Here is the MLB Injury Report for Saturday, September 9, 2023. In today’s edition, the Shohei Ohtani injury is discussed and analyzed, two Reds players Joey Votto and Jonathan India could be back soon and Byron Buxton’s future is speculated on. All that and more in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
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MLB Injury Report
Austin Riley – 3B Atlanta Braves
Austin Riley (flu bug) still feeling a little weak, but he’s available off bench and Snit said he expects to use him. And he’s giving d’Arnaud a couple starts in a row just to keep everyone fresh. pic.twitter.com/6jTdxBRSW7
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) September 8, 2023
Riley wasn’t used in yesterday’s game, but it doesn’t appear to be a health-related decision. Expect him back in the lineup at some point this weekend.
Michael Soroka – SP Atlanta Braves
This is good news for Soroka and the Braves, as it looks like he will have a normal offseason combined with some added rest.
Felix Bautista – RP Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles seemingly do not want to rush into anything that they don’t have to do. If Bautista were to receive Tommy John Surgery, it would impact him and the team for at least the next two seasons. he has not yet been ruled out for the year, and there is a chance that he does in fact return. Whether or not that happens seems on the low side of probability, but you never know.
John Means – SP Baltimore Orioles
John Means could be returning to help the Orioles soon.@masnRoch with an update on Means, Félix Bautista and more. pic.twitter.com/XgdOCZTKMA
— Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) September 8, 2023
Means’ rehab appearance officially ended last night. He will throw a bullpen session with the Orioles today and the team will assess things from there. They want to see if he can be inserted into the lineup soon, but it wouldn’t be until at least after the weekend because he just pitched on Wednesday. Either way, all of this seems like good news.
Joey Votto – 1B Cincinnati Reds
Votto could be back in the Reds lineup as soon as Sunday, David Bell said
— C. Trent Rosecrans (@ctrent) September 8, 2023
This seemingly came out of nowhere, as Votto just started his rehab assignment yesterday. All of his returns have seemed rushed all year with a sense of urgency to get in as much time in the big leagues as possible.
Jonathan India – 2B Cincinnati Reds
IT’S THE JONATHAN INDIA SHOW❗️@JonathanIndia pic.twitter.com/9kBVj0NdGL
— Louisville Bats (@LouisvilleBats) September 9, 2023
There are rumblings that India could be back with the Reds as soon as Tuesday. Be prepared.
Austin Gomber – SP Colorado Rockies
ICYMI: #Rockies selected the contract of RHP Victor Vodnik Triple-A Albuquerque and have placed LHP Austin Gomber on the 60-day injured list with lower back inflammation. Gomber wanted to make 30 starts this season, but this is the smart move.
— Patrick Saunders (@psaundersdp) September 8, 2023
Gomber will not pitch again this season.
Matt Vierling – INF Detroit Tigers
Matt Vierling has a sore elbow but A.J. Hinch said "he's made it perfectly clear he'd like to be available (tonight)."
Vierling is not in the starting lineup but could play off the bench.
— Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) September 8, 2023
Vierling did not come off the bench or enter yesterday’s game. It remains to be seen if he will be back today.
Shohei Ohtani – SP/UT Los Angeles Angels
Why is Shohei Ohtani still hitting?@Ken_Rosenthal on the 3 possible reasons Ohtani continues to take the field as a DH with his torn UCL.
▶️ https://t.co/415fW5d9pB pic.twitter.com/JOw9N2x6a2
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) September 1, 2023
This isn’t necessarily the most recent news, but it was interesting nonetheless. These were really good viewpoints on why Ohtani is still trying to get himself back into the lineup. The most peculiar point was that Ohtani may not even want to get Tommy John Surgery. What if he wants to see if he can hit at an elite level under his current condition? As it stands with his oblique, he could be back this weekend.
Nolan Schanuel – 1B Los Angeles Angels
Nolan Schanuel felt some tightness near the back of his shoulder (but not at his shoulder) and that’s why he was pulled from late in the game. Phil Nevin is not worried about him.
— Sarah Valenzuela (@Sarah_IsabelVee) September 9, 2023
The hope is that Schanuel is DTD with this shoulder injury, after landing on it hard in last night’s game. The fact that Phil Nevin isn’t worried about it is good news.
Mookie Betts – INF/OF Los Angeles Dodgers
Dave Roberts said Mookie Betts’ CT scans and MRIs came back clean. They’re calling it a bone bruise. Still likely won’t play this weekend.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) September 9, 2023
Fantastic news, as there was some concern a day ago when Betts was in crutches. Look for him to return at some point early next week with the possibility of a bench at-bat this weekend.
Walker Buehler – SP Los Angeles Dodgers
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 8, 2023
It always seemed like a stretch for Buehler to pitch this season, as he himself even said so in mid-August. The most important part about all of this is that he can have a legitimate shot at being more than relevant next season.
Joey Gallo – OF Minnesota Twins
Joey Gallo is going to the IL with a left foot contusion. Alex Kirilloff is here and active with the #MNTwins.
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) September 8, 2023
Gallo will miss at least ten days with this ailment and is likely out for most of the fantasy playoffs.
Byron Buxton – UT Minnesota Twins
Rocco says Byron Buxton is moving better than a few days ago and that he's getting closer to getting at-bats and playing again.
Rocco: "We’re anticipating him working his way back and taking the field for us."
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) September 8, 2023
Buxton is set to meet with the team and their officials to determine a path and a plan for him to return. A decision on whether or not he will play in the outfield will be discussed. He is attempting to return from patella tendinitis and a strained hamstring.
Luis Severino – SP New York Yankees
Luis Severino left tonight's game with a left side injury. He will undergo diagnostic testing tomorrow.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) September 9, 2023
Severino injured his side while pitching last night and will undergo testing today. Chances are that this ends his miserable 2023 season.
Henry Davis – C/OF Pittsburgh Pirates
Henry Davis is not with the Pirates in Atlanta. He's expected to start a rehab assignment soon. As early as this weekend.
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) September 8, 2023
Davis has been out of action since August 20 and a return to action before the end of the season would go a long way to help him out for 2024.
Gary Sanchez – C San Diego Padres
The #Padres have selected the contract of INF/OF Jurickson Profar from Triple-A El Paso, recalled INF Eguy Rosario from El Paso, placed C Gary Sánchez on the 10-day IL retro to 9/7 (right wrist fracture) and transferred RHP Alek Jacob to the 60-day IL.
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 8, 2023
This will end Sanchez’s season, and he will finish with 19 home runs in only 72 games played.
Thairo Estrada – 2B San Francisco Giants
Thairo Estrada (conjunctivitis) scratched Friday.
— Underdog MLB (@Underdog__MLB) September 9, 2023
Estrada will likely miss a game or two while his eye gets cleaned.
Marco Luciano – SS San Francisco Giants
Luciano has been playing instructional league games. Could be an option still this season, Kapler says.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) September 8, 2023
As of a few days ago, it seemed unlikely that Luciano would return, but he’s apparently had a good week of recovery. Stay tuned.
Michael Conforto – OF San Francisco Giants
Conforto’s baserunning went well today and he says it’s all about how the hamstring feels tomorrow now. That sounds (to me) like he’s pretty close to come off the IL or going on an IL. He hit off Stripling in Chicago the other day and said that went well, too.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) September 8, 2023
Interesting development here as Conforto might be back soon.
Adolis Garcia – OF Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers roster moves for Friday:
– OF Evan Carter (#32) selected from Round Rock (AAA)
– OF Adolis García placed on 10-day Injured List with a right patellar tendon strain
– INF/OF Brad Miller transferred from 10-day to 60-day Injured List with a left hamstring strain— Texas Rangers PR (@TXRangersPR) September 8, 2023
The hope is that Garcia can return this season, as the Rangers need him badly.
Matt Chapman – 3B Toronto Blue Jays
– Matt Chapman is beginning hitting and throwing today but still no exact timeline on his return
– Brandon Belt hopefully available off the bench today after battling stomach bug and back tightness #BlueJays— Kaitlyn McGrath (@kaitlyncmcgrath) September 8, 2023
This is good news for Chapman in that he is now able to start throwing and hitting. That was the biggest hurdle for him and his inflamed finger. As it stands, now that he has taken this step, he’s likely closer than ever. No word on if he’ll need a rehab assignment.
Erik Swanson – RP Toronto Blue Jays
Erik Swanson will throw in Triple-A Buffalo tomorrow and that’s likely all he needs before returning. #BlueJays
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) September 8, 2023
It’s looking like Swanson will be back by the start of next week. Great news for the Jays.
Danny Jansen – C Toronto Blue Jays
Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen underwent successful surgery yesterday to insert a pin into his fractured right middle finger.
Jansen will not return to play during the regular season
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) September 8, 2023
Alejandro Kirk take over as the team’s primary catcher, but Daulton Varsho is getting in some reps behind the scenes and could be the team’s backup down the stretch. Why is that important? It could open up catcher eligibility in 2024.
Washington Nationals – Team Update
Other updates:
– Riley Adams told us he’s scheduled to have surgery on his hand on Monday.
– Lane Thomas hit in the cage and was just running the bases in BP. Available to pinch hit
– Dave Martinez said it’s “going to be hard” for Victor Robles to return this year.— Andrew Golden (@andrewcgolden) September 8, 2023
Adams will end his season on a sour note, leaving the door open for more at-bats to Keibert Ruiz. Thomas did not enter last night’s game, but he looks close to returning. As for Robles, it ends yet a promising season in a somewhat disappointing career.