Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Thursday, April 19, 2025. In today’s edition, we get some potentially good news for the Padres with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jake Cronenworth, some bad news for the Cubs with Justin Steele, and some mixed news for the Red Sox with their pitching and hitting. All of this and so much more in today’s MLB Injury Report from Fantrax.
MLB Injury Report
Justin Steele – SP Chicago Cubs
Cubs starter Justin Steele felt elbow discomfort in the middle of his last start. He pitched a couple more scoreless innings but still felt it the next day. He’s on the IL for what he thinks will be a minimum stay.
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) April 9, 2025
This is concerning, as Steele missed three weeks for this exact same injury at the end of last season. Although he returned to pitch, one could make the argument that he didn’t do so at 100%, given his lowered velocity and smaller pitch count. This could be leading to something bigger, but we will have to wait and see if some rest will be enough for him to be healthy enough to pitch through the season.
San Diego Padres – Team Update
“We’re optimistic for Friday,” Mike Shildt says when asked about the status of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jake Cronenworth.
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) April 9, 2025
Manager Mike Shildt did say that Tatis could have played if it were an emergency yesterday, so that seems like a good sign for his return. With the team off today, we likely won’t know much about their statuses until tomorrow. Stay tuned.
Wyatt Langford – OF Texas Rangers
Rangers transactions for Wednesday:
-OF Wyatt Langford placed on 10-day IL (right oblique strain)
-OF Dustin Harris recalled from Round Rock (AAA)
-UTL Ezequiel Duran recalled from Round Rock (AAA)
-INF Jonathan Ornelas optioned to Round Rock (AAA)— Texas Rangers PR (@TXRangersPR) April 9, 2025
Of note, the severity of the oblique strain was not revealed, with the hope being that it is but a minor strain. Langford was said to be feeling great in the clubhouse today, so perhaps this is a precautionary move to ensure that he doesn’t do further damage. That being said, these injuries tend to linger and be repeat offenders, so playing it safe is what’s probably best.
Pablo Lopez – SP Minnesota Twins
Pablo López with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. Almost certainly headed to 15-day IL. Hope is a minimum stay. #MNTwins
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) April 10, 2025
This was almost a guarantee, given how much pain Lopez was in when the injury happened. Luckily, it is not an arm or shoulder issue, and the ailment is of the mildest variety. Still, this is a setback that could help promote Zebby Matthews if and when this process comes to fruition.
Jordan Westburg – 2B Baltimore Orioles
Orioles’ Jordan Westburg is still dealing with what Brandon Hyde called, to steal from hockey terms, an “upper-body injury.” Getting the day off today. Same issue that prompted Hyde to sit him for a game in Toronto opening weekend.
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) April 9, 2025
For now, this doesn’t seem like a serious issue, but it is a recurring one that has crept back up since its last time in question. Of note, the young slugger does have an injury history that is beginning to pile up in numbers. In the Minor Leagues, he had multiple hand and foot injuries, and now as a member of the Orioles, he’s had hand, back, and upper body ailments. Hopefully, this is nothing much, and he can continue to be a breakout superstar.
Spencer Arrighetti – SP Houston Astros
Spencer Arrighetti will not require surgery on his fractured thumb. Joe Espada said Arrighetti will be in a cast for “two or two and a half weeks,” after which there will be follow-up imaging to make sure everything is healing. More clarity after that.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) April 9, 2025
Now that we have a timeline in place for Arrighetti’s potential return, fantasy owners can breathe a collective sigh of relief that he is not an automatic drop. That being said, stay tuned for updates in a few weeks to ensure that all is healing the way it should.
Liam Hendriks – RP Boston Red Sox
This is great news for someone who has fought so hard to make his Red Sox debut. After missing all of last season, despite some steady progress, the hope was that Hendriks would be able to return to begin the year and possibly compete for the closer’s role in Boston. Instead, he suffered setbacks at the start of the year but is now one step away from being back in the Major Leagues. He may need longer than most relievers usually need, just to ensure that he is capable of pitching effectively.
Boston Red Sox – Team Update
Both Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito are working their way back to the Red Sox rotation after missing all of the year thus far with their respective injuries. Giolito, in particular, is a feel-good story, as he is attempting to return after missing the entire 2024 season from Tommy John Surgery. The above was written before Giolito’s next outing, where he threw 64 pitches over 3.1 innings of work. Even after last night, both pitchers have at least one more rehab outing to go.
Masataka Yoshida – UT Boston Red Sox
Masataka Yoshida continues to progress, albeit at a very slow rate. The Red Sox do not seem overly concerned about him not returning anytime soon, and that may have to do with the fact that Rafael Devers is their everyday designated hitter.
New York Yankees – Team Update
Clarke Schmidt is scheduled to make his final (if all goes well) rehab start tomorrow either at SWB or Somerset, wherever it’s not going to rain.
Luis Gil is expected to start a throwing program in the next several days, per Boone.
— Greg Joyce (@GJoyce9) April 9, 2025
This is great news for two pitchers that the Yankees need to contribute this season if they have a chance for a World Series. Schmidt looks all but ready to make his debut, which is a fantastic sign of health. He has one more outing to go before the team makes the final decision. As for Gil, Joyce later said in a reply that late June is a possibility for a 2025 debut, though that is a speculation.
Oneil Cruz – OF Pittsburgh Pirates
I’ve been told Oneil Cruz’ MRI came out clean on his hand after getting HBP last night.
If anyone was wanting good news.
— Kody Duncan (@KodyDuncanPGH) April 9, 2025
Cruz was hit on the hand on Tuesday and missed yesterday’s long game because of soreness. The good news, according to manager Derek Shelton, is that he was available to play defense or pinch-run, but he was never going to hit. With the team having today off, the hope is that two days of rest will be enough to get him back into the lineup on Friday.
