Here is the Fantrax Prospects Injury Report for June 11, 2023.
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Brennen Davis – OF Chicago Cubs
The @IowaCubs are placing outfielder Brennen Davis on the injured list.
Davis came out of last night's game following an uncomfortable swing.
Hearing it is precautionary.
— Tommy Birch (@TommyBirch) June 7, 2023
The good news from this is that it would seem that the move was precautionary. However, given his history of injuries, there should be some concern. Last season he missed a significant portion of the year due to back surgery resulting from lower back surgery. He also missed most of the Arizona Fall League due to renewed pain in his back that propelled pain into his legs. Now, he is on the Minor League Injured List after an uncomfortable swing. Keep an eye on this. Davis is Chicago’s 7th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.
Colson Montgomery – SS Chicago White Sox
This is good news, as Montgomery has been resuing baseball activities and will now enter a rehab assignment somewhere. Montgomery has missed significant time with both an oblique and back injury and is hoping to get back to action soon. He has yet to step onto the field and play, but the hope was for him to progress this year with a potential late call-up if all went really well. Montgomery is baseball’s 27th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.
George Valera – OF Cleveland Guardians
Third-ranked #Guardians prospect George Valera goes deep in his first at-bat since May 17.
MLB's No. 39 prospect delivers his first homer of 2023 in the Arizona Complex League, where he will rehab before returning to Triple-A: https://t.co/07cPhMaic2 pic.twitter.com/PxVnOf7ZBW
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 7, 2023
Valera is rehabbing in Arizona before heading up to Triple-A Columbus to renew his minor-league growth. He looks to be much healthier since the last update here and is well on his way to making a push to join the Guardians this year. While a lot still has to go right, a healthy Valera is a talented player with some nice power potential. He will need some time to adjust to his new confines in Triple-A but is a powerful bat. Valera is baseball’s 39th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.
Forrest Whitley – RHP Houston Astros
On @SportsTalk790 earlier today, Astros GM Dana Brown confirmed what we reported here a couple days ago: the team is considering using Forrest Whitley out of the major-league bullpen if and when he returns from his lat strain – https://t.co/etgiRdujj4
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 4, 2023
Interesting development here, as Whitley has primarily been used as a starter throughout his Minor League career. He is expected to miss three to four months with a lat strain that could cost him the rest of the season. That said, he is someone to keep an eye on in dynasty for next year, especially in his potential new role. He still managed a 23.7% strikeout rate this season in Triple-A and has always had close to elite stuff. He just couldn’t stay healthy, but perhaps one inning every three days can keep him on the field. Whitley is Houston’s 19th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.
Sixto Sanchez – RHP Miami Marlins
This latest setback is discouraging, considering how long he had gone without one. Sanchez had worked his way up to that 20-pitch bullpen session, but with no word on what the setback is, it’s hard to get a gauge as to what they will do next. For now, we wait and see how his body responds to this setback and hope that it’s nothing serious. Sanchez is Miami’s 11th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.
Jake Eder – LHP Miami Marlins
Jake Eder understandably rusty in his return to minor league ball
2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1 HBP (40 pitches/21 strikes) today vs. Low-A Lakeland
Averaged 93.3 mph on his fastballs with some sliders and a few changeups mixed in
— Fish On First (@FishOnFirst) June 4, 2023
Regardless of the outcome, this is quite a positive step forward for such a promising young arm. Eder had Tommy John Surgery in September of 2021 and is now back on the mound and dealing. He is going to slowly make his way back and will likely fight for a rotation spot next season. That said, he could see some limited action in Miami late in the season if all goes well. Eder is Miami’s 5th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.
Sal Frelick – OF Milwaukee Brewers
We asked Counsell about Frelick's status this afternoon. He's hitting on a tee/soft toss right now. Looking at a third week of June return to playing in games as of now.
— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) June 3, 2023
Frelick just started getting back into games on Friday, June 9, and while he went hitless in three at-bats, it’s still a positive progression. Coming off of surgery in his thumb to repair his UCL, he was expected to miss six to eight weeks of action. He is right along that pre-determined timeline to return and will get himself into game shape for a potential call-up by Milwaukee shortly after that. He was originally thought of to be the replacement for Garrett Mitchell, but almost simultaneously injured himself as well. Frelcik is baseball’s 22nd-ranked prospect, according to MLB.
Austin Martin – OF Minnesota Twins
#MNTwins prospect Austin Martin is beginning a rehab assignment today in the rookie level Florida Complex League.
Martin has been sidelined with a sprained elbow ligament since the middle of spring training.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) June 5, 2023
Since that time, Martin hit one home run in that Florida Complex League, with that, being his only hit in two at-bats. He is back up with Single-A Fort Myers, and although he is hitless over his five at-bats, it’s good to see him back on the mend. The speedy outfielder will be looking to build off of last season’s disappointment at the plate (.241 BA), and his success on the base paths (34 steals) and hopefully get the call to Minnesota later in the year. Martin is Minnesota’s 11th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.
Andrew Painter – RHP Philadelphia Phillies
A few other Phillies injury updates:
– Noah Song (low back strain) will be getting into sim games next week
– Andrew Painter (right proximal UCL sprain) will throw a 20-pitch bullpen today— Alex Coffey (@byalexcoffey) June 10, 2023
Painter threw that bullpen and is another step closer to returning. He continues to make slow yet steady progress on his way to a potential debut for the Phillies later this year. There has been no official timetable for that debut as the team continues to take their time with their prized prospect. Painter is baseball’s 10th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.
Evan Carter – OF Texas Rangers
Update on top Evan Carter: In Surprise, continuing work toward a Frisco return (but not before week of 6/19).
Status changed from Development List to IL. Per Rangers, Carter was dealing with minor wrist soreness prior to his placement on the Development List.
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) June 9, 2023
Carter had apparently been dealing with renewed soreness prior to the designation to the Injured List. He is currently at the team’s Spring Training facility, working on ramping himself back up to game-ready status. He had been slumping just before the injury, which included a 5 for 25 stretch the week before. The injury doesn’t appear to be a significant one, but it is something to monitor. Carter is baseball’s 9th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.
Addison Barger – SS Toronto Blue Jays
Addison Barger's comeback started tonight in the Florida Complex League.
The #BlueJays' #6 prospect took two at-bats as a DH. He last appeared in a Triple-A game on April 28 before hitting the IL with an elbow issue.
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) June 9, 2023
Barger is looking to get back to his early-season status as one of the team’s best prospects, and this is a great step forward. He is returning from an early-season elbow injury that cost him the entire month of May. There’s no word on when he’ll rejoin Triple-A Buffalo, but chances are that it can’t be too far off. Barger is Torotno’s 6th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.
Rickey Tiedemann – LHP Toronto Blue Jays
Ricky Tiedemann (biceps) has been playing catch on flat ground, per source, and the hope is he's throwing off a mound by end of next week.
Still a ways to go, but hearing he's steadily progressing.#BlueJays— Scott Mitchell (@ScottyMitchTSN) June 10, 2023
This is good news regarding the Jays’ best pitching prospect, yet it’s somehow disappointing. He had recently gone back to throwing, but his progression, as mentioned, is steady, albeit slow. The good news is that he’ll hopefully be throwing from the mound next week, in which case the ramp-up could speed up a bit. Tiedemann is baseball’s 24th-ranked prospect, according to MLB.