In this week’s Injury Report, Francisco Lindor is due to return from his calf strain this week. Bobby Witt Jr. looks to avoid the injured list as he manages a Grade 1 MCL sprain. And we await an update on Jeremy Peña after he departed Monday’s game with a hamstring issue. All that and more as we recap all of the relevant injury news around baseball.
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Corey Seager (concussion)
Seager has been sidelined since June 12 after experiencing concussion symptoms following a collision at the plate on June 11. After he was held out of the lineup for a few days, the team placed him on the 7-day concussion injured list. He took part in on-field baseball activities on Sunday and is scheduled to take live batting practice on Tuesday. He’ll be evaluated after to determine the next steps, but he can be considered day-to-day with a chance to return this week.
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D.J. Short
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Francisco Lindor (calf)
The Mets will get Lindor back as soon as Wednesday after a two-month absence with a left calf strain. The 32-year-old star shortstop is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse and will get at least one more game in on Tuesday after going 0-for-4 in his first rehab game on Sunday. Lindor’s return this week will move Bo Bichette back to third base and squeeze Brett Baty and MJ Melendez out of playing time, though neither has done much to take advantage of their opportunity and could be dropped in most formats.
Bobby Witt Jr. (knee)
Witt was removed from Thursday’s game against the Cardinals with right knee discomfort after landing awkwardly in the fourth inning while fielding a ball. It was the second instance of knee discomfort this month. An MRI revealed a Grade 1 MCL sprain. The team has not placed him on the injured list, instead holding out hope that he’ll be ready to join the lineup in the next couple of days. Of course, we can’t rule out a trip to the injured list if he doesn’t bounce back as quickly as we hope. But rushing back, given that it’s the second time he was pulled with knee soreness, could also be counterproductive if he’s at risk for a setback. Still, the team is encouraged by his workout prior to Monday’s game against the Rays.
Noah Schultz (knee)
Schultz made his second rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday, striking out four with one walk over 2 2/3 scoreless innings. He got up to 57 pitches in the outing, tossing 38 for strikes. It seems like the next goal will be to get to 70 pitches in his next start, after which he could possibly return to the White Sox rotation. At most, we’re looking at another two starts on his rehab assignment, putting him back in Chicago in the next two weeks.
Munetaka Murakami (hamstring)
In the first update since early June, White Sox manager Will Venable stated that Murakami was “getting up to 80 percent in his running” and increasing the intensity of his hitting. Venable also said the 26-year-old slugger would head out on a rehab assignment as soon as he feels 100 percent. It sounds like we could still be at least a couple of weeks away from getting Murakami back in the White Sox lineup.
Jared Jones (elbow)
Jones was forced to depart in the third inning against the Rockies on Sunday after taking a comebacker off the back of his pitching elbow. X-rays came back negative, but we should know more after further evaluation. He’s considered day-to-day and hopefully won’t have to miss his next start scheduled for Saturday against the Reds.
Jack Leiter (ankle)
Leiter was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to June 19, with a right ankle impingement. The injury apparently stems all the way back to a start in Texas against the Pirates on April 22, when Leiter slipped on the on-deck circle while fielding a play. He’s been pitching through the issue since, and it’s played a role in his mechanics. The 26-year-old right-hander had given up 15 runs over his last three starts and holds a 5.29 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and 83 strikeouts over 80 innings. Leiter has flashed some skills, but has been terribly inconsistent, especially as the injury has gotten worse. Hopefully, a couple of weeks off can get him right and ready for a better second half.
Ryne Nelson (elbow)
Jordan Lawlar (hamstring)
Nelson was another breakout hopeful who has struggled this season. He was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained right elbow. It was reported that Nelson is dealing with a partially torn forearm flexor. This is likely an injury that will end his season, or at least keep him out until well into the second half. Either way, the 28-year-old right-hander could be dropped in all formats, with a 4.97 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts over 83 1/3 innings. The Diamondbacks also lost outfielder Jordan Lawlar to the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. The injury comes after just six games back following his recovery from a fractured wrist. Manager Torey Lovullo indicated that Lawlar could miss 4-6 weeks.
Will Smith (neck)
Teoscar Hernández (hamstring)
Kyle Tucker (back)
Smith has been on the 10-day injured list with neck inflammation for the last two weeks. He received a cortisone shot in his neck to address the issue, and manager Dave Roberts indicated optimism that Smith could return in early July. Meanwhile, Hernández is close to returning from a left hamstring strain that’s kept him on the shelf since May 30. He’s set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday. While Smith and Hernández are on their way back, Tucker was removed from Monday’s series opener against the Twins with lower back spasms. Roberts downplayed the concern following the game. It doesn’t seem like Tucker is in danger of missing much time, but he could be on the bench for a day or two.
Jeremy Peña (hamstring)
Peña fouled off a pitch in the sixth inning against the Blue Jays on Monday and was unable to finish his at-bat, instead departing to the locker room with a trainer. After the game, Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters that Peña was dealing with a right hamstring cramp. While that sounds like he might’ve dodged a bullet, he’ll undergo further evaluation on Tuesday to determine the severity of the issue. Peña had already missed five weeks earlier this season with a hamstring strain.
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