Every time you look up, it seems likely someone is being removed from a game with some sort of physical malady. As Jeff Mans pointed out in this tweet, the DL was used nearly 700 times last season, and we sure seem on our way to another obnoxiously huge number in 2019. Ray reviews some of the recent health news on the diamond.
HITTERS
Miguel Andujar (shoulder) got some really good news. Everything to this point in time has been positive, and things have gone so well that he’s going to play some third base in an extended spring game Friday. If there are no setbacks, it’s possible that he could return to action next week. There’s still concern about his ability to handle third base and throwing all season long, but the Yankees might actually be getting some positive news on the health front for once.
Jay Bruce is expected to return to game action Friday as he’s been out the last three games with a quad issue. He’s shown the power (nine homers), but with 27 strikeouts in 77 at-bats he’s not shown any contact skills.
Asdrubal Cabrera is dealing with a calf issue, and it sounds like a trip to the DL could be in order. Patrick Wisdom could see time at third, though the team could move Logan Forsythe there too once Ronald Guzman is ready to return though an MRI this week showed that his hamstring was steal not fully healed. That means he’s not coming back in April as was hoped.
Zack Cozart (neck) is back on the disabled list. Dude just can’t stay healthy, and when on the field he hasn’t produced anything with one extra base hit and a .109 average. Luis Rengifo was added for depth, but there’s not much to see there with the bat though he can steal a base. He’s an AL-only addition.
Hunter Dozier (back) has returned to the starting lineup though he’s starting out at DH. He has been off to a tremendous start (.324/.430/.676) that is in danger from regression, and now health.
Erik Gonzalez will be out of action for 10-12 weeks with a broken left clavicle. That will given Cole Tucker a decent chance to establish himself, though Kevin Newman could factor in as well it Tucker struggles.
Carter Kieboom has been promoted to the Nationals. For how the whole situation plays out, see his Player Profile.
Jed Lowrie (knee) is getting close to a return to action in the minor leagues. Sounds like early May is his target for a return to the Mets. At that point, it gets tricky. Robinson Cano and Amed Rosario are up the middle, and Peter Alonso is at first. Of course, that leaves third base for Lowrie, which was expected all along. Still, J.D. Davis has an .865 OPS, and Todd Frazier is hanging around too. All three of those guys might have a tough time carving out mixed league value.
Mike Moustakas has returned to action Friday. He’s been dealing with a finger issue as he has a small fracture at the tip of his right ring finger. He has an .898 OPS, is batting cleanup, and he needs three more games at second to hit 20 games to qualify there next season.
Rougned Odor is slated to return from his knee issue Tuesday. Odor has two 30-homer seasons in three years, and over the last three seasons he’s averaged a season long effort of .242-27-75-81-14. There are holes in his game no doubt, but he should re-enter the starting lineup at second base which might make it pretty hard for Danny Santana to remain in the lineup despite a .879 OPS and four steals in 11 games.
Scott Kingery could be out another couple of weeks with his hamstring issue while teammate Jean Segura is expected to return from his hamstring issue Saturday for the Phillies. Get ready to fire him back up.
Roman Quinn has been placed on the DL with a groin injury, this one being called a Grade 2 situation. He will need much more than 10 days to get right with this latest setback. Odubel Herrera is also on the DL with a hamstring injury, so in the short run Aaron Altherr will get some time to try and shine, something he was woefully ineffective at last sesaon.
Joey Wendle is back on the IL, this time with a wrist fracture. It’s early, but this is already starting to shape up as a lost season for Wendle as he will miss 6-8 weeks. With his value circling the drain, Brandon Lowe’s is in overdrive. He’s started out in impressive fashion, and by the time Wendle returns it’s likely that Lowe will have established himself to the point that he’s never coming out of the lineup.
HURLERS
Kyle Freeland (finger) is trending toward returning to action for the Rockies Monday in Milwaukee. He has 30 Ks in 27.2 innings.
Andrew Heaney (elbow) threw a bullpen session Wednesday that was said to have gone well. He’s set to throw another session Saturday while attempting to really let ‘er loose while throwing all his pitches. Have to think he will then need at least one, if not two, rehab assignments before the Angels felt comfortable in activating this ticking time bomb of injury.
Brandon Morrow (elbow) was shut down from throwing last week. It sounds like he could resume throwing in about two weeks. When we will see him in the bigs is anyone’s flat out guess at the moment.
Jordan Zimmerman has been placed on the DL with a elbow sprain in his UCL. This is not good news. The hope is that he will be able to return in 3-4 weeks, but it’s a fluid scenario. The team has lots of potential stars on the bump in the minors – Matt Manning, Alex Faedo and star-in-waiting Casey Mize – but none is expected to be turned to at the moment. Sounds like the spot, for now, could to go Ryan Carpenter.
