Here is the Fantrax Injury Report for Tuesday, July 4, 2023. Inside, you’ll find out about the significant nature of the latest injury to the Giants, who have been plagued with them all season. You’ll also read about why this potential development in Aaron Judge’s rehabilitation isn’t as big as one might imagine. There’s been some positive news on Garrett Whitlock’s injury status, but skepticism seems like the best approach regarding their diagnosis. Finally, Mike Trout left last night’s game with an injury to a body part he’s never hurt before. All that and more in today’s Injury Report.
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MLB Injury Report
Max Fried – SP Atlanta Braves
Max Fried is in Cleveland with the Braves. He is going to face hitters on Tuesday, his second time doing so.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) July 3, 2023
This will be the second time in less than a week that Freid will throw to live batters. He did so last Friday and felt great afterward. There’s a chance that he gets cleared for a rehab assignment just after this, which could mean a late-July return to the Braves.
Austin Hays – OF Baltimore Orioles, Jordan Westburg – SS Baltimore Orioles
From Brandon Hyde:
– Austin Hays and Jordan Westburg are both sore but doing well. No breaks in Westburg’s hand, and he took BP earlier.
– Excited to see Adley Rutschman in the Derby. Cool to see his players recognized.
– Aaron Hicks has brought a spark after leaving the Yankees.— Nathan Ruiz (@NathanSRuiz) July 3, 2023
Hays is DTD with a hip issue, but there’s no word on him heading to the Injured List. As for Westburg, this was a huge relief for him, as he took a pitch off the hand and got x-rays to check for long-term damage. It’s encouraging that he was able to take batting practice too. He should be back later this week unless something drastic happens.
Garrett Whitlock – SP Boston Red Sox
Looks like Garrett Whitlock dodged a major bullet, per @Sean_McAdam.
“The Red Sox had no official word on the results of that bit of testing, but according to a baseball source, the nature of the injury is not being considered a major setback for the righthander.”
Major relief. pic.twitter.com/nQN2tt8DP6
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) July 3, 2023
Whitlock got positive news back here, as it is not believed to be a serious issue for him. The team believes that there is no structural damage in his elbow, which is a big relief. He said that he has felt stiff for quite a while and that he is working through that. Overall, this should be a big relief for him and fantasy owners everywhere. That being said, there should be some trepidation here too. For one, we don’t know the official results of these tests. Secondly, he has now been on the Injured List twice this season for his elbow, leading one to believe that he may not be physically able to handle the workload of a starter. And third, he will still head to the Injured List and will miss some time.
Nick Madrigal – 2B/3B Chicago Cubs
Nick Madrigal exited the game with right hamstring tightness.
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) July 3, 2023
Madrigal hurt himself while trying to catch a foul ball, and later had to be lifted and replaced in the game. Consider him DTD for now, unless we hear that he’s being sent for follow-up testing.
Triston McKenzie – SP Cleveland Guardians
Triston McKenzie will go the non-surgical route as he recovers from an elbow injury. He’ll remain shut down for three more weeks before initiating a throwing program, but the hope is he can return at some point this season.
— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) July 3, 2023
McKenzie has been shut down for about that long already and will continue to be so for almost another month. Going the non-surgical route here indicates the team’s intention to have him pitch again this season, but this timeline seems to limit the amount of impact he can have. Three more weeks hut down will lead to a throwing program that will take him into August. Following that, he will need a rehab assignment. As it stands, we could see about one month of McKenzie here.
Josh Naylor – 1B/OF Cleveland Guardians
Guardians 1B Josh Naylor was in the trainer's room following the game. He's been dealing with some soreness in his wrist for a bit.
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) July 4, 2023
Naylor’s wrist has been an issue for a while, so this might be where it comes to a head. Manager Terry Francona said that he will undergo testing today. It’s unclear what the long-term plans are here, but it’s a bit concerning that it’s led to this. We’ll have more details after today’s tests.
Riley Greene – OF Detroit Tigers
Riley Greene’s first at-bat on his rehab assignment results in a 98.3-mph line drive…for a double play. pic.twitter.com/BzzzIgCXSb
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 3, 2023
Greene finished his first game 0-for-4 with one run batted in. He looks poised to return just after the All-Star Break.
Tarik Skubal – SP Detroit Tigers, Eduardo Rodriguez – SP Detroit Tigers
Tarik Skubal and Eduardo Rodriguez are penciled in to start Tuesday and Wednesday vs. Oakland.
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) July 1, 2023
Just a reminder to be prepared.
Jose Urquidy – SP Houston Astros, Michael Brantley – OF Houston Astros
Urquidy will throw live bullpen tomorrow in Houston, but won’t face Brantley, who has “plateaued somewhat,” Dusty Baker said.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) July 3, 2023
This would be a nice step forward for Urquidy, who will look to return after the All-Star Break. Doing this would lead to a rehab assignment and could signify a return in late July. As for Brantley, his inability to get over the hump may signify that he’s just not going to return this season….or ever again. At age 36, his body isn’t healing the way it used to. That said, before any of that speculation comes to fruition, for now, consider this setback something that will keep him out of action until at least August.
Salvador Perez – C Kansas City Royals
Salvador Perez is out of the lineup today after getting hit on the foot with a pitch yesterday. Matt Quatraro says Salvy could have been the DH, but better to be cautious. He’ll be available off the bench. #Royals
— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) July 3, 2023
The fact that Perez could have been available as the team’s designated hitter is encouraging. The hope is that he will be back soon enough.
Mike Trout – OF Los Angeles Angels
Mike Trout said his left wrist is still in a lot of pain. He’s waiting on the results of the X-ray. Said he’s hoping it’s just a sprain but acknowledged he’s concerned right now.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) July 4, 2023
With no results back, it’s all speculation right now. Trout himself said that he feels uncomfortable and that this pain is like nothing he’s ever felt before. We’ll know more later today.
Clayton Kershaw – SP Los Angeles Dodgers
#Dodgers Clayton Kershaw officially lands on the 15-day IL with left shoulder soreness
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) July 3, 2023
Kershaw will miss the next fifteen days with his ailing shoulder soreness.
Jazz Chisholm – 2B/OF Miami Marlins
Marlins placed Jazz Chisholm, Jr. on the IL with an oblique strain. He will have an MRI and depending on the severity, the length of time out will then be determined. Most low grade oblique strains are minimum 3-4 wks, and that is the hope.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) July 3, 2023
We don’t officially know the grade level of this strain yet. We should know later today when it’s hopefully revealed.
Jorge Polanco – 2B Minnesota Twins
Jorge Polanco is doing "high-effort sprints" today, and is also joining team activities, cage work and sprint work, per the #MNTwins.
When he's ready for a rehab assignment, he'll eventually need to take more than a few games in the Minors.
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) July 3, 2023
From this report, when Polanco returns it will be after a lengthy rehab assignment. This is a recurring injury that is obviously more serious than originally thought. He has been quietly and slowly rehabbing here, with justifiable concern for something even more than this.
Royce Lewis – 3B Minnesota Twins
Royce Lewis has a Grade 2 oblique strain, Rocco Baldelli said. The typical recovery timeline is around six weeks.
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) July 3, 2023
The timeline of this injury will keep Lewis out of action until around the middle of August. Jose Miranda should get an extended look at third base in an attempt to cash in on an already tough season.
Aaron Judge – OF New York Yankees
Aaron Boone said he anticipates Aaron Judge doing more than just throwing on the field before the All-Star break. Didn't know exactly what though. #Yankees
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) July 3, 2023
While this is nice to hear, the biggest activity will be hitting at the plate. Once that happens, we’ll know that the toe is close to healing, as it will be forced to pivot and rotate. Until then, don’t consider him close to a return.
Ke’Bryan Hayes – 3B Pittsburgh Pirates
Ke’Bryan Hayes, currently on the injured list with lower back inflammation, taking some pregame swings in LA pic.twitter.com/j3PaPmbfLi
— Justice delos Santos (@justdelossantos) July 3, 2023
Hayes and the team have been hopeful that he will return on Wednesday when he’s first eligible. Time will tell if that comes true.
Thairo Estrada – 2B San Francisco Giants
Gabe Kapler says Thairo Estrada will be out four to six weeks with a fractured hand injury pic.twitter.com/90a6VpkyLv
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) July 4, 2023
The injury to Estrada is a tough one to swallow. This could keep him out of action for quite a while and will put a huge hole in the Giants’ lineup. As it stands, a mid-August return would be a huge sigh of relief for the team.
Bryce Miller – SP Seattle Mariners
Bryce Miller is headed to the injured list with a middle finger blister. Darren McCaughan has been recalled.
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) July 3, 2023
Miller will miss his next start but should be fine after the All-Star Break.
Tyler O’Neill – OF St. Louis Cardinals
#STLCards manager Oli Marmol said outfielder Tyler O’Neill (back) will begin his Minor League rehab stint on Tuesday with Triple-A Memphis. He will DH on Tuesday and eventually return to the outfield after passing a variety of stress tests.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) July 3, 2023
O’Neill has been out of action for so long that this rehab assignment will likely be lengthy in nature.