Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Wednesday, May 22, 2024. In today’s edition, we get a big step forward for Gerrit Cole, some positive news for the White Sox on Luis Robert, a big Royce Lewis update, and so much more.
MLB Injury Report for Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
Gerrit Cole – SP New York Yankees (elbow)
Gerrit Cole said he'll throw 2-3 total live sessions. Next one would be this weekend after 20 pitches today. He didn't rule out a June return. #Yankees
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) May 21, 2024
It was a monumental day for Cole, as he faced live hitters for the first time this season. It was a huge progression, as now he will be able to ramp his arm up while continuing to do so against live batters. He is scheduled to do this again on the weekend. Additionally, there was talk of him returning in June. This stemmed from where he is in the current recovery process. A few more live BP sessions could lead to a rehab assignment. All in all, it was a day that all Yankees fans and Cole fantasy owners could be happy about.
DJ LeMahieu – 3B New York Yankees (foot)
Aaron Boone expects DJ LeMahieu to return for the Angels series next Tuesday
As previously reported, LeMahieu will be the everyday third baseman pic.twitter.com/ZcHkFXXPew
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 21, 2024
While anything can happen between now and then, it’s important to Be Prepared.
Kodai Senga – SP New York Mets (shoulder)
Kodai Senga played “light catch” today, Carlos Mendoza said. https://t.co/TlQu4z9AF9
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) May 21, 2024
After a setback with tricep tightness, it was good to see Senga out there playing light catch and moving around. Still, this is yet another setback in the long-awaited return of a big-name pitcher. Tread lightly here.
Luis Robert – OF Chicago White Sox (hip)
Luis Robert Jr. slated to play five innings Wednesday in Arizona. Off Thurs, then will play this weekend in AZ before going on rehab assignment, per manager Pedro Grifol.
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) May 21, 2024
Robert has been on the Injured List for six weeks with a right hip flexor strain, and this in-game action will be his first time playing. The team has been careful thus far with how quickly they want him to progress and will continue to do that while he is in the Complex League as well. Look for this assignment to be a lengthy one.
Eloy Jimenez – OF Chicago White Sox (hamstring)
Eloy Jiménez left tonight's game with a left hamstring strain. He is being further evaluated.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 22, 2024
Once again, Jimenez injured himself while running around a baseball field. This is not his first time doing so and likely won’t be his last. The team should have more updates as they become available. Consider him DTD for now, but the likelihood of him heading over to the Injured List is higher due to his injury history.
Nolan Jones – OF Colorado Rockies (back, knee)
#Rockies have halted the rehab assignment with Triple-A @abqtopes of OF Nolan Jones (low back strain) because of right knee soreness sustained on a slide. Jones had an MRI that came back clean, but he will rest a few days before getting back on the field.
— Thomas Harding (@harding_at_mlb) May 21, 2024
The bad news is that Jones’ rehab assignment gets delayed, as does his expected return to the Rockies this week. The good news is that it wasn’t related to the injury for which he was sent there. Stay tuned to see how serious this is.
Cincinnati Reds – Team Update
Some updates from David Bell.
-Nick Lodolo has a long bullpen scheduled for the next day or two. The next steps/return plan will move forward after that.
-CES has a follow up on June 5
-TJ Friedl hopes to start swinging off a tee this week.— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) May 21, 2024
A lot to unravel here with this update. We should know more about Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s (hand/wrist) status once the follow-up appointment is completed. What we do know is that he won’t be ready to return on the short-side of his estimated recovery time. As for Nick Lodolo (groin), he did express optimism about not needing more than the 15-day minimum, so we shall see what the team does with him. Finally, good news for TJ Friedl (thumb) who is one week removed from heading to the Injured List with a fracture.
Jake Fraley – OF Cincinnati Reds (hand)
X Rays were negative for a fracture on the right hand of Jake Fraley. He has swelling and will get looked at tomorrow.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) May 22, 2024
The team should know more about his situation today. It’s the last thing that the team needs as they are ravaged with injuries right now.
Jon Gray – SP Texas Rangers (groin)
Bruce Bochy said Jon Gray left the game with right groin tightness at 75 pitches
— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) May 22, 2024
Gray said in an interview that he didn’t feel the groin issue in question until the fifth inning. He also said that the comebacker he took was hit on the inside of his left leg. He suggested that he may have been compensating for this as the game progressed. That being said, we will know more about this based on how he feels today. Stay tuned.
Royce Lewis – 3B Minnesota Twins (quad)
Royce Lewis ran the bases for the first time yesterday, athletic trainer Nick Paparesta said, another big step in his rehab process.
— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) May 21, 2024
This is the first time Lewis has run the bases, and is a big step forward. He did this after doing some light running a week ago. Testing out his quad in these types of situations goes a long way in determining a timeline for a return. He is targeting early June as a return date.
Detroit Tigers – Team Update
#Tigers medical update: Three bullpen sessions. pic.twitter.com/Sj6kW9uQlr
— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) May 21, 2024
A lot to unpack here. Kenta Maeda (illness) will throw a bullpen next week, though it was believed that he was on the precipice of being activated this week. Shelby Miller (ulnar nerve) will throw a bullpen, though his absence is still expected to be long in nature. As for Reese Olson (contusion), if all goes well with that bullpen, he should be able to pitch this week.
Drew Rasmussen – SP Tampa Bay Rays (right flexor strain)
Rasmussen threw a bullpen yesterday. That is the first of many stages before he returns, hopefully after the All-Star Break.
Jeffrey Springs – SP Tampa Bay Rays (Tommy John Surgery)
The biggest part about Springs’ performance in his first rehab outing wasn’t the production on the field. Instead, it was getting out there and pitching again. While the output wasn’t great, he feels good and is now ready to ramp things up. As indicated here, he could be back by late June, though because it’s the Rays, a post-All-Star Break debut wouldn’t be surprising.
Austin Riley – 3B Atlanta Braves (side)
Riley is going to take some soft-toss swings in the cage today
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) May 21, 2024
Riley has been out of action for well over a week now with no Injured List designation. This marks the first time that he will take some swings and test out his side. Needless to say, the Braves have dropped the ball here.
Bobby Miller – SP Los Angeles Dodgers (shoulder)
Bobby Miller threw his 3-inning sim game, 51 pitches. Next up, Dave Roberts said, is a rehab game with Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) May 21, 2024
It remains to be seen if this rehab game on Sunday is the one and only for Miller, or if he will need more than that. The fact that he is already up to 51 pitches is a good sign that it’s a one-and-done.
Max Muncy – 3B Los Angeles Dodgers (oblique)
Max Muncy’s taking ground balls right now. Starting up baseball activities after his oblique strain.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) May 21, 2024
Muncy is typically a fast healer, so he may not even need a rehab assignment. Stay tuned.