Hello and welcome to the Injury Report!
This roundup is a biweekly article, published on Mondays and Fridays, where I aim to detail approximately five relevant injuries that have occurred over the past few days or provide an update on the injury of a prominent MLB player. I will try to incorporate the available information as well as my own knowledge and experience to approximate a return date in each case, noting the individual characteristics of the injuries and of the players themselves.
If you have questions regarding an injury not detailed in this article, feel free to comment below, and I will give my best effort to provide a timely update. I fell behind on some questions from last week so I have made sure to include those players in today’s report.
Juan Soto – Right Ankle Sprain
Juan Soto is dealing with a mild right ankle sprain and is considered day-to-day. X-rays came back negative, and Soto should not miss significant time.
Estimated return: Day-to-day, with return to full play by the weekend.
Nelson Cruz – Ruptured Left ECU Tendon
Nelson Cruz has been diagnosed with a ruptured extensor carpi ulnaris tendon in his left wrist. I wasn’t able to find a major league precedent for a timetable. The ECU is one of the main muscles to contribute to wrist extension and ulnar deviation, which are both prominent movements of the bottom hand when swinging. Cruz is due for reevaluation on Monday, but if the tendon is fully ruptured and surgery is indicated, his year is likely done.
Estimated return: Season likely over pending updates.
Adalberto Mondesi – Left Shoulder Subluxation
Adalberto Mondesi continues to progress his workouts and has hit off the tee from both sides of the plate. He still remains several weeks from a return to play.
Estimated return: Early September.
Christian Yelich – Back Soreness
Christian Yelich is once again battling back soreness, and once again, it appears to be minor. He has been able to complete a workout since being out, and with the day off on Monday, he has a shot to return on Tuesday. This is Yelich’s fourth stint of back soreness this year, each time missing roughly four days.
Estimated return: Day-to-day, possible to return on Tuesday.
Ramon Laureano – Right Shin Stress Reaction
I have had a few requests for updates on Ramon Laureano. There is not a lot to report at this time as he is still in the acute phase of his recovery. Stress reactions in the lower leg are similar to a fracture (in this case, it may contain a fracture, though that wasn’t reported explicitly) in that rest and immobilization is required for three to four weeks before any activities can be resumed. Laureano is still within that period, so we likely won’t have any real progress updates until the end of August, when he may be beginning to complete some baseball activities again.
Estimated return: Mid to late September.
If there is a player on whom you would like information who I have not detailed in this article, please comment below, and I will reply as I am able.
Featured image by Michael Haas (@digitalHaas on Twitter)
Brandon Lowe?
Trending towards a return in August and there should be an upcoming rehab stint to get excited about.
I think the return on Laureano is a typo.
Yes it was – thank you for bringing that to my attention. Edited now.
Giancarlo Stanton?
Trending towards a mid-September return, though it’s not guaranteed.
Snell?
He has returned to throwing, and an early September return is a possibility.
Hmm. Cruz is resuming baseball activities tomorrow, so I think you’re a little off there.
https://twitter.com/betsyhelfand/status/1160950455956099077
Any word on Gallo?
Doesn’t make a ton of sense to me to play without one of the muscles in your forearm most responsible for batting movement, but here we are… Surgery is the proper assumption in that case.
Gallo should be baseball activities in a week or so but it’s still a little early for any real updates.
Thanks so much for the Laureano update, really appreciate it and love this site.