Here is the Fantrax Injury Report for Friday, March 15, 2024. Down below is information on Gerrit Cole’s news from his appointment in Los Angeles. Also, Tommy Edman appears to be ready to miss some time to begin the season, but for how long? Finally, the state of the Marlins rotation could take a big hit if Eury Perez isn’t ready to go for Opening Day. All that and more in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Friday, March 15, 2024
Gerrit Cole – SP New York Yankees
Can also confirm that the current belief is that Gerrit Cole's elbow requires rest and rehab after meeting with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in LA. He'll still miss time but is expected back, according to a source. #Yankees
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) March 15, 2024
This is seemingly great news for the Yankees and fantasy owners. As it stands, Cole was informed by Dr. ElAttrache that he will not need Tommy John Surgery and should be able to return to the Yankees’ rotation after rest, rehab, and conservative non-surgical treatments. The team believes that he will still pitch for a substantial amount of time in 2024. A return around the end of May or early June is targeted right now.
While this comes across as good news, it should also be noted that the potential for setbacks and missing additional time is still quite high. The initial problem was his inability to bounce back and recover in between throws. The hope is that he will be better able to do so, but any setback he does have could throw off his entire outlook. This could cause him to miss additional time and possibly get additional testing done. Furthermore, he will need to build himself up again once he does start to throw. Overall, though, this is good news and it should be celebrated, albeit with some caution as a reminder of what could be.
Jeff McNeil – 2B New York Mets
Jeff McNeil is playing defense in a minor-league game today. Plan is for him to face velocity (in like a live BP setting) tomorrow with a chance he gets into a Grapefruit League game as early as Sunday.
— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) March 14, 2024
It looks like McNeil is in the final stages of his recovery from a bicep injury and be the everyday second baseman of the Mets in 2024.
Gavin Williams – SP Cleveland Guardians
Gavin Williams will start the year on the injured list. He’ll need another three or four days without throwing before he ramps back up. He won’t have enough time to build up completely before Opening Day. He had an MRI and everything looked OK, structurally.
— Mandy Bell (@MandyBell02) March 14, 2024
The team is encouraged by Williams’ MRI in that there is no structural damage whatsoever. This could be more about the Guardians not wanting to rush things to be ready for Opening Day. That said, enough damage was done during the workout malfunction to warrant him to miss some time. He will miss the first 15 days of the season, hoping to build up at an appropriate rate and be ready after that.
Kyle Bradish – SP Baltimore Orioles
Kyle Bradish threw off a mound today. Bullpen session. Fastballs. Felt good, Branden Hyde said #orioles
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) March 13, 2024
Bradish continues to work his way back from an early injury in the hopes of pitching this season. His fastball usage here is encouraging, and the team will likely see how he feels physically after doing this. It’s important to remember that he is still trying to avoid having to receive Tommy John Surgery.
John Means – SP Baltimore Orioles
#Orioles LHP John Means threw a side session in bullpen area today. He continues his throwing progression after starting a month behind other pitchers.
Manager Brandon Hyde said earlier this month that Means won’t pitch in any Grapefruit League games this spring. pic.twitter.com/JLoDrZ3FqM
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) March 13, 2024
Means is slowly progressing here, with the hope that he can return around one month after the season begins. He won’t pitch in any Spring Training games and will begin the season on the Injured List.
Gabriel Moreno – C Arizona Diamondbacks
Gabriel Moreno was scratched today with lower back tightness, per Torey Lovullo.
“Nothing to be alarmed with, we just got to be smart right now.”
Tucker Barnhart will start today and tomorrow, Jose Herrera is catching Eduardo Rodriguez on the back fields today.
— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) March 14, 2024
This seems like more of a precautionary type of removal, but it’s something to monitor nonetheless. Look for him to be back in the lineup soon enough if things don’t get any worse.
Tommy Edman – 2B/SS/OF St. Louis Cardinals
#STLCards manager Oli Marmol makes it official: Tommy Edman will start the season on the Injured List.
He has been shut down again because of lingering pain in his surgically repaired right wrist.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) March 14, 2024
Edman will begin the season on the Injured List, as his wrist continues to give him problems. It might be a case of the team trying to do too much all at once with him, causing setbacks. The fact that he can’t swing a bat yet is concerning too. Chances are that he misses at least the first month of the season, but the door for him to miss more is by no means closed.
Lars Nootbaar – OF St. Louis Cardinals
#STLCards manager Oli Marmol said LF Lars Nootbaar (rib fractures) will be reevaluated by doctors on Saturday.
“When he's able to resume swings and starts doing that, we'll have a much better timeline. (The pain is) as tolerated. So it's hard to say (as to a return.)”
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) March 14, 2024
It’s looking more and more like Nootbaar will begin the season on the Injured List. This is just the latest in a string of injuries that have plagued him throughout his short career. Saturday’s evaluation will be telling as to how significant an ailment this is.
Devin Williams – RP Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers star closer Devin Williams has two stress fractures in his back and is expected to miss around three months, sources tell ESPN. Williams pitched through back soreness in September, but it returned earlier this spring. He'll rehab and should return by midseason.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 14, 2024
Possibly the most distressing news of the past week, Williams will miss significant time with stress fractures in his back. The plan is for rest and rehab to improve his condition and allow him to return midseason. He allegedly pitched through this condition last September and when things didn’t get better over the offseason, worry began to set in. This is quite concerning, in that this injury maintained its course and stuck with Williams even after so much time off. If four to five months of non-competitive throwing didn’t alleviate the pain, why would it all be better in another three months? The hope is that this goes away with the proper medical attention given.
Eury Perez – SP Miami Marlins
The only problem with that sentiment is that Perez has yet to build himself up properly to be ready. Each of his last two outings has been shortened because of this fingernail issue that won’t go away. As such, he’s only getting a minimal build-up. If he pushes himself to be ready for Opening Day, there’s an increased chance that he does so with the cost of an injury elsewhere on his body. A short stint on the Injured List might be what’s needed to give him the time he needs to properly be ready.
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