Good News: I do not have to discuss Bobby Witt Jr. and Austin Riley because both are healthy after getting drilled by pitches this week!
Bad News: We still have plenty of injury updates to cover while weeks away from domestic Opening Day!!
Don’t you just love pain? I mean, baseball. Let’s dive into this week’s injuries and updates…
Preseason Injuries to Monitor
Lucas Giolito (SP, BOS) Hamstring
The former White Sox ace is once again ailing. Despite just returning to the mound after Tommy John Surgery, Giolito will miss more time and most importantly, rehab. The last time we saw Giolito was in 2023 when he posted a 4.88 ERA following a 4.90 ERA in 2022.
There was hope that the veteran SP could bounce back to prime form in a new environment but with another delay, he is best left as waiver wire fodder. The move from an incompetent organization to a savvy one is somewhat negated by the tortuous AL East offenses and ballparks. He could be eventually streamed and held if showing signs of life but do not hold your breath.
Tyler Stephenson (C, CIN) Oblique
Cincinnati’s primary catcher suffered a “low-grade” oblique strain and will begin the season on IL. With the Reds healthy this season, there was an expectation that Stephenson would play slightly less but this is a massive hit to his value. Oblique strains can linger and are easily re-aggravated.
Veteran backstop Jose Trevino was added this offseason and will likely play almost every day in Stephenson’s absence. If you have already drafted Stephenson and can throw him on IL, Trevino is a good replacement for the first few weeks as the Reds will play four of their first six series in the hitter-friendly confines of Great American Ballpark.
If you have not drafted yet, avoid Stephenson and choose any of the other top catchers.
Ronald Acuna Jr. (OF, ATL) Knee
The Atlanta Braves are reporting that star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. will join the team in “early-to-mid” May as he recovers from a second torn ACL in his left knee. This is massive for Acuna’s value as the initial expectation was an April return. Vague timelines are tough to work around. Organizations can opt to push a player’s return until they are confident in the recovery process.
Acuna Jr. suffered his first torn ACL in 2021 and played 119 games the following season. He posted 15 home runs and 29 stolen bases that year. This was a significant return on investment for fantasy drafters but should concern us in 2025. The Braves indicated that Acuna Jr. will not steal at a high rate this season and we already witnessed a sap in power that first season removed from an ACL tear.
ACL injuries are tricky. If a player is constantly thinking about re-aggravation despite the ligament being fully healed, mental gaps could impact performance. If you play in a league with multiple IL spots, Acuna Jr. is a fine target around his ADP as the upside is tantalizing. Otherwise, consideration must be made to holding him for nearly two months.
Tony Gonsolin (SP, LAD) Back
Like Lucas Giolito, Tony Gonsolin is back on the Injured List after recently returning from Tommy John Surgery. The veteran Dodgers pitcher was slated for the rotation’s SP5 slot but will defer that to Dustin May. While May may not succeed given his limited track record following flexor tendon surgery, this is another roadblock for Gonsolin.
The Dodgers still expect Shohei Ohtani to pitch this season and have multiple SPs in the minors who could contribute to the rotation. Gonsolin may not have a rotation spot upon return and could be relegated to a long-relief role. Ignore him outside of the deepest drafts.
Sean Manaea (SP, NYM) Oblique
Sean Manaea is reportedly “symptom-free” after a recent clean MRI and has resumed throwing. The Mets SP is still going to start the season on IL given his lengthy absence but should return shortly after if his ramp-up period is unabated.
As mentioned earlier, obliques are tricky even when “healthy”. Manaea resuming baseball activity this soon after his injury is a good sign and re-generates interest for the upcoming season. He should be selected and stashed on IL but not if his ADP spikes from the last few rounds of drafts.
Francisco Alvarez (C, NYM) Hand
One Met gets healthy, the other falls victim to IL…this is their curse. Francisco Alvarez was hit by a pitch on his hand and will be out for 6-8 weeks. This injury is much more severe than advertised given that his hamate bone broke. Alvarez is completely reliant on power for fantasy value and could have that sapped upon return. You can completely ignore Alvarez in drafts.
