This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The Cubs shortstop made an early exit Sunday after suffering what is being called a heel contusion. The team is optimistic the injury is mild and Baez is hopeful that he will not miss any time. However, injuries to this area can be difficult to manage and cause other potential problems.
The heel is formed by the posterior end of the heel bone, clinically known as the calcaneus. The calcaneus acts as the anchor point for the Achilles and multiple muscles of the foot. It is protected by a complex layer of fat and protein fibers, designed to cushion and assist with weight bearing and load distribution.
A heel contusion usually involves this fat pad, though more severe cases may involve the calcaneus itself. Athletes managing heel contusions often report swelling and pain with weight bearing movements like walking and running. While treatment options like ice can help with the associated symptoms, time remains the best course of care. For example, Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius suffered a heel contusion last season and missed nearly three weeks recovering.
We should have a better idea of Baez's short- and long-term availability over the next few days. For now, have a replacement option readily available and hope Baez is back in action quickly.
The Arizona outfielder continues to battle lingering stiffness in shoulder and back. The specific area of concern is the trapezius, a broad muscle that extends from the neck down the middle of the back and across
The Cubs shortstop made an early exit Sunday after suffering what is being called a heel contusion. The team is optimistic the injury is mild and Baez is hopeful that he will not miss any time. However, injuries to this area can be difficult to manage and cause other potential problems.
The heel is formed by the posterior end of the heel bone, clinically known as the calcaneus. The calcaneus acts as the anchor point for the Achilles and multiple muscles of the foot. It is protected by a complex layer of fat and protein fibers, designed to cushion and assist with weight bearing and load distribution.
A heel contusion usually involves this fat pad, though more severe cases may involve the calcaneus itself. Athletes managing heel contusions often report swelling and pain with weight bearing movements like walking and running. While treatment options like ice can help with the associated symptoms, time remains the best course of care. For example, Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius suffered a heel contusion last season and missed nearly three weeks recovering.
We should have a better idea of Baez's short- and long-term availability over the next few days. For now, have a replacement option readily available and hope Baez is back in action quickly.
The Arizona outfielder continues to battle lingering stiffness in shoulder and back. The specific area of concern is the trapezius, a broad muscle that extends from the neck down the middle of the back and across to the scapula (shoulder blade). The trap's design allows it to play a role in multiple motions of the shoulder including rotation, elevation and retraction. Trapezius strains are fairly common amongst pitchers, with players like Sonny Gray, Stephen Strasburg and Yu Darvish all missing time in recent seasons with trap related problems. Peralta continues to play effectively with the problem and should be utilized as normal. However, his level of risk will remain elevated for the immediate future.
Check Swings
Elvis Andrus: The Rangers veteran shortstop is on the injured list with a strained hamstring. It feels like we have talked about hamstring strains a lot so far this season, but the truth is that shouldn't be surprising. Hamstring strains are the most commonly reported injury in the league and tend to have a relatively high recurrence rate. The team has called Andrus' injury mild and expect him to return to the active roster when first eligible. However, an early return is one of the primary factors in the high recurrence rate, and it may be worth keeping Andrus sidelined for a few more days. Tread cautiously here.
Didi Gregorius: Gregorius' rehab from offseason Tommy John surgery continued to trend in a positive direction. The Yankees shortstop is set to take part in extended spring training. The step might appear small, but it should be noted Gregorius will appear as a shortstop, not a designated hitter. This suggests his elbow is doing well enough for him to make throws on the defensive side of things. He's still targeting a mid-June return that now seems truly plausible.
Zack Greinke: Fantasy owners invested in the former Cy Young Winner can brief a sigh of relief after an MRI revealed no structural damage in his abdomen. Greinke suffered a core muscle injury in his last start but improved over the weekend. He was able to complete his normal bullpen session without any problems and is slated to make his next start on Tuesday against the Padres.
Eloy Jimenez: The White Sox plan on welcoming back Jimenez to the active roster on Monday after the 22-year-old outfielder missed the last three weeks with a right high ankle sprain. Jimenez was able to play in consecutive outings during his rehab assignment, proving the ankle is feeling better. The team has stated they will ease him back into things at the big-league level, utilizing rest days and the DH spot. I would also expect his activity on the base path to be limited in his first few weeks back.
Yasiel Puig: Puig suffered a right shoulder sprain during Sunday's matchup against the Dodgers while diving to make a catch. The team did not specify which joint of the shoulder was involved, though it sounds like the injury is a mild sprain. Expect Puig to miss a game or two.
George Springer: The Astros are currently listing Springer as day-to-day after the outfielder's back tightened over the weekend. He won't play Monday, though it hasn't been determined if an IL stint will be necessary. Springer dealt with a similar back flare up last season and missed minimal time. Hopefully this latest injury will follow suit and Springer will be back by midweek. However, back injuries can be notoriously fickle and a precautionary trip to the IL may be the best long-term option. Look for a more definitive timeline to surface over the next few days.
Giancarlo Stanton: The Yankees slugger is slated to begin a rehab appearance with New Yorks' single-A affiliate on Monday night. Stanton has not played since March 31 when he suffered a strained biceps. The injury was more severe than initially thought and required additional treatment on the muscles surrounding the area. I'll be interested to see if the issue lingers and effects any of his power numbers, but his upside is too high to leave him on the bench.
Masahiro Tanaka: Staying with the Yankees, it appears Tanaka avoided what could have been a serious injury. The 30-year-old pitcher was struck on the right shin while attempting to field a ball. The shin is the midshaft of the tibia (shin bone) and vulnerable to injury due to the lack of muscle and fat padding in the area. Fortunately, testing on the area did not reveal a fracture, with a shin contusion serving as the final diagnosis. The injury is likely a bone contusion though New York expects him to be fine following treatment and doesn't anticipate he will miss his next start.
