Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Thursday, May 23, 2024. In today’s edition, we get a diagnosis on Xander Bogaerts’ shoulder, we await a diagnosis on Josh Lowe’s side and we could see a top prospect called up soon if John Means’ injury is significant. All of that and more in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
MLB Injury Report for Thursday, May 23, 2024.
Xander Bogaerts – 2B San Diago Padres (shoulder)
Xander Bogaerts has a fracture in his left shoulder. No indication of labrum tear or need for surgery. Bone has to heal. He intends to play again this season, perhaps by late summer.
He remains in Cincinnati with team and more tests are planned today. https://t.co/qdXGcRsRcx— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) May 22, 2024
We finally got a definitive answer regarding the injury to Bogaerts, and it wasn’t a good one. The talented second baseman will miss extended time while his shoulder heals from the fracture. The good news is that surgery won’t be required, and thus time away will be determined by how long it takes for it to heal on its own. The words “intends to play again” are not what you want to see, meaning that this will be an absence that could keep him out for the remainder of the season if he sustains any setbacks.
Josh Lowe – OF Tampa Bay Rays (side)
#Rays Cash now said J. Lowe has a “right side strain” and will get an MRI.
Also Cash said: “Not ideal.”— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 23, 2024
Lowe had been battling an oblique strain for the first month of the season, and only recently returned healthy. This is a discouring development if it is in fact something that will keep him out of action. We should know more details later today or tomorrow, but as Cash said, this is not an ideal situation.
Francisco Alvarez – C New York Mets (thumb)
Mets are hopeful Francisco Alvarez will begin taking batting practice on the next homestand. He is still on course for a mid-to-late June return from ligament surgery in his left thumb.
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) May 22, 2024
Great news here, as Alvarez seems to be trending in the right direction. He has not had any setbacks and has been able to progress exactly as planned.
Merrill Kelly – SP Arizona Diamondbacks (shoulder)
Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly is scheduled to undergo an MRI this week to see how his right shoulder injury is progressing. It is possible he could begin a throwing program relatively soon if everything looks good, manager Torey Lovullo said.
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) May 23, 2024
We should know more as soon as the results are released. Fingers and toes are crossed that the MRI comes back clean and that Kelly can begin his throwing program.
John Means – SP Baltimore Orioles (elbow)
John Means was feeling discomfort in his surgically repaired left elbow today, per #Orioles manager Brandon Hyde.
Means will be getting testing done.
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) May 22, 2024
Damn. Means has not been able to get himself in the clear of this elbow injury since the day it happened. The hope is that this is minor, but his velocity was down during this start. If there is a silver lining here, it is that prospect Cade Povich may have a clearer path to entry to the Orioles.
Garrett Mitchell – OF Milwaukee Brewers (finger)
Garrett Mitchell begins taking swings off a tee Friday in Boston.
Next major steps would be Arizona to accrue ABs and then a minor-league rehab stint.
Mitchell's goal is a return to the field in the Angels series in Anaheim on June 17.
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) May 22, 2024
Mitchell has a long road ahead of him, but the destination seems to be in sight with the June 17 series as the end goal. It begins with this weekend’s swinging off of a tee and goes from there. While he will be a welcome sight in the Brewers lineup, he will need to prove to the team that he’s worth playing on a regular basis. Since his debut in August of 2022, he has accumulated just 126 at-bats due to various ailments.
Zach Neto – SS Los Angeles Angels (elbow)
Zach Neto said he has some concern about his elbow because he’s had issues with it before, but the training staff told him they didn’t think it was serious.
He will get some more tests when they get back to SoCal.
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) May 22, 2024
The hope is that the training staff’s belief of it being a minor issue is correct and that Neto can get himself back on the field in no time.
Garrett Whitlock – SP Boston Red Sox (elbow)
Garrett Whitlock will have his medical visit with Dr. Jeff Dugas a week from today in Birmingham, at which point it will be decided if he has surgery.
— Ian Browne (@IanMBrowne) May 22, 2024
Whitlock is likely looking at extended absence with or without surgery. That said, anytime a player has a planned visit with a medical professional it’s a scary proposition.
Luis Robert – OF Chicago White Sox (hip)
Luis Robert 1 swing and 1 HR. I’m thinking he’s back #ProspectOne pic.twitter.com/Bs87SW5PGs
— The Welsh (@IsItTheWelsh) May 23, 2024
Robert began to play at the team’s complex league affiliate and finished 1-for-2 with this home run. He also struck out once in his other at-bat. He is scheduled to stay here through the weekend before beginning an official minor league assignment next week.
Jasson Dominguez – OF New York Yankees (elbow)
The @Yankees have announced that OF Jasson Dominguez is currently scheduled to continue his @MLB rehab assignment with Somerset today in New Hampshire. #RepBX pic.twitter.com/vKHB8rmVYS
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) May 21, 2024
After scorching through his first rehab assignment where he batted .385 in five games, Dominguez has been hitless over eight at-bats for Double-A Somerset. Still, the talented outfielder is projected to be healthy and then optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre soon enough. From there, he’ll likely wait for an opening on the Major League roster.