Yesterday I posted the list of pitchers who suffered an arm “ailment” in spring training. Today we begin tracking those pitchers and others who suffer in-season injuries — and we’re already behind.
Why am I doing this? To see if, when, and why seemingly “minor” ailments result in more serious injuries down the road. Getting shut down from pitching due to pain — even for only a few days — is a red flag that should not be ignored. Serious pain means something is wrong, and, usually, it means there is a correctable mechanical flaw.
I’ll try to post these updates as often as possible. If you see anyone missing, anything incorrect, or have an update, please post in the comments and/or send me a note on Twitter. Thank you!
New Injuries
Garrett Richards (Angels)
Placed on 10-day DL with a biceps strain (4/7). An MRI confirmed that there was no structural damage to his UCL.
Background: Richards tore his UCL last May, but instead of getting Tommy John surgery, he opted for stem cell therapy, PRP injections, and rest; he missed the remainder of the 2016 MLB season.
John Axford (A’s)
Axford has been placed on the 10-day DL with a strained shoulder.
Active – Tracked from Spring Training
Zack Wheeler (Mets)
Original ailment: elbow soreness
Wheeler pitched in a MLB game for the first time since September 25, 2014 when he started for the Mets against the Marlins on April 7; he gave up five runs in four innings despite 924 days of rest. Wheeler will presumably make another start on Wednesday, April 12, vs. the Phillies.
Jered Weaver (Padres)
Original ailment: dead arm
Weaver started on April 6, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks in five innings against the Dodgers.
Disabled List
Huston Street (Angels)
Original injury: Triceps irritation, lat strain.
Street received a PRP injection for his lat strain and was placed on the 10-day disabled list to start the season. He threw from 60 feet on April 4.
David Price (Red Sox)
Original ailment: forearm and elbow soreness
Price began the season on the disabled list. He’s scheduled to throw a bullpen session today (April 10) to determine the next course of action.
Collin McHugh (Astros)
Original ailment: dead arm
McHugh has been shut down for six weeks due to a posterior impingement of his elbow (4/8). An MRI did not reveal structural damage to the UCL.
Sonny Gray (A’s)
Original ailment: Moderate lat strain
Gray was placed on the 10-day DL for his lat strain (4/1) and is scheduled to throw an extended bullpen session today (4/10).
Chi Chi Gonzalez (Rangers)
original diagnosis was partial tear of UCL (3/17). He received a stem-cell injection and was to be shut down for at least six weeks. The Rangers placed him on the 60-day disabled list on April 2.
Steven Matz (Mets)
Original ailment: elbow soreness
Began season on the DL.
Jeff Locke (Marlins)
Original ailment: biceps tendinitis
Began season on 10-day DL, is expected to miss all of April.
Brad Boxberger (Rays)
Original ailment: lat soreness
Boxberger began the season on the DL due to a flexor strain that became apparent on March 22, despite suffering from lat soreness in March.
Tyler Thornburg (Red Sox)
Original ailment: arm fatigue
Thornburg began the season on the DL with a shoulder impingement and what has been termed “shoulder soreness” and is progressing slowly toward a return. Red Sox manager John Farrell defended the team’s offseason shoulder strengthening program that the newly acquired Thornburg found “intense.”
Andrew Cashner (Rangers)
Original ailment: biceps soreness
After being placed on the 10-day DL to begin the season, Cashner was scheduled to make a rehab start in the minor leagues today (April 10).
Chad Qualls (Rockies) – forearm soreness
Qualls began the season on the 10-day DL. He pitched a simulated game on April 8 and is expected to begin a rehab assignment.
Mauricio Cabrera (Braves)
Original ailment: elbow soreness
Began season on 10-day DL, retroactive to March 30.
John Fasola (Rangers)
Original injury: torn UCL
Fasola is reportedly seeking a third opinion regarding his elbow injury (4/6).
Shae Simmons (Mariners)
Original ailment: forearm stiffness / forearm strain
Simmons, diagnosed with a flexor strain, began the season on the 10-day DL.
Carlos Rodon (White Sox)
Original ailment: upper biceps tightness
Rodon was diagnosed with biceps bursitis and placed on the DL to open the season; he is not expected to return until at least mid-May.
Chris Tillman (Orioles)
Original ailment: shoulder discomfort
Tillman began the season on the DL. He pitched to live hitters on April 8 and is scheduled to pitch in an extended spring training game on April 11.
Kevin Gadea (Rays)
Original ailment: elbow tendinitis
Gadea began the season on the 60-day DL.
Jake Barrett (Diamondbacks)
Original ailment: shoulder inflammation
Began season on 10-day DL.
Anthony DeSclafani (Reds)
Original injury: UCL sprain (confirmed via MRI)
DeSclafani has been placed on the 60-day DL (4/5).
Homer Bailey (Reds)
Original ailment: Elbow soreness; bone spurs removed from elbow February 8th (TJ surgery May 2015)
Bailey was placed on the 60-day disabled list (3/26) prior to the season. His first throwing session went “well” (3/29).
Austin Brice (Reds)
Original ailment: elbow discomfort / ulnar nerve inflammation
Began season on 10-day DL. Began rehab assignment on April 7.
Armando Rivero (Braves)
Original ailment: shoulder discomfort
Began season on 10-day DL.
Ryan O’Rourke (Twins)
Original injury: flexor pronator mass strain
Began the season on the 10-day DL and is expected to throw later this week.
Christian Friedrich (Padres)
Original ailment: lat strain
After suffering the lat strain, Friedrich went down with a “tender elbow” and began the season on the DL. An examination concluded there is no tendon nor ligament damage.
Brock Stewart (Dodgers)
Original ailment: shoulder tendinitis
Began season on DL.
Jordan Schafer (Cardinals)
Original ailment: forearm pain, forearm tightness
will have “Seth Maness” elbow surgery
Nick Lee (Nationals)
Original injury: non-displaced fracture of elbow
Lee underwent surgery in March to repair the stress fracture; no word on his return.
A.J. Cole (Nationals)
Original ailment: triceps tenderness
Cole was optioned to AAA to start the season. He had not thrown as of March 24 and there has since been no update on his triceps ailment.
Dalier Hinojosa (Phillies)
Original ailment: shoulder soreness
Hinojosa was sent to AAA Lehigh but is not expected to pitch for a while.
Jason Stoffel (Pirates)
Original ailment: shoulder discomfort
Stoffel was assigned to minor league camp on March 23.
Released
Jon Edwards (previously Padres)
Original ailment: forearm tightness
Edwards was released by the Padres on March 29.
Logan Ondrusek (previously Orioles)
Original ailment: elbow pain
Was the see Dr. James Andrews, released before he could.
Tommy John Surgery
These pitchers have had Tommy John surgery to repair their ulnar collateral ligament and are out for the season. There will be no more updates on these pitchers.
Corey Black (Cubs) – UCL tear, had TJ surgery in Feb or March 2017
Rayan Gonzalez (Rockies) – UCL injury, will have TJ
Trevor May (Twins) – UCL tear, had TJ March 22
Will Smith (Giants) – left elbow sprain, strain. Had TJ surgery on March 28; Dr. Neal Elattrache was the surgeon.
Cody Anderson (Indians) – UCL sprain, TJ surgery on March 27
Devin Williams (Brewers) – UCL tear, had TJ surgery at some point in late March
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