Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide - Injury Report

As you prepare for your fantasy baseball drafts ahead of the 2022 MLB season, it's imperative to know about all the injured players across the league. Whether it's the star pitcher out for the year (Tyler Glasnow), the offseason free-agent signee (Kirby Yates) or that random minor-league prospect from your favorite team – every and any injury can impact your fantasy baseball leagues. 

Let's go division-by-division and team-by-team to look at all the injuries across the MLB as of February 2nd, 2022. 

AL EAST

Notes:

• New York Yankees: RP Zack Britton underwent Tommy John surgery in September and could very well miss the entire 2022 season, unless he makes a quick recovery. SP Jameson Taillon had ankle surgery late last season and is on track to join the New York rotation by mid-April or May. 
• Boston Red Sox: SP James Paxton had Tommy John surgery last April as a member of the Seattle Mariners and will likely miss the first few months of this season before making his Boston debut. 
• Tampa Bay Rays: SP Tyler Glasnow had Tommy John surgery in August and will very likely miss the entire 2022 season as a result. RP Nick Anderson had elbow surgery in October and is expected to be sidelined until after the All-Star break in mid-July. SP Yonny Chirinos fractured his elbow while returning from TJ surgery in September and he’ll presumably begin the year on IL, though he may only miss a month or so.

AL CENTRAL

Notes: 

• Kansas City Royals: Jonathan Bowlan, one of the Royals’ top pitching prospects, had Tommy John surgery last June and could miss the whole 2022 season - though a late-summer return is possible. 
• Minnesota Twins: SP Kenta Maeda underwent Tommy John surgery in September and is targeting a September 2022 return - though he could easily miss the whole season. Minor-league pitcher Blayne Enlow will likely miss the entire season after his own TJ surgery. 
• Detroit Tigers: SP Spencer Turnbull is doubtful to play this season after having Tommy John surgery last year. Catcher Jake Rogers could also miss the whole 2022 season following his own TJ surgery from September.

AL WEST

Notes: 

• Houston Astros: SP prospect Forrest Whitley had Tommy John surgery last March and will likely miss the first couple months of this season. OF Jake Meyers had shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum in November and is expected to begin the season on the IL.
• Oakland Athletics: It’s not exactly an injury, but CF Ramón Laureano has 28 games remaining from his 80-game PED suspension last year. So he’ll be out for the first month or so.
• Texas Rangers: Relievers José Leclerc and Jonathan Hernández both missed last season with elbow injuries and both are rehabbing from Tommy John surgeries. They’ll both miss the first couple months of the season.

NL EAST

Notes:

• Atlanta Braves: After having Tommy John surgery last March and missing all of the 2021 season, reliever Kirby Yates signed with the Braves without ever throwing a pitch for the Blue Jays. He’ll likely miss the first half of this season while rehabbing. SP Mike Soroka will also be out for the first half of the ‘22 campaign following his second Achilles injury of the past couple years. 
• New York Mets: SP Joey Lucchesi had Tommy John surgery in June 2021 and will likely be out until the final month of the season. 
• Philadelphia Phillies: SP Zach Eflin had knee surgery in September and will return either mid-April or sometime in May. Reliever JoJo Romero had Tommy John surgery last May and will most, if not all, of this season.

NL CENTRAL

Notes:

• Chicago Cubs: Second baseman David Bote will miss the beginning of this season following November shoulder surgery, though he should only be out a month or so. 
• Cincinnati Reds: Reliever Tejay Antone had Tommy John surgery last August and is out for the entire 2022 season.

NL WEST

Notes:

• Los Angeles Dodgers: SP Dustin May had Tommy John surgery back in May ‘21 and will miss at least the first half of this season. 
• San Diego Padres: SP Adrian Morejon underwent his Tommy John surgery last April and will miss the first half of the season.