Diamond Cuts: All-Scar Team

The All-Star break is here, paving the way for the fourth annual MLB All-Scar teams. A far more dubious honor, these individuals have spent more time in the athletic training room than on the field, leaving fantasy owners scrambling to recover.

Catchers

AL- Matt Wieters

Tommy John surgery has been a major issue for pitching this year but it also cost Wieters his season. The Baltimore catcher attempted to avoid the procedure but conservative treatment was unsuccessful. He also had an ulnar nerve transposition and a bone spur reshaped.

NL-Wilson Ramos

Ramos's troubles started early when he suffered a fractured hamate bone on March 31. Surgery was required and he did not return for five weeks. The return was short-lived as a second DL stint was required for a strained hamstring.

First Base

AL- Prince Fielder

The prize offseason acquisition for Texas played 42 games and hit just three home runs before a neck injury ended his 547 consecutive games played streak as well as his season. Fielder needed a cervical fusion procedure to treat the herniated disk in that particular region of his spine. He only recently began rehab and is now where close to being ready for any type of baseball-related activity. With his 2014 season all but over, the slugger is now shifting his focus to next year's spring training.

NL- Joey Votto

Cincinnati's former MVP has been anything but this year as he is hitting a paltry .255 and been plagued by left leg issues. A strained left quadriceps muscle has bothered Votto since early May and he's since made two separate trips to the DL. Considering the problems are on the same leg as his previously scoped knee, it's unclear just how effective Votto will be upon his return and when that return will occur.

Second Base

AL- Brett Lawrie

Lawrie has spent more time at third base this season but had more value at second base entering the year. Unfortunately injuries have limited him, regardless of his place on the field, and he earns his first All-Scar bid due to a troublesome hamstring and a fractured index finger.

NL- Brandon Phillips

A thumb injury during spring training was a sign of things to come as the Reds second baseman has since endured back spasms, a left index finger contusion, and a painful heel contusion. However his recent left thumb sprain is the most severe injury and required surgery to repair. It appears he will miss a minimum of eight weeks.

Shortstop

AL- Jurickson Profar

A highly touted prospect, Profar was expected to be a part of Texas' middle infield. Unfortunately he's torn his teres major muscle in his throwing shoulder twice. Now it looks as though Texas will have to wait one more season before seeing if Profar can carry a sizeable load for the organization.

NL- Hanley Ramirez

Ramirez has been bothered by a myriad of injuries including a bruised thumb, a right ring finger contusion, and reoccurring left calf soreness and acromioclavicular joint inflammation. The various ailments haven't kept him out of the lineup for an extended period of time but he's having trouble living up to his billing as the first shortstop off the board.

Third Base

AL- Manny Machado

Machado returned seven months after knee surgery to repair a torn medial patellar ligament. However his recovery was slowed by lower extremity soreness in his calves and hamstrings. A recent groin strain suggests these issues aren't completely a thing of the past and may be worth monitoring following the All-Star break.

NL- Ryan Zimmerman

Zimmerman returns to the All-Scar lineup after a two-year absence. A groin injury was the culprit in 2011 but this year a thumb injury earns him the nod. Zimmerman fractured his thumb sliding into second base and missed Washington's next 44 games.

Outfielders

AL- Carlos Beltran, Josh Hamilton, Josh Reddick

This marks the first All-Scar team for both Beltran and Reddick while Hamilton's nomination is his second. Beltran has been managing bone spurs in his right elbow that will likely cause problems for the majority of the year. A recent facial fracture and concussion required another DL stint.

Hamilton's red-hot start was derailed for two months following thumb surgery to repair a torn ligament. A bone bruise in the joint delayed his recovery.

Reddick has made two trips for an ailing right knee that was initially injured when he collided with the wall in late May. He's also managed an ankle sprain.

NL- Ryan Braun, Carlos Gonzalez, Bryce Harper

Both Gonzalez and Harper have been in this position before but this marks Braun's inaugural All-Scar selection. Braun's been limited by an ankle injury and back spasms but it was an oblique strain sent him to the DL.

Gonzalez just recently returned from finger surgery to excise a benign tumor from his left index finger. Fortunately it is unrelated to his previous finger injury.

Harper's aggressive style of play resulted in an elbow injury last season and a thumb injury this year. Surgery was required and cost the rising star 57 games for the Nationals.

Starting Pitchers

AL- Chris Sale

Sale suffered a left flexor strain following a start in which he threw a career-high 127 pitches. He was sidelined for the next month before rejoining the White Sox rotation.

NL- Jose Fernandez

The Tommy John epidemic claimed Fernandez in May and will likely have a carry over effect into next season. Given how well he was pitching, this could be the most impactful injury of the first half.

Relief Pitchers

AL-Casey Janssen

Janssen was sent to the DL with a lower back strain and prolonged soreness in the region and his abdominal area delayed his return. Overall he missed nearly six weeks but regained the closer role after Sergio Santos faltered.

NL- Aroldis Chapman

Chapman suffered one of the scarier injuries of the season after taking a liner off his face during spring training. He fractured multiple facial fractures that required surgery but impressed by returning two months later. Chapman managed to make both the All-Star and All-Scar teams by dominating upon his return.