Welcome back to the next edition of the fantasy baseball injury report where we take a look at players who suffered significant injuries in 2016 and have red flags all over them heading into the 2017 season.  These are impact fantasy players who may see their draft value slip so they can provide great value if you are patient enough to grab them when the time is right in a draft.  So without further ado, here is the next installment of the MLB pre-season walking wounded.

 

Jacob deGrom (SP-NYM)

Injury – He was shut down in September 2016 with pain in his elbow and forearm which ultimately led to surgery where his ulnar nerve was re-positioned.

2016 Season – The 2014 National League Rookie of the Year was limited to 24 starts compiling a 7-8 record with a 3.04 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 143 strikeouts in 143 innings pitched.

Reason For Optimism  

  • deGrom was already throwing off a mound by the time he reported to spring training so he is on track to be fully healthy by Opening Day.
  • He won’t turn 29 until June so he is still in the prime of his career and youthful enough to overcome the injury.
  • Despite pitching with the injury in 2016, he still produced solid numbers which did not really fall off until later in the season.

Reason For Concern

  • Much like his teammate Matt Harvey, deGrom is now coming back from a second operation after already undergoing Tommy John surgery a few years back.
  • While his control may have been affected by the injury, the fact remains that he walked just two fewer batters in 43 less innings when comparing last year’s statistics to 2015.
  • The Mets are implementing new procedures to help prevent the injuries that ravaged their pitching staff last year, so look for them to limit deGrom’s innings and pitch count while also giving him additional rest when possible.

2017 OUTLOOK – Besides Noah Syndergaard, the entire Mets pitching is filled with serious questions about health and durability.  Jacob deGrom is one of the most important pieces of this puzzle as he works his way back from season-ending surgery on his ulnar nerve.  The former Rookie of the Year has seen his fantasy value take a significant hit heading into 2017 due to coming back from surgery.  The initial reports this off-season have been positive in terms of his rehab and prognosis, so barring any setbacks deGrom should be right on schedule to start the Mets second or third game of the season.  While he does have one of the most explosive fastballs in the league, deGrom relies heavily on the location of his pitches.  If he is healthy and able to use the corners of the plate and change the elevation of his fastball, deGrom should regain his status as a SP2 in most fantasy leagues.  It was an alarming trend in 2016 seeing his walk rate increase compared to 2015, so that will be something to monitor during the spring.  If deGrom can regain his form from two years ago and remain healthy, he will provide great value at a bargain price in fantasy drafts due to some inherent skepticism about his injury history.

 

Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service, and co-host of the Fantasy Alarm Podcast.  You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment).