Mike Trout, Trea Turner, and More Superstars Hit the IL

Welcome to the Just Baseball injury report, your one-stop shop for the most important injury news and updates around baseball. Here’s everything you need to know from the last four weeks of the 2024 MLB season.

Injury Report 04/29-05/06

Mike Trout Needs Knee Surgery

10-day IL, 04/30, left knee meniscus tear

Angels superstar Mike Trout was off to an MVP-caliber start in 2024 before yet another injury stopped him in his tracks. He likely isn’t done for the season, but surgery to repair a torn left meniscus will keep him out for four to six weeks at minimum. It’s a crushing blow for the Angels.

Grayson Rodriguez Is Hoping for a Short IL Stint

15-day IL, 04/30, right shoulder inflammation

Grayson Rodriguez is progressing well after landing on the injured list with inflammation in his throwing arm last week. Thankfully, it’s looking like the 24-year starter won’t miss too much of his sophomore season. He is currently 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA through six starts (34 IP).

Byron Buxton Suffers Another Injury

10-day IL, retroactive to 05/02, right knee inflammation

Byron Buxton is another superstar-caliber player who just can’t stay on the field. After spending the 2023 campaign as a full-time DH in a (failed) attempt to stay healthy all year, he was back to playing Gold Glove defense in center field this season.

Buxton was also starting to heat up at the plate over the past couple of weeks, but now he’ll have to wait at least 10 days before returning to game action. His knee injury doesn’t appear serious, and the Twins are hopeful he won’t miss too much time.

Nathan Eovaldi Is the Latest Rangers Starter to Hit the IL

15-day IL, 05/03, right groin strain

A groin strain isn’t nearly as worrisome as an arm injury, but still, the Rangers surely weren’t pleased to lose another star pitcher to the injured list. Nathan Eovaldi was off to a terrific start in 2024, pitching to a 2.61 ERA and 44 strikeouts through seven outings.

Max Scherzer is supposedly ahead of schedule as he rehabs from offseason back surgery, but he won’t be back soon enough to immediately take over for Eovaldi in a rotation that is also missing Jacob deGrom, Cody Bradford, and Tyler Mahle.

Trea Turner Will Be Out for At Least Six Weeks

10-day IL, 05/04, left hamstring strain

The Phillies are hot, hot, hot right now, but they were dealt a substantial blow over the weekend. Trea Turner has been their second most valuable position player this season, with a .343 batting average, 10 stolen bases, 27 runs scored, and 1.5 FanGraphs WAR.

After suffering a hamstring strain last Friday, the star shortstop will spend a minimum of six weeks on the injured list.

Joe Musgrove‘s Difficult Year Continues

15-day IL, 05/05, right elbow inflammation

Joe Musgrove hasn’t looked like himself all season (6.37 ERA in eight starts), and perhaps a couple of weeks off will do him some good. His elbow injury isn’t thought to be serious, and barring a setback, he is unlikely to miss much more than the minimum 15 days.

Evan Phillips Lands on the Shelf

15-day IL, 05/05, right hamstring strain

Righty Evan Phillips has been lights out ever since he joined the Dodgers bullpen, but he has been especially dominant this season. His 0.66 ERA ranks fifth among qualified NL relievers, while his eight saves are tied for fourth.

His injury has been diagnosed as a Grade 1 hamstring strain, the least serious type. Thankfully for the Dodgers, that means their closer could return soon after his minimum time on the IL is up.

Wyatt Langford Is Having a Tough Rookie Campaign

To be placed on 10-day IL with right hamstring strain

Wyatt Langford hasn’t quite lived up to the lofty expectations so far, slashing .224/.295/.293 over the first 31 games of his rookie season. The Rangers have been letting him play through his growing pains, but unfortunately, some literal pain will sideline him for the next three to four weeks.

Langford suffered a hamstring strain on Saturday, and he will be placed on the injured list ahead of Monday night’s game against the Athletics.

Steven Kwan Has a Hamstring Strain

To be placed on 10-day IL with left hamstring strain

The injury bug doesn’t seem to care how hot you are. That’s especially true for Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan, who was on a phenomenal run before suffering a hamstring strain on Saturday. Kwan has not struck out since April 15, and in that time, he is hitting .350 with a .976 OPS.

He will miss at least 10 days, and possibly significantly more time, depending on the severity of his injury.

The Giants Lose Two Catchers in Two Days

• Patrick Bailey, 7-day IL, 05/04, concussion
• Tom Murphy, 10-day IL, 05/05, left knee sprain

In addition to losing their first three games against the Phillies, the Giants lost both of their catchers in a two-day span over the weekend. Starter Patrick Bailey is on the IL with concussion symptoms after taking a foul ball off the mask on Friday, while Murphy hurt his knee blocking a ball the following day.

Blake Sabol will handle most of the catching duties until either Bailey or Murphy returns.

More Notable Names Hit the IL

• Ryan Brasier, RP, LAD – 15-day IL, retroactive to 04/28, right calf strain
• Miguel Sanó, 3B/DH, LAA – 10-day IL, retroactive to 04/28, left knee inflammation
• Chas McCormick, OF, HOU – 10-day IL, retroactive to 04/28, right hamstring discomfort
• Nolan Jones, OF, COL – 10-day IL, retroactive to 04/29, low back strain
• Masataka Yoshida, DH, BOS – 10-day IL, retroactive to 04/29, left thumb strain
• Yariel Rodríguez, SP, TOR – 15-day IL, 04/30, thoracic spine inflammation
• Steven Matz, SP, STL – 15-day IL, retroactive to 05/01, lower back strain
• Pierce Johnson, RP, ATL – 15-day IL, retroactive 05/01, right elbow inflammation
• Brock Stewart, RP, MIN – 15-day IL, retroactive to 05/02, right shoulder tendinitis
• Joey Wiemer, OF, MIL – 10-day IL, 05/04, left knee discomfort

Injury Report 04/22-04/29

Pete Fairbanks, TBR

15-day IL, retroactive to 04/19, nerve-related issue

Fairbanks blossomed into one of the best relievers in baseball from 2020 to ’23. Unfortunately, he got off to a poor start in his age-30 season before landing on the injured list. He doesn’t have any structural damage in his arm, but it is unclear when he will be able to get back on the mound.

Wade Miley, MIL

Season-ending surgery

The veteran left-hander will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL. At 37 years old, Miley could be looking at a career-ending injury, although pitchers have certainly come back from TJS in their late thirties before.

Merrill Kelly, ARI

15-day IL, retroactive to 04/20, right shoulder strain

After a strong 2023 campaign and a phenomenal performance in the postseason, Kelly got off to a hot start in 2024, pitching to a 2.19 ERA over his first four starts. Unfortunately, the 35-year-old will miss at least a month with shoulder trouble.

Brayan Bello, BOS

15-day IL, retroactive to 04/21, right lat tightness

Bello has been a key member of a surprisingly dominant Red Sox rotation this season. It’s good news for Boston, then, that his lat injury doesn’t appear serious. He could rejoin the team in early May.

Blake Snell, SFG

15-day IL, retroactive to 04/23, left adductor strain

Snell didn’t look like himself over his first three starts of the season. He is now on the IL with a relatively minor adductor injury. Perhaps the extra rest will do him some good, or perhaps it will push him even further behind schedule.

He had dealt with similar injuries before and expects he’ll need approximately 15-20 days to recover.

Jesús Luzardo, MIA

15-day IL, retroactive to 04/23, left elbow tightness

Elbow tightness is always scary, especially for a hard-throwing young pitcher like Luzardo. However, his IL stint seems to be a precautionary measure, and the southpaw hopes to get back on the mound once the minimum 15 days are up.

Cody Bellinger, CHC

10-day IL, 04/24, right rib fracture

Bellinger fractured a couple of ribs when he crashed into the outfield wall at Wrigley Field last week. There is no timetable for his return, but he seems to be progressing well.

J.P. Crawford, SEA

10-day IL, retroactive to 04/24, strained right oblique

Although Crawford’s oblique injury is only a Grade 1 strain (the least severe), the Mariners aren’t expecting to get their shortstop back anytime soon. He will be eligible to return in early May but is likely to miss at least a couple more weeks.

Zack Gelof, OAK

10-day IL, retroactive to 04/24, strained left oblique

Gelof was one of very few bright spots for the Oakland A’s in 2023. Unfortunately, after getting off to a poor start this season, the second baseman is on the IL. There is no timeline for his return, but a Grade 1 strain is not necessarily a serious injury. He could be back as soon as early May.

Updates and Setbacks

• DJ LeMahieu (NYY) exited his first rehab game on April 23 with foot pain. He is recovering from a fractured right foot.
• Robert Stephenson (LAA) will have Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure to repair his UCL.
• Triston Casas (BOS) was transferred to the 60-day IL on Saturday, significantly pushing back the timeline for his return from a rib injury.
• Gavin Williams (CLE) was shut down after a simulated game, in which he felt some pain in his pitching elbow. He has been out with an elbow issue since spring training.
• Anthony Rendon (LAA) has a partially torn hamstring. He will miss significant time.
• Brusdar Graterol (LAD) has also been shut down, as the Dodgers reliever continues to deal with the shoulder trouble that has shelved him since the spring.
• Cody Bradford (TEX) initially landed on the IL with a lower back strain, but he has now been diagnosed with a rib fracture. He will be out until at least the end of May.
• Josh Lowe (TBR) has already dealt with hip and oblique issues this season, and now he is nursing hamstring tightness. His impending rehab assignment has been put on hold.
• Matt Brash (SEA) seemed to have avoided the worst after suffering some elbow inflammation in spring training, but now his rehab has been shut down. He will meet with Dr. Keith Meister, which is never a good sign for pitchers dealing with elbow problems.

Injury Updates to Watch For

• Masataka Yoshida (BOS) hurt his left hand on a swing. He is currently day-to-day but could require an IL stint if the issue proves to be more serious.
• Craig Kimbrel (BAL) exited with upper-back tightness on Sunday. He has not yet been placed on the injured list.

More Notable Names Hit the IL

• Austin Hays, OF, BAL – 10-day IL, retroactive to 04/21, left calf strain
• Miguel Castro, RP, ARI – 15-day IL, retroactive to 04/21, right shoulder inflammation
• Frankie Montas, SP, CIN – 15-day IL, 04/22, right forearm contusion
• Drew Smyly, RP, CHC – 15-day IL, retroactive to 04/22, right hip impingement
• Kyle Nelson, RP, ARI – 15-day IL, 04/23, left shoulder inflammation
• Kyle Hendricks, SP, CHC – 15-day IL, 04/23, low back strain
• Lane Thomas, OF, WSN – 10-day IL, 04/24, sprained left MCL
• Kevin Kiermaier, CF, TOR – 10-day IL, 04/24, left hip flexor inflammation
• Colin Poche, RP, TBR – 15-day IL, retroactive to 04/24, mid-back tightness
• Alec Marsh, SP, KCR – 15-day IL, 04/25, right elbow contusion
• Bowden Francis, SP, TOR – 15-day IL, 04/25, right forearm extensor tendinitis
• Joey Gallo, 1B/DH, WSN – 10-day IL, 04/27, left shoulder AC sprain
• Jordan Wicks, SP, CHC – 15-day IL, 04/28, left forearm strain
• Avisaíl García, OF, MIA – 10-day IL, 04/28, left hamstring strain

Injury Report 04/15-04/22

Christian Yelich Hits IL with Back Trouble

10-day IL, retroactive to 04/13

Christian Yelich was tearing the cover off the baseball in April, with five home runs and a 210 wRC+ in his first 11 games. Unfortunately, he has not played since April 12 after suffering a low back strain. He could be back as soon as Wednesday, but the Brewers have not given a timeline for his return.

Hopefully for Yelich and the Brew Crew, he’ll be able to pick up right where he left off.

Seiya Suzuki Nursing Oblique Strain

10-day IL, 04/15

Another NL Central hitter off to a hot start, Seiya Suzuki was hitting .305 with a 144 wRC+ when he landed on the injured list. He is expected to miss about a month with a right oblique strain.

Kyle Freeland Avoids Ligament Damage

15-day IL, retroactive to 04/16

Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland is dealing with an elbow strain, but thankfully, his UCL remains intact and he will not require surgery. He is likely to miss four to six weeks. The veteran southpaw was off to a rough start in 2024, with a 13.21 ERA over four starts.

Ricky Tiedemann Undergoes Elbow MRI

7-day IL, 04/18

Blue Jays No. 1 prospect Ricky Tiedemann has been dealing with discomfort in his pitching elbow and has not pitched since April 11. He underwent an MRI last week, but the team has not yet revealed further details about his injury status.

Francisco Alvarez Has Thumb Surgery

10-day IL, 04/20

Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez will miss significant time after tearing the UCL in his left thumb. It could be two months before the 22-year-old is back on the field.

Alvarez was off to a slow start at the plate, but the Mets were hoping this would be the year he broke out as a true threat on both sides of the ball.

Triston Casas Dealing with Painful Rib Injury

10-day IL, 04/21

Fresh off a strong rookie season, Triston Casas looked even better over the first few weeks of the 2024 campaign, hitting six home runs in 22 games. Unfortunately, he is dealing with significant discomfort from a left rib strain, and it could be quite a well before the slugging first baseman is ready to swing a bat again.

Anthony Rendon Has a Hamstring Injury

10-day IL, 04/21

Anthony Rendon‘s disappointing season went from bad to worse this past weekend. Just as he was beginning to turn things around, batting .395 with an .891 OPS since April 8, the veteran hurt his left hamstring running to first base. It is unclear how long the oft-injured third baseman will be out.

Robert Stephenson Needs Season-Ending Surgery

Season-ending surgery

Robert Stephenson had a breakout season for the Rays in 2023, putting up a 2.35 ERA in 42 games with Tampa Bay. He earned himself a three-year, $33 million contract with the Angels this past offseason, and the team was counting on him to play a major role out of the bullpen.

Unfortunately, he will miss the rest of the 2024 season (and possibly some of 2025) after undergoing elbow surgery.

Sawyer Gipson-Long Needs Tommy John

Season-ending surgery

Tigers pitching prospect Sawyer Gipson-Long will undergo Tommy John surgery today to repair a torn UCL. He has been on the IL all season, first with a groin injury and then with right forearm tightness. Gipson-Long will miss the 2024 season and at least the first few months of 2025.

More Notable Names Hit the IL

• Keibert Ruiz, C, WSN – 10-day IL, retroactive to 04/12, influenza
• Tyler Wells, SP, BAL – 15-day IL, retroactive to 04/13, right elbow inflammation
• Christian Bethancourt, C, MIA – 10-day IL, retroactive to 04/14, viral illness
• Yu Darvish, SP, SDP – 15-day IL, retroactive to 04/15, neck stiffness
• Dominic Canzone, OF, SEA – 10-day IL, 04/15, left AC joint sprain
• J.D. Davis, 3B, OAK – 10-day IL, 04/15, right adductor strain
• Max Stassi, C, CHW – 60-day IL, 04/15, left hip inflammation
• Ozzie Albies, 2B, ATL – 10-day IL, 04/16, right toe fracture
• Tyler O’Neill, OF, BOS – 7-day IL, retroactive to 04/16, concussion
• Kris Bryant, DH/1B/OF, COL – 10-day IL, 04/17, low back strain
• Garrett Whitlock, SP, BOS – 15-day IL, 04/17, left oblique strain
• Nick Burdi, RP, NYY – 15-day IL, retroactive to 04/17, right hip inflammation
• Chad Green, RP, TOR – 15-day IL, retroactive to 04/17, right teres major muscle strain
• Kyle Hurt, RP, LAD – 15-day IL, retroactive to 04/17, right shoulder inflammation
• Cristian Javier, SP, HOU – 15-day IL, retroactive to 04/18, neck discomfort
• Ryne Nelson, SP, ARI – 15-day IL, 04/19, right elbow contusion
• Gio Urshela, 3B, DET – 10-day IL, 04/20, right hamstring strain
• A.J. Puk, SP, MIA – 15-day IL, 04/20, left shoulder fatigue
• DL Hall, SP, MIL – 15-day IL, 04/21, left knee sprain
• Brooks Raley, RP, NYM – 15-day IL, 04/21, left elbow inflammation

Injury Report 04/10-04/15

Carlos Correa Down With Intercostal Strain

10-day IL, April 13

Carlos Correa initially hit the 10-day IL with a right oblique strain, but now the Twins are calling it a mild intercostal strain instead. There is currently no timeline for his return, but the use of the word “mild” is a promising sign for the oft-injured shortstop.

Spencer Strider Out for the Season

Season-ending surgery

It seemed all but certain that Spencer Strider‘s season was done when he was diagnosed with UCL damage earlier this month. The Braves confirmed as much this past weekend. However, Strider was able to avoid a second-career Tommy John surgery, instead opting for an internal brace surgery. He could be back sometime in 2025.

No Structural Damage for Bobby Miller

15-day IL, retroactive to April 10

There is no timeline for Bobby Miller‘s return to the Dodgers rotation, but thankfully, he will not require surgery after hitting the IL with a shoulder injury this past weekend. He should begin throwing again soon and might not be gone for much longer than the minimum 15 days.

Surgery for Daniel Bard

Season-ending surgery

Rockies reliever Daniel Bard will miss his age-39 season as he undergoes flexor tendon surgery. This could mark the end of his unique major league career, but he had not yet made any decisions about his future.

Top Prospect Jeferson Quero Done for 2024

Season-ending surgery

Just Baseball’s No. 31 prospect, Jeferson Quero, has undergone surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. If all goes well, the promising young catcher should be fully healthy by next spring. Quero, 21, signed with the Brewers as an international free agent in 2019. He was added to the 40-man roster this past offseason.

Positive Updates

Luis Robert Jr. and Yoán Moncada Eyeing Early Returns

The White Sox are hopeful their center fielder and third baseman can return on the early side from their respective injuries.

Luis Robert Jr. could have missed up to three months with a Grade 2 hip flexor strain, but the team is optimistic he’ll be back on the field in six weeks. Yoán Moncada could have missed the rest of the season with an adductor strain, but it appears he avoided the worst and might return by late July.

Framber Valdez Won’t Be Gone for Long

The Astros are running low on starting pitching depth, but thankfully, Framber Valdez is progressing well after hitting the IL with elbow soreness. His injury has proven not to be serious, and he could be back on the mound next week. Houston is also planning to have Justin Verlander back for his season debut this weekend.

No Damage for Chase Silseth

An MRI found no structural damage for Angels starter Chase Silseth, who went on the IL last week with inflammation in his pitching elbow. The righty should be back around the end of April or the beginning of May.

Setbacks

Robert Stephenson Exits Rehab Appearance

The Angels’ biggest offseason acquisition has yet to pitch for the club. Robert Stephenson missed spring training with shoulder inflammation. Unfortunately, he suffered a setback this weekend, leaving his first rehab appearance after just four pitches. The team has not yet offered an update on his status.

Eduardo Rodriguez Shut Down

Eduardo Rodriguez has not yet appeared for the Diamondbacks this season after suffering a lat strain in spring training. The injury has continued to bother him, so much that the D-backs shut down his rehab throwing program last week.

Kodai Senga, Garrett Mitchell to the 60-Day IL

Given how little progress Kodai Senga has made as he recovers from a shoulder strain, it came as little surprise when the Mets moved him to the 60-day IL last week. Still, it is now official that he won’t take the mound at Citi Field until late May (at the earliest).

Meanwhile, the Brewers transferred outfielder Garrett Mitchell (hand fracture) to the 60-day IL. He will be eligible to join the team in late May, but an early June return seems more likely.

Injury Updates to Watch For

• Dominic Canzone, OF, SEA – Left AC joint sprain
• Salvador Perez, C, KCR – Groin strain
• Sawyer Gipson-Long, SP, DET – Right forearm tightness

More Notable Names Hit the IL

• Jake Burger, 3B, MIA – 10-day IL, 04/15, left oblique strain
• Marco Gonzales, SP, PIT – 15-day IL, 04/14, left forearm muscle strain
• J.B. Bukauskas, RP, MIL – 15-day IL, 04/14 right lat strain 
• Jon Berti, UTIL, NYY – 10-day IL, retroactive to 04/13, left groin strain
• Brock Burke, RP, TEX, – 15-day IL, 04/13, right hand fracture
• Isaiah Campbell, RP, BOS – 15-day IL, 04/12, right shoulder impingement
• Romy Gonzalez, UTIL, BOS – 10-day IL, retroactive to 04/11, left wrist sprain
• Cody Bradford, SP, TEX – 15-day IL, retroactive to 04/11, lower back strain
• Brent Rooker, OF/DH, OAK – 10-day IL, 04/11, costochondral cartilage injury
• Brandon Lowe, 2B, TBR – 10-day IL, retroactive to 04/09, right oblique strain