This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The former National League MVP was involved in a scary incident on Sunday when a 96-mph fastball from Rockies starter German Marquez struck him in the helmet. The impact dislodged his sunglasses, leaving him with a laceration above his left eye. The team later stated Bryant successfully passed all concussion-related testing but would remain under evaluation by the medical staff.
While the early reports are encouraging, fantasy owners shouldn't exhale just yet. Concussions carry a high degree of variability amongst affected individuals. Some injured players will immediately report symptoms but show no signs of an injury the following day. Others will report no instantaneous problems following a blow to the head but then experience delayed symptoms days after the incident. It is this inconsistency amongst players that make diagnosing and treating head injuries so problematic.
MLB requires teams to perform Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) testing following a suspected concussion. The SCAT is a tool that assesses a multitude of factors from the injured athlete including symptoms, balance, and immediate and delayed memory recall. Players also are likely subjected to other neurological exams such as a cranial nerve assessment. However, as previously mentioned, it may be necessary to complete an assessment multiple times, especially if symptoms are delayed.
Once a player is diagnosed with a concussion, they are eligible for placement on the seven-day disabled list and must complete the league-mandated concussion protocol prior to returning to play. To advance through the protocol, the player initially must report
The former National League MVP was involved in a scary incident on Sunday when a 96-mph fastball from Rockies starter German Marquez struck him in the helmet. The impact dislodged his sunglasses, leaving him with a laceration above his left eye. The team later stated Bryant successfully passed all concussion-related testing but would remain under evaluation by the medical staff.
While the early reports are encouraging, fantasy owners shouldn't exhale just yet. Concussions carry a high degree of variability amongst affected individuals. Some injured players will immediately report symptoms but show no signs of an injury the following day. Others will report no instantaneous problems following a blow to the head but then experience delayed symptoms days after the incident. It is this inconsistency amongst players that make diagnosing and treating head injuries so problematic.
MLB requires teams to perform Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) testing following a suspected concussion. The SCAT is a tool that assesses a multitude of factors from the injured athlete including symptoms, balance, and immediate and delayed memory recall. Players also are likely subjected to other neurological exams such as a cranial nerve assessment. However, as previously mentioned, it may be necessary to complete an assessment multiple times, especially if symptoms are delayed.
Once a player is diagnosed with a concussion, they are eligible for placement on the seven-day disabled list and must complete the league-mandated concussion protocol prior to returning to play. To advance through the protocol, the player initially must report no signs or symptoms at rest. Next, they will begin a series of exertional-based tests, including running on a treadmill and riding a stationary bike. If the concussed player remains symptom-free following this testing, he then must pass a neurocognitive test and receive clearance from a physician. If the individual shows any recurrence of symptoms at any point of the protocol, his progress is halted and he must retry the most recent test.
Multiple concussions can complicate the process, as the effects of these injuries are cumulative. As a result, symptoms can be more significant and tend to last longer. Fortunately for Bryant, he doesn't have a lengthy history of head injuries. Consider him day-to-day for now.
The 24-year-old outfielder began his rehab assignment on Sunday with the Class-A Fort Myers Miracle. He served as the designated hitter, finishing 0-for-4. Buxton hasn't played for the Twins since experiencing migraines on April 17.
While not as severe as concussions, migraine headaches can be just as unpredictable and limiting. Migraines are marked by significant pain that is often accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light, and, in some extreme cases, vomiting and loss of consciousness. While the exact cause of migraines remain largely unknown, several factors including stress, physical activity and even weather changes can trigger a migraine. While medication does exist to alleviate the associated symptoms and help reduce the regularity and severity of migraines, there is no outright cure at this point.
Buxton has struggled at plate so far this year but did manage to rebound from a similar start last season. He has remained active on the basepath when he has gotten on and should be plugged back into your lineup when he's activated. Minnesota has hinted that could come as early as Wednesday.
Check Swings
Madison Bumgarner: The Giants ace recently had the surgical pins removed from his broken hand, a positive step in the recovery process. The excision of the hardware is a good indicator that the fractured pieces of his fifth metacarpal healed nicely and in line. He will progress to catching and throwing over the next few weeks and remains on track for a late May or early June return. Now might be the last time to make a trade offer for the former World Series MVP and have a chance at landing him at a reduced price.
Jake Lamb: Lamb's recovery from a low-grade acromioclavicular (AC) sprain in his left shoulder will be delayed due to elbow tendinitis in the opposite arm. It's likely triceps tendinitis and could easily be the result of extra work during his rehab. He had previously hoped to return Tuesday, but look for him to be back by the weekend at the earliest.
Trey Mancini: The Orioles outfielder remains out with lingering soreness in his knee. The joint originally was injured when Mancini collided with the left field wall. The impact left him in need of stitches, though an X-ray and MRI failed to uncover any significant structural damage. However, he was still reporting discomfort in the knee over the weekend and is a question mark entering the week. Fantasy owners in weekly formats may want to see if he makes any progress during the day on Monday before starting him for the week ahead.
Rougned Odor: The severity of Odor's strained hamstring hasn't been made publically available, but there have been several clues that it's more than a mild strain. To start, the Rangers initially expected their second baseman to miss at least three weeks recovering. These concerns were further validated when it was reported that Odor has yet to resume running a full two weeks after the injury. Look for him to miss at least a few more weeks. Isiah Kiner-Falefa will remain Texas' starting second baseman, though the return of Delino DeShields could negatively impact his spot in the Rangers lineup.
Salvador Perez: The Royals could get a much needed jolt this week as their starting catcher appears to be ahead of schedule in his recovery from a medial collateral ligament (MCL) and may be back as early as Tuesday. He's successfully started back-to-back games behind the plate during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha, suggesting the knee is ready for action. Perez has been equally impressive with his bat, going 8-for-21 including two home runs. Don't be surprised if he gets a routine day or two off over the next few weeks, but it looks like fantasy owners will finally get some return on their draft day investment.
