With each bump and bruise this time of year comes the potential for missed time during the regular season, perhaps especially so for those late signees getting delayed starts to their Spring Training. As Opening Day fast approaches, let’s get the lowdown on a few injury reports from camp…
Latest Updates
- Rockies righty Antonio Senzatela has an infected blister on his right heel and will be out “a while,” per manager Bud Black (via the Denver Post’s Patrick Saunders). Senzatela, 24, was competing for the final spot in Colorado’s rotation with Chad Bettis, who now appears to have the role on lock. The Venezuelan-born righty had made just eight starts above the high-A level before opening the 2017 season with the team, and again played a major role in the club’s wild card-run last season. His fastball-heavy repertoire is devoid, at this point, of a true swing-and-miss pitch, so perhaps the 6’1 righty could indeed use further minor league seasoning. Still, despite some sophomore regression, Senzatela’s been reasonably effective thus far in his young MLB career, and the Rockies are almost certain to require his services at some point this season.
- Padres righty Jacob Nix has been shut down with right arm soreness, per MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell. Nix, 23, shares with Senzatela the same allergy to missing bats, but was a legitimate candidate for the fifth spot in a wide-open San Diego rotation. Once the victim of a too-clever Astros draft scheme, in which the team agreed to terms with the young righty but was forced to renege after a bonus-pool shortage resulting from the Brady Aiken fiasco, Nix has long flashed top-of-the-rotation tools but struggled with consistency. Last season’s debut was a disaster: the 6’5 righty was torched to the tune of a 7.02 ERA/5.83 FIP with 8 HRs allowed in just 42 1/3 IP. He, too, is due for a longer minors simmer, having made just one start above the AA level in his young career thus far.
Earlier Reports
- Bryce Harper is day-to-day with ankle swelling, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan (via Twitter). Harper was hit by a pinch in yesterday’s Phillies game, though even by this morning the swelling had reduced. All tests came back negative, per Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter), while a number of reporters quote manager Gabe Kapler as projecting confidence in Bryce’s ability to be ready by Opening Day. All in all, this appears to be much ado about nothing, but as is the case with any injury, it’s worth tracking for aftereffect. Due to the late date of his signing, Harper has seen limited action in spring thus far, going 0-5 with three strikeouts, three walks, and a stolen base, though the focus here is obviously not yet on production. The Phillies season opens less than two weeks from today with their home opener against the Braves on Thursday, March 28th.
- Tigers presumptive right fielder Nick Castellanos remains out of the lineup for the time being, per MLB.com’s Jason Beck (via Twitter). Castellanos is likely to return to Grapefruit League play within a couple of days. He was seen taking batting practice in the cage today and at least provided cursory affirmation that tests on his bruised left hand revealed no significant damage, per Chris McCosky of the Detroit News (via Twitter). Castellanos has been bandied about often here at MLBTR this winter as a trade candidate, which appears likely to continue as there have been no extension talks between the right-handed slugger and the club.
- The Braves may be without their ace until “mid/late April,” per the Athletic’s David O’Brien (via Twitter). Mike Foltynewicz has missed most of Spring Training with a sore elbow after a breakout season. Folty was stellar in 2018 as he went 13-10 with a 2.85 ERA (3.37 FIP) over 183 frames. There was much speculation about the Braves bolstering their rotation this winter, either via free agency or by bundling their prospects in a trade, but they mostly hung tight despite losing Anibal Sanchez – who enjoyed a different variety of 2018 breakout – to the rival Nationals. The Braves have plenty of depth to cover, but much of their standing pat must have been predicated on a healthy Folynewicz leading the charge again in 2019. Atlanta will lean on Julio Teheran, Kevin Gausman, and Sean Newcomb to hold down the fort until Folty’s return.
dare i say i hope the Phillies do find justification to start Harper on the DL for at least a week or so. Its not worth rushing him given how little reps he’s got in, and the rehab time could be a half decent substitute for the missed ST time.
I don’t see it. He was hit by a pitch and got a bad bruise. No need to rest him once it heals.
The point isn’t the severity of the injury, the point is the lack of playing time he’s already gotten this spring. Dark side merely suggests an extended spring training may help Harper find consistency and get him more prepared for the season. The injury gives the team an excuse to move him to the il, Illinois, him him a 20 day rehab if the don’t feel he’s quite ready for opening day
And who is to blame for Harper’s lack of playing time?
I understand, but I think Harper could play like tomorrow. I think spring training is a bit overrated for position players.
This. Position players need like 20 at bats.
Do you think the Phillies after committing 330 million to Harper are going to keep Harper out of the lineup? If he if able to play will contribute by taking walks, or protecting people in the lineup. Also how about the record ticket sales and the people already invested in seeing Harper on the field, he will play and should play IMO. ?
I, for some reason, immediately read your post (fox471) in Morgan Freeman’s voice?
hpafs, don’t you think the Phillies and Harper can decide if he’s ready?
Harper has stated that he only needs 40-50 at bats to be ready in spring training.
It’s ST for crying out loud. Harper would’ve been more than ready if he didn’t get hit. If this was the regular season he would likely be able to at least pinch hit. But being ST they’ll likely sit him or possibly try to get him some AB’s late in ST.
Harper is also a workout freak, even during the offseason. His devotion to the gym is supposedly legendary. Some even say he overdoes it; that his injuries are a direct result of him going all out in the gym.
Lol,sounds like you’ll be saying these things for the next 13 years
*IL
It’s gonna take a long time before we get used to this
I still use Richey Allen & Mike Stanton, so it will always be DL to me, even if someone reports me using it and a guy with a black trench coat and shades with a MLB badge shows up at my door.
It’s a swollen or bruised ankle. Try running on that for a day or two. No point in making it worse in Spring Training.
However, it should be no excuse for missing Opening Day, unless the ankle is much worse. With the amount of batting cage reps these guys put it, it shouldn’t take long for them to get up to speed with live pitching.
Teheran is most likely the OD starter whom he hits almost .500 against — he will be in the lineup.
I don’t know why a lot of Braves’ fans here are so down on Teheran. He’s not an ace, but overall his results have been slightly above league average for his career, he takes the hill 30 times a season, eats innings, and gives his team a chance to win.
You need guys in the 4/5 spots like that to win divisions.
Some Phillies fans get excited about Eickhoff’s potential, but Teheran is younger and has a much better track record.
Be happy you have a guy like that.
Who says I’m down on him? I’m stating what, barring any setbacks, will become a fact — it’ll be his 6th consecutive OD assignment. Another fact, Harper hits .450 AVG (1.702 OPS!) vs. Teheran for his career in 40 ABs, which is not too far off from the stated .500.
Teheran apologists hate facts.
It probably has to do with the notion that he hasn’t lived up to his initial overhyped potential.
“cursory affirmation”
Thanks for comin’ out and keeping the scene alive! We’re Cursory Affirmation, this first song’s a new one…uh 1 2 3 4
So, assuming Harper recovers from this injury ever, here’s an evidence-based projection for his season. BA=.000 with 243-324 strikeouts. No, I’m not bitter that I only own one Nationals Jersey… and you ruined it!
And a .375 OBP
He’ll probably have 150 errors too
Harper has a career +10 DRS in RF. One bad defensive season in which he played a lot of CF and everyone acts like he is a horrible fielder.
And 55 stolen bases based on what he has done so far this year……..wtf
Braves ace?…well, at least it’s not Teheran. Baby steps.
Harper was hit by a ….whaaaaa? Must have been a hell of a pinch.
96 on the ankle
It was a pinch of broken nail syndrome.
Haha. That’s not at all what I’m saying. The pitch was a million miles inside. I hate seeing anyone getting hit in Spring Training. It’s not real baseball. Most of the time pitchers are just testing their velocity.
Bryce has already gotten his. The real story here is how Castellanos’ hand bruise is gonna effect his playing time, trade value and future free agency. With Bryce being limited in the OF due to his ankle, Nick should be able to pass at least one OF defensively this year.
That must have been a really hard pinch if he’s got that much swelling in his ankle. Who pinched him, the Rock?
Except he is not an ace and likely will never be. The people who think he is an ace probably think Newcomb is a top pitcher as well. Delusional!
Why do you say this? Don’t you think he has the potential?
He’s the ace of that staff
Two words…Mo Vaughn
Mo Vaughn? Please elaborate?
Big signing by Angels. Hurt the first game of season. Career basically over.
It was a joke. How young or baseball non savvy are you?
Then he had a decent career at Shea Stadium.
Folty being hurt shouldn’t sting too bad. Honestly Tehran still pitching will hurt more than Folty being hurt. We have a lot of young guys and someone will step up.
It’s our freaking awful bullpen that needs help. How we didn’t improve the biggest need this offseason is beyond me. So much talent and we didn’t grab anyone
Well, at least the Braves have #financialflexibility
Harper and his tampon to the 13 year dl.
laugh out loud! :^)
Senzatela’s ERA and FIP actually improved from 2017 to last year. Not much of a “regression”
xFIP- was 10 percent worse. You have to consider run environments, shifting park factors, etc
Little bit of a reach to look at his xFIP and determine he regressed. FIP and SIERA pegged him slightly better. He was largely the same pitcher. Less innings and less starts was the only difference.
It sounds very minor, but Harper is sidelined anyway. Some guys just don’t handle boo-boos well.
He was drilled in the ankle with a 96 mph fastball.
I’m not jumping on the Harper bandwagon already, but give me a break. There’s not a player in the league who wouldn’t have a contusion after that.
22Leo…….
A 96 mph fastball is traveling about 88 mph when it reaches home plate.
That said, why don’t you try a little experiment. Get in the backseat of a car, have buddy drive down the road at 88 mph and you stick your leg out of the window. Let your ankle slam into a signpost, mailbox, small tree….anything at all and then comeback and tells us if your boo-boo hurts. OK?
Side note – When Nolan Ryan was clocked at 100.6 MPH it was clocked at a few feet before home plate. Do the math and you will see that Chapman has never thrown as hard as Ryan or Bob Feller for that matter.
Hollywood Harper. In the spotlight again. Oh he got hit by a pitch. On no
“Harper was hit by a pinch in yesterday’s game”?