Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Saturday, July 13, 2024. In today’s edition, Heston Kjerstand was the recipient of a scary moment when he got hit in the head last night. Not just that, Salvador Perex left the game with cramping, Jose Miranda suffered a back injury and the Diamondbacks and Dodgers both had plenty of updates to offer on some pitching. All of that and so much more in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
MLB Injury Report for Saturday, July 13, 2024.
Heston Kjerstad – OF Baltimore Orioles (head)
Heston Kjerstad was nailed in the head by a pitch and Brandon Hyde reacted to the situation.
Hear from the manager following an intense Game 1. pic.twitter.com/9Pe18SUCyk
— Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) July 13, 2024
Kjerstad got hit in the head with a pitch that led to a benches-clearing brawl. Manager Brandon Hyde said afterward that he was undergoing some tests to ensure everything was okay. Chances are that he misses today’s game (at minimum) and that the team re-evaluates over the All-Star Break. It’s a scary injury because of the fact that concussions are quite serious. Here’s hoping that he is okay.
Arizona Diamondbacks – Team Update
Lots of bullpens over at Salt River Fields today:
Merrill Kelly: 32 pitches, 2 up-downs
Jordan Montgomery: 40 pitches, 2 up-downs
Eduardo Rodriguez: 30 pitches, 2 up-downs
Drey Jameson: 22 pitches— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) July 12, 2024
The planned bullpens were all successful yesterday. Merrill Kelly (shoulder) completed his second bullpen since being injured in April and continues to build up his arm. His return won’t happen until next month if all goes well. As for Jordan Montgomery (knee), he continues to progress and is looking to return after the All-Star Break. Additionally, Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder) also threw from the mound for the first time since his injury, and he continues to build up the strength in his arm as well. Finally, Drey James (Tommy John Surgery) continues to work his way from surgery that will keep him out of action for the rest of this season. All of the players listed above will continue to throw from the mound as long as the day(s) after their sessions warrant it to happen.
Salvador Perez – C Kansas City Royals (cramp)
Salvador Perez was removed from tonight's game due to cramping.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 13, 2024
The team didn’t release much information as to where he was hurting or how severe the injury was. Hopefully, that vagueness is a sign that things will be okay in the long run. Stay tuned for updates.
Jose Miranda – 3B Minnesota Twins (back)
Brooks Lee’s second base debut will have to wait. He’s playing third base and Willi Castro is at second after Jose Miranda was scratched with lower back stiffness. #MNTwins
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) July 13, 2024
Miranda missed last night’s game with a stiff back and today could be the same if the injury warrants it. There was no word on the severity of the issue, and with two games before the break, the team may not want to take any chances here.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand – 1B Cincinnati Reds (elbow)
David Bell said that CES’ surgery went well. It’s a three month timeline from here.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) July 12, 2024
Great news for Strand who is now on his way to some rest and recovery. He remains a good buy-low and sleeper option in all dynasty formats.
Graham Ashcraft – SP Cincinnati Reds (elbow)
David Bell on Graham Ashcraft (elbow): For him to come back this season, it would be September if everything goes well.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) July 12, 2024
The elbow injury here must be more serious than what was expected. One has to wonder if the team will look to trade for a pitcher before the trade deadline later this month.
Los Angeles Dodgers – Team Update
Dodgers injury updates from Dave Roberts today:
— Joe Kelly will rejoin team after the All-Star break
—Max Muncy still isn’t swinging, and likely won’t return until at least August
— Brusdar Graterol is nearing a rehab assignment and could be back by end of this month
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) July 12, 2024
Also, Yoshinobu Yamamoto has started playing catch again this week, a key first step in his recovery from a strained rotator cuff
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) July 12, 2024
Big update here. First, Joe Kelly (shoulder) will give the Dodgers some help as they need all the pitching they can get. As for Max Muncy (oblique), it is worrisome that he has yet to swing a bat, indicating how serious this oblique injury really is. Once the pain goes away, he should quickly find his way into a rehab assignment, but there is no telling when that will be. Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) is looking to make his 2024 debut when he does return, and a rehab assignment is a step in the right direction. Finally, Yoshinobu Yamamoto (shoulder) is only at the beginning stages of his recovery, as tossing from 60 feet is one of the fundamentals needed. As such, he has a long way to go before returning, and a mid-to-late August return is to be expected, for now.
Tommy Edman – INF/OF St. Louis Cardinals (wrist, general soreness)
#STLCards CF/SS Tommy Edman is expected to be back in the lineup again tonight for Double-A Springfield after being scratched from a game with “general soreness” on Wednesday, manager Oli Marmol said.
He was at DH on Thursday. He’ll likely play 5, then 7 and up to 9 innings.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) July 12, 2024
Edman did return last night and finished the game 0-for-3 with one walk. There were no reports of any lingering pain or soreness, which is good. He is now batting .222 after just three rehab games with plenty more to come before returning to the Cardinals.