(*) THE BIG HURT: Hurt file, May 24-29

NOTE: This column focuses on injury analysis, so we don't cover the progress of every injured player. We try to highlight the key fantasy contributors, unusual injuries, or situations where the official projected return is variable or not given. Players whose progress is proceeding as expected are very well covered by fantasy news sources; we'll tend to leave those players alone unless we have something we want to add to the news coverage. This column is updated on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Mondays.

Credit for the Worry-O-Meter goes to Dr. Jim Ferretti (Twitter: @TFSDoc):

     1 – “No problemo”
     2 – “I’ll be back”
     3 – “I (might) be back”
     4 – “I (probably won’t) be back”
     5 – “Hasta la vista, baby”

Last week's column

 

May 29, 2023

Ezequiel Duran (2B/SS, TEX) – Oblique strain (5/24/23) UPDATE
Apparently, “rib soreness” (the original report) actually meant “side soreness.” So it’s an oblique. These are not as bad for hitter as they are for pitchers, but they’re still a bit more than the routine muscle strain.
2023 Impact: Elevated risk; Risk of recurrence
Est. Return: Mid-/late June
Worry-O-Meter: 2

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He “rolled” his ankle, but that’s still a sprain. Rolled, turned, twisted, tweaked—they’re all sprains. The severity is what matters here, and that sometimes takes a day or two truly assess. It doesn’t sound serious, though he’ll probably miss a couple of days.
2023 Impact: Unknown severity
Est. Return: 2-5 days (best estimate)
Worry-O-Meter: 1.5

Vincent Velasquez (RHP, PIT) – R elbow discomfort (5/27/23)
This is a real concern, as he just returned from the IL for the same issue. Clearly, the underlying problem has not gone away. He’ll have an MRI to see what the problem is. Tommy John? Possible, but that’s just one of several outcomes. We’re expecting another trip to the IL, and likely longer than the first time.
2023 Impact: Unknown extent/severity
Est. Return: Post All-Star break, maybe into August (best estimate)
Worry-O-Meter: 3.5

Kevin Kiermaier (OF, TOR) – Back discomfort (5/27/23)
This sounds like a strain. If it’s minor, he’ll be back in a few days, but there’s a good chance he’ll need a trip to the IL.
2023 Impact: Unknown severity
Est. Return: 3-7 days, if it’s not serious
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Thairo Estrada (2B/SS, SF) – L wrist sprain (5/25/23)
This doesn’t sound worse than a Grade 1 sprain, which shouldn’t take long to return from. It’s his bottom hand, so his power shouldn’t be affected too much.
2023 Impact: Small possibility of reduced production when he first returns
Est. Return: Mid-/late June
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Max Muncy (2B/3B, LA) – L hamstring tightness (5/27/23)
He’s getting an MRI. We expect he’ll hit the IL, though it’s certainly not definite at this point.
2023 Impact: Unknown severity
Est. Return: Mid-/late June
Worry-O-Meter: 2

 

May 27, 2023

Ha-Seong Kim (2B/3B, SD) – L knee bruise (5/25/23)
X-rays were negative. Yay! He could still miss some time. It’s likely a standard contusion, though x-rays don’t normally see bone bruises, so that’s still a possibility. He’s likely to need a few days at a minimum, and an IL trip is still possible, too. It will depend on how he feels over the next couple of days, though as of this writing, he was “available off the bench.”
2023 Impact: Unknown severity
Est. Return: 2-5 days or more
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Brenton Doyle (OF, COL) – R knee bruise (5/25/23)
The cause of the injury is different (he ran into the OF wall), but pretty much everything we said about Kim, above, holds here.
2023 Impact: Unknown severity
Est. Return: 3-7 days or more
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Danny Jansen (C, TOR) – Groin strain (5/24/23)
He had an MRI Thursday, though the results haven’t been released. He’s on the IL, as expected. No timeline has been given, so we’ll project for a Grade 1 strain for now.
2023 Impact: Unknown severity
Est. Return: Mid-/late June (best estimate)
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Carlos Correa (SS, MIN) – L foot, muscle strain and plantar fasciitis (5/23/23) UPDATE
This is quite different from a bruised heel, as originally reported. He has both fasciitis (an inflammation of the tissues that surround the tendons in the foot) and a muscle strain. They’re waiting to see how quickly he recovers, but we think the chances of him avoiding the IL are slim. Fasciitis is nasty enough to keep him out a couple of weeks. But our projection could change as new information comes to light.
2023 Impact: Unknown severity
Est. Return: Mid-/late June (best estimate)
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Joey Gallo (OF, MIN) – L hamstring strain (5/23/23)
Right now, it’s “tightness” and “soreness,” but those are almost definitely symptoms of a strain. He’s likely to miss a couple more days at least. He really should go on the IL and give it time to heal, but that’s not how baseball works. We’d say he’s about 65/35 to avoid the IL.
2023 Impact: Unknown severity
Est. Return: 2-5 days or more
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Ezequiel Duran (2B/SS, TEX) – Rib cage soreness (5/24/23)
There are several possible issues here, but an intercostal strain is the most likely. That’s a two-week recovery for a Grade 1 strain. They’re giving him a couple of days to see how quickly the pain subsides. He could be back in a couple of days.
2023 Impact: Unknown extent/severity
Est. Return: 2-5 days if no IL trip is needed
Worry-O-Meter: 1.5

Will Myers (1B/OF, CIN) – Kidney stone(s) (5/26/23)
Most kidney stones can be treated without surgery. Whether he’s given medication or has an ultrasound procedure to break up the stone(s), he’ll likely be better in a week or so. That suggests a minimal IL stay is likely.
2023 Impact: How big is it?
Est. Return: Early/mid-June (best estimate)
Worry-O-Meter: 1.5

 

May 24, 2023

LaMonte Wade (1B/OF, SF) – One of his thumbs, possible sprain (5/22/23)
The thumb is one part of the body where which side matters. Unfortunately, there are no reports available that say which thumb he’s hurt. He’s not expected to miss time but expect some hitting woes for a week or so if it’s his left thumb.
2023 Impact: Unknown thumb; Possibility of reduced production
Est. Return: 2-5 days
Worry-O-Meter: 2

 

Joey Votto (1B, CIN) – L shoulder surgery, recovery (August 2022)
He’s starting to make progress toward a rehab assignment. We’d expect that he’s about a month away from being game-ready, assuming no setbacks. Keep an eye on how he performs in rehab games (especially power), as it will give us some idea of whether he’ll struggle to regain his swing. And temper your expectations a bit, as he’s still 39 years old and coming off major surgery.
2023 Impact: Lots of risk
Est. Return: Mid-/late June
Worry-O-Meter: 3

Eric Lauer (LHP, MIL) – R shoulder impingement (5/21/23)
If you’re reading this and you had him rostered, we’re sorry. For the rest of you, this is mainly a curiosity, as he shouldn’t be anywhere near your active roster. The injury is to his non-throwing shoulder, which does make a difference. We’ll monitor just for our own edification.
2023 Impact: Not many comps
Est. Return: Mid-/late June (best estimate)
Worry-O-Meter: As if you care (2)

Santiago Espinal (2B, TOR) – R hamstring inflammation (5/21/23)
Are the Jays being too cute here, calling it “inflammation?” And what’s causing the inflammation, a tear perhaps? We’re going to treat this as a Grade 1 strain, with the usual warnings about recurrence risk.
2023 Impact: Elevated risk; Risk of recurrence
Est. Return: Early/mid-June
Worry-O-Meter: 2

Brandon Marsh (OF, PHI) – R shoulder inflammation (5/23/23)
It’s too soon to say what this is about. If he needs an IL trip, figure 2-4 weeks as a baseline. It will depend on the nature and severity of the injury.

Carlos Correa (SS, MIN) – L heel bruise (5/23/23)
This is another situation that’s tough to call. It will depend on the severity. We’ve seen these go for a few days to two months or more. He’s day-to-day for now.
2023 Impact: Unknown severity
Est. Return: 2-5 days (best estimate)
Worry-O-Meter: 2

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