Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report. In today’s edition, Shane McClanahan received good news, all things considered, Gunnar Henderson received disappointing news, Mookie Betts shared some concerning news, and Vinnie Pasquantino shared no news. All of this and so much more as we head into the final week before the regular season. Read all about it in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
Fantasy Baseball Injury Report
Shane McClanahan – SP Tampa Bay Rays
Great news on #Rays Shane McClanahan. It’s an inflamed nerve in the left triceps, imaging confirmed. He’ll start the season on the IL, but Kevin Cash said they’re “very fortunate” it wasn’t worse. No timeline on a return yet, as they see how Mac responds to rest and recovery, but…
— Ryan Bass (@Ry_Bass) March 23, 2025
After a very scary-looking injury on Saturday, the news yesterday was good, all things considered. McClanahan threw a pitch and immediately shook his arm while calling for the trainers. He was taken out of the game for examination, and yesterday’s test results revealed nerve inflammation within his left tricep. Both Rays fans and fantasy owners everywhere were thinking of and planning for the worst, but instead were gifted this much more minor ailment. There has yet to be a projected timeline for his return, but he will begin the season on the Injured List. When he does progress beyond being shut down, he will likely need to restart his progression. It’s too hard to speculate on a return date, but it’s safe to say that April is likely out of the question.
Gunnar Henderson – SS Baltimore Orioles
Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson will begin the season on the 10-day injured list with a ribs muscle strain, though general manager Mike Elias said the goal for the 23-year-old's recovery is "days instead of weeks." Also, left-hander Cade Povich earned the No. 5 spot in the… pic.twitter.com/HVaPn5IjZ5
— The Baltimore Sun (@baltimoresun) March 23, 2025
Henderson will start the season on the Injured List and miss at least seven days of the season. The team has reassured everyone that we are looking at days missed, not weeks. From the sound of everything since the day of the injury, it was a very minor ailment, and as such, time just ran out in his ability to be fully prepared for the season. He has been taking live at-bats and will continue to do so in Florida while the team begins the season. There has been no indication that this is a setback, nor that this is an issue that would require surgery. Fantasy owners should continue to roster him and draft him at his current price, with the full expectation that he will be back in early April.
Mookie Betts – 2B Los Angeles Dodgers
Dave Roberts on Mookie Betts, who was scratched from tonight's Freeway Series game as he continues to battle his stomach virus
“Short-term tomorrow, he’s not gonna play tomorrow night. He’s gonna try to get through a full day of working out. He’ll be at the stadium. And then… https://t.co/Y00CkWSA6Y
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) March 24, 2025
Betts was originally in the lineup before being pulled just hours before the first pitch. A reason wasn’t given at first, but chances are this has to do with the illness he suffered two days before heading out to Japan. Upon his arrival in Tokyo, Betts was not himself, and through this sickness lost approximately 15 pounds before being sent home early. Now that he is home, he has lost 25 pounds in total, with no real end in sight. It felt like playing in Sunday’s game would have been premature, so for now it would appear that he’s not quite himself just yet.
Zack Gelof – 2B The Athletics
Zack Gelof will indeed miss the start of the season due to a hamate fracture he will undergo surgery for tomomrrow. https://t.co/bBKtZxfBe8
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) March 23, 2025
Gelof was hit-by-a-pitch and the swelling never truly subsided despite the good word from the early x-rays. As time rolled along, it was revealed that he had a fracture in his hamate bone and would require surgery. While the timeline for a return varies from player to player, chances are that this will be a six-week period from the time of the operation to his eventual 2025 debut. It’s a tough break (no pun intended) for someone who needed to get off on the right foot.
Alexis Diaz – RP Cincinnati Reds
Reds’ Alexis Diaz to open on IL (hamstring inflammation). Gibaut makes club.
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubMLB) March 23, 2025
It’s hard to know if this injury to his hamstring was the reason for his poor spring numbers, but chances are that it played some part in it. That being said, he’s been progressively worse over the past three seasons, he may not have this job even when he does return healthy. There is an influx of possible replacements here, such as Taylor Rogers, Scott Barlow, and Andrew Abbott. While nobody has been named, whoever gets the first crack may keep it if they’re successful and impressive at the same time.
Ranger Suarez – SP Philadelphia Phillies
Ranger Suárez will begin the season on the injured list, Rob Thomson said. Taijuan Walker begins the season as the No. 5 starter.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) March 23, 2025
Suarez injured his back last week and has yet to get back onto the mound. The injury here isn’t believed to be too serious, but rather an issue of him needing more time to recover.
Vinnie Pasquantino – 1B Kansas City Royals
Vinnie Pasquantino has a right hamstring strain. The #Royals will evaluate it and have a better answer tomorrow on the severity.
“I feel fine,” Pasquantino told me. “My gut tells me it's not going to affect anything, but my gut is not the medical staff.”
— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) March 22, 2025
Pasquantino injured himself while running to first base. The team promised an update as of yesterday, but nothing has been said about his status. He believes that he will be fine, and with most of the week off, there is a chance that he won’t miss much time if any at all. Stay tuned.
Jerar Encarnacion – OF San Francisco Giants
Jerar Encarnacion will have hand surgery tomorrow in LA.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) March 23, 2025
Encarnacion fractured his left hand on Friday and it was determined over the weekend that he would indeed need surgery. Once the procedure is complete, he will likely miss about a month of action before (hopefully) returning to the Giants’ lineup. He is worth stashing on your roster if you have Injured List spots due to his potential breakout potential, but that will only come with playing time.
Victor Robles – OF Seattle Mariners
Robles is sore but okay. X-rays negative. Not in the lineup but will hit in the cages today.
— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) March 23, 2025
Robles was hit by a pitch this weekend but has seemingly avoided a major injury. For now, he will be day-to-day and could be ready for the regular season when it begins later this week.
For more of the great fantasy baseball rankings and analysis you’ve come to expect from FantraxHQ, check out our full 2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit! We’re here for you all the way up until Opening Day and then on into your championship run.
