Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report. In this edition, the Marlins are looking forward to both Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez this season, but their recoveries are in different places. Also, Rafael Devers and Masataka Yoshida had similar offseasons but are also in different places in their respective recoveries. All of that and so much more in this MLB Injury Report from Fantrax.
MLB Injury Report
Eury Perez – SP Miami Marlins
Eury Pérez said he’s 75%. Thrown seven bullpens. Likely still a return around the All-Star break.
Says he hasn’t cut his hair since the Tommy John surgery. #Marlins pic.twitter.com/uqnt3J52v4
— Christina De Nicola (@CDeNicola13) February 7, 2025
At the Marlins’ FanFest this past weekend, Eury Perez confirmed what we had been hoping: he will (hopefully) be pitching this year, but it will be a while. A reminder that he had Tommy John Surgery in April of 2024 and that the timeline for a return is usually anywhere from twelve to nineteen months. Waiting until after the All-Star Break gives him approximately fifteen months total of recovery until he’s back on the mound for Miami. It remains to be seen how smooth his recovery will be and if any setbacks take place. The team is likely to be non-competitive, so holding off for the future isn’t out of the question.
Sandy Alcantara – SP Miami Marlins
Sandy tells us this past off-season was completely “normal” and that he’s ready to go deep into games again. #Marlins pic.twitter.com/H905H4UfF3
— Isaac Azout (@IsaacAzout) February 7, 2025
Sandy Alcantara has had about as smooth a recovery from Tommy John Surgery as anyone. By the end of the 2024 season, he was throwing bullpen sessions at a high velocity. He will be 18 months removed from his operation as of April, making him pretty much ready to roll. He said himself in another interview that he will listen to the team with respect to innings limitations to start the season, but (kindly) requested that he be let loose at some point. While it looks like his workload may be a concern for 2025, he could be unleashed by season’s end and back to his old dominant self.
Felix Bautista – RP Baltimore Orioles
This is a good news-bad news situation. On the one hand, there have been various reports stating that Bautista has looked great. It looks like he’s putting in the time this offseason to mentally and physically prepare for a long season. On the other hand, it sounds like he will be limited at the start of the season, which could mean sporadic appearances, low-leverage situations, or something different altogether. His ADP makes him a tenuous pick, but patience could be the key here with Bautista. A fantasy football approach of drafting his backup as a handcuff could be a sneaky strategy in deeper leagues.
Ha-Seong Kim – SS Tampa Bay Rays
While talking with U.S. media, Kim said he hoped to return ASAP but didn't give a specific timeline. When asked by a Korean reporter, Kim mentioned late April or early May as the target date. That's very optimistic (I think I've heard even June return)
— Jeeho Yoo (@Jeeho_1) February 4, 2025
The newly signed Kim is coming off of major surgery to his shoulder. It was expected that he would miss the start of the season. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, it looks like his timeline for a return is quite vague, as a three-month window is all within the realm of possibility. There’s a big difference between May 1 and June 30, making him a very risky player to draft. If you can get him as a depth piece, that’s likely what’s best for your roster construction.
Rafael Devers – 3B Boston Red Sox
This is the first piece of news that we have gotten on Devers’ offseason in quite a while, and it’s pretty positive. When it was revealed that surgery wouldn’t be an option, there was some speculation that this was the wrong way to go. Devers’ bat speed and on-field performance declined steadily in the second half, making it evident that he was not himself. The hope here is that the conditioning program utilized here does keep him not only on the field but also producing at the elite rate he had been up until the second half of 2024. He could be a steal at his current draft price if he returns to form. All that being said, one has to wonder if a trade for Nolan Arenado comes if and when Devers needs to move over to first base.
Masataka Yoshida – UT Boston Red Sox
It looks like the same type of program from Rafael Devers was utilized here, but from the sounds of it, he likely won’t be ready for Opening Day, which could be an option down the road. This roster is full of potential and replacement choices, so there is no need to rush Yoshida back earlier than when he’s ready.
Giancarlo Stanton – OF New York Yankees
This isn’t really news to people who have rostered Stanton in the past, but it is news that the team is openly advertising his limitations for next season. This is something to keep in mind when considering drafting him.
Byron Buxton – OF Minnesota Twins
For the first time in several years, Byron Buxton had a healthy offseason. “Physically, I’m wonderful, but mentally it puts you in a whole new mindset.”
More on Buxton, who hopes to build off his 2024 season: https://t.co/pvPBZ3N42x
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) February 8, 2025
The article in question details Byron Buxton’s offseason regimen, and summarizes it all with a statement that he is healthy. The difference here from other seasons is that Buxton had a normal offseason where there were no surgeries, recoveries or rehabilitation. From the sounds of things, he’s in the greatest shape of his life, as he regailed about his time in the gym as well as keeping up with his hitting and throwing. One extra note is that the team doesn’t foresee using him every day, hence the signing of Harrison Bader. While all of this is refreshing to read, Byron Buxton has a lot to do to rebuild the trust of all fantasy baseball managers. His injury history is long and his time away from the field is extensive. Players praise their physical well-being all the time, and of course they are in the best shape of their life after time away. Once games start, that’s when we see who is able to sustain over a long period of time.
Mike Trout – OF Los Angeles Angels
Trout looks ready to bounce back in 2025 👀
(Via @MikeTrout IG) pic.twitter.com/6aGmuffCrn
— Not Jackson LaCombe (@Angelsfaithful) February 8, 2025
Speaking of being in the best shape of their life, here’s Mike Trout posting a video of himself working out. It wouldn’t be wrong for everything that was listed above under Byron Buxtton to be true for Trout. He is healthy and in the best shape of his life. And while he is recovering from major surgery, he looks primed and ready to go. That being said, like Buxton, his injury history is just as extensive, and he has a ways to go before being trusted to remain on the field.
Brandon Woodruff – SP Milwaukee Brewers, Christian Yelich – OF Milwaukee Brewers
The quote in question is from manager Tom Murphy in an interview with Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. It’s a doozy and needs some recognition. First, for Woodruff this news shouldn’t be surprising, as his recovery from an injury that cost him a year of his career and may result in more time lost. Given his age and his time away, it wouldn’t be shocking if he were to come back in a reduced role, but when that is, it remains a mystery. As for Yelich, the news here is a bit concerning, given that he had surgery early enough last year to be ready for this year. It’s unclear how much time is anticipated to be missed, but the hope is that it isn’t much. Remember that despite the injury last year, he was still quite effective in the lineup and could be so again this year. It’s all about getting him there which could be challenging.
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.
