his body. When healthy, he’s one of the best in the game. It’s just knowing when and how to stay healthy. He is worth drafting, as he likely won’t miss much time. However, fantasy owners should be ready for a backup plan, given the history involved here and the age of this veteran, who has a lot of wear and tear on his body.