Welcome to the Fantrax MLB Injury Report for Wednesday, May 15, 2024. In today’s edition, the Giants have a bevvy of problems, including Jung Hoo Lee’s shoulder, Blake Snell’s rehab assignment, Keaton Winn’s forearm, and a one-in-a-million injury to Jorge Soler. All of that and so much more in today’s Injury Report from Fantrax.
MLB Injury Report for Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
Jung Hoo Lee – OF San Francisco Giants (shoulder)
The Giants say Jung Hoo Lee has structural damage in his left shoulder and will seek out a second opinion from Dr. Neal ElAttrache in LA on Thursday.
— Maria I. Guardado (@mi_guardado) May 14, 2024
The second opinion here is likely to see whether or not surgery is required. Chances are that if there is surgery, Lee will miss the remainder of the season, due to the fact that recovery can take at least half a calendar year. If surgery is not required and he can heal on his own, he will still miss at least six weeks to one month, and that may not include a rehab assignment. It’s an ominous outlook for one of baseball’s brightest young stars. We should know more once that opinion is shared and a verdict is reached.
Blake Snell – SP San Francisco Giants (thigh)
Blake Snell will make a rehab start Friday for Sacramento and as long as all goes well, the next step would be returning to the big league mound.
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) May 14, 2024
Some good news for the Giants (who need it), as Snell seems to be on course for just one rehab outing before returning to the team. We should know more after his first outing if another one is required, but chances are that it will be a singular rehab assignment.
Patrick Bailey – C San Francisco Giants (concussion)
Patrick Bailey went back on the concussion IL. Marco Luciano is up from Triple-A.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) May 15, 2024
Bailey will miss at least one week due to recurring concussion symptoms from an ailment that he suffered earlier in the month. The team would be wise to be cautious since this is a concussion.
Jorge Soler – OF San Francisco Giants (head)
One bit of good news: It sounds like Jorge Soler is fine after getting hit by a ball during batting practice.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) May 15, 2024
In a freakish accident, Soler fouled off a pitch in batting practice which then hit him in the head (without a helmet). He is still in recovery from a prior injury which could have complicated things even further. Luckily, it would appear that he has come away from this unscathed.
Keaton Winn – SP San Francisco Giants (forearm)
Keaton Winn isn't "overly concerned" about the forearm tightness that forced him from tonight's game ⬇ pic.twitter.com/XEQmLw7cQU
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 15, 2024
While Winn isn’t concerned, it’s still something to make note of given the area of the body from which the injury is. He said that he felt it after the fourth inning leading into the fifth, and will get an MRI today. Stay tuned.
Royce Lewis – 3B Minnesota Twins (quad)
Royce Lewis is doing some running on the field today and the Twins are ramping up his baserunning in what’s described by Paparesta as a big week for his recovery. Will do more aggressive change-of-direction stuff later this week and that’ll educate a rehab assignment timeline.
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) May 14, 2024
There was a report last week that suggested Royce Lewis would return in late May. While a lot would have to happen between now and then, it would appear that he has taken a big step forward in his recovery. The team seems poised to begin a more aggressive approach to test out his body and see what he can handle. If he comes out of this feeling good, a rehab assignment shouldn’t be that far behind him.
Byron Buxton – OF Minnesota Twins (knee)
Byron Buxton will play in rehab games this week, Rocco Baldelli said, so he’s not expected to rejoin the Twins in this three-game Yankees series.
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) May 14, 2024
There was some thought that Buxton might be able to avoid a rehab assignment, but alas, that is not the case here. Instead, he will appear in some rehab games to test out his knee. That said, his return to the Twins shouldn’t be that far off from here.
Nico Hoerner – 2B Chicago Cubs (hamstring)
Per Craig Counsell, Nico Hoerner tweaked his hamstring during batting practice. He tried warming up for the game, could still feel it so they decided not to push it. They’ll reevaluate tomorrow. #Cubs
— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) May 15, 2024
This update gives some clarity going forward, as there was some confusion about the late scratch. Hoerner will be re-evaluated today with the hope that he can avoid the Injured List. There has been no indication either way as to whether or not he will need additional time or if this can be resolved with some rest. Stay tuned.
Adbert Alzolay – RP Chicago Cubs (flexor strain)
Alzolay says he won’t throw for five days and then evaluate how he feels. He isn’t sure of a timeline to return at the moment.
Before feeling tightness while warming up Sunday, Alzolay said he had experienced a little soreness in his forearm but nothing he was concerned about. https://t.co/pkmYSWbO9r
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) May 14, 2024
Alzolay will be shut down for the remainder of this week and re-evaluated after that. Usually, when a team is unsure about a timeline, they are bracing for the worst and hoping for the best. Chances are that he will require more than fifteen days before returning.
Mitch Garver – C Seattle Mariners (back)
Mitch Garver was scratched with upper back spasms, Scott Servais just said. It’s a different issue than the one he was experiencing last month.
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) May 15, 2024
Garver missed yesterday’s game and could miss additional time with this back issue. It’s somewhat concerning that this is a completely separate issue than the one that bothered him earlier this year. That said, it shouldn’t be surprising given his history with injuries.
Rhys Hoskins – 1B Milwaukee Brewers (hamstring)
Pat Murphy says is looking like a 2-4 week absence for Rhys Hoskins with the hamstring strain.
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) May 15, 2024
Hoskins heads to the Injured List after tweaking his hamstring on Monday. All things considered, missing upwards of one month isn’t the worst thing in the world, though his presence on the field will be missed. The Brewers don’t necessarily have a replacement option worth rostering unless it’s the deepest of leagues.
Bryce Harper – 1B Philadelphia Phillies (migraine), JT Realmuto – C Philadelphia Phillies (knee)
Bryce Harper is feeling better, Rob Thomson said. Migraine was not related to being hit in head by Nido’s throw last night. He was available to pinch-hit. Will play tomorrow. So will J.T. Realmuto, Thomson said, barring anything unexpected.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) May 14, 2024
It’s looking like the Phillies will have some key reinforcements back in the lineup later today.
Bobby Miller – SP Los Angeles Dodgers (shoulder), Evan Phillips – RP Los Angeles Dodgers (hamstring)
Bobby Miller will throw two simulated innings at Camelback Ranch in Arizona tomorrow, Dave Roberts said. Next steps (either three-inning sim game or rehab assignment) is TBD.
Evan Phillips (hamstring) is set to throw off a mound tomorrow.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) May 15, 2024
It would be more encouraging for Miller if his next step was a rehab assignment, but either way things are looking better for him. He will likely need multiple rehab appearances, but this is still a good sign that he is getting closer. As for Phillips, progressing to the bullpen is a big step forward which should lead to live batters and a rehab assignment.