This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
Jean Segura
It appears the Milwaukee shortstop will be the first player this season to remind us of the perils of the head-first slide. Countless players have been injured over the years attempting the maneuver even though studies have shown the headfirst slide does not definitively get a player to the bag quicker. What it does do is open the sliding individual up to significant injury, especially to the hands and head, as the player sacrifices control and is more likely to get hung up on the bag.
Segura suffered a fractured pinkie in his ill-fated slide attempt and has been placed on the 15-day disabled list. The one-time All-Star attempted to play through the injury but fear that he could exacerbate the fracture to the point that surgery would be required forced Milwaukee's hand. He will spend the next two weeks letting the fracture mend and it wouldn't be surprising to see his DL-stint last closer to three or four weeks. The pinkie may be the smallest of the five fingers but its importance to grip strength shouldn't be overlooked. It generates a considerable amount of power and needs to have a full range of motion to be effective. As a result, pinkie injuries tend to linger, even when the player returns. Segura isn't a power hitter but he still needs to be able to properly grip a bat to effectively hit. An early June return seems probable but the effects of the injury may persist for a bit
Jean Segura
It appears the Milwaukee shortstop will be the first player this season to remind us of the perils of the head-first slide. Countless players have been injured over the years attempting the maneuver even though studies have shown the headfirst slide does not definitively get a player to the bag quicker. What it does do is open the sliding individual up to significant injury, especially to the hands and head, as the player sacrifices control and is more likely to get hung up on the bag.
Segura suffered a fractured pinkie in his ill-fated slide attempt and has been placed on the 15-day disabled list. The one-time All-Star attempted to play through the injury but fear that he could exacerbate the fracture to the point that surgery would be required forced Milwaukee's hand. He will spend the next two weeks letting the fracture mend and it wouldn't be surprising to see his DL-stint last closer to three or four weeks. The pinkie may be the smallest of the five fingers but its importance to grip strength shouldn't be overlooked. It generates a considerable amount of power and needs to have a full range of motion to be effective. As a result, pinkie injuries tend to linger, even when the player returns. Segura isn't a power hitter but he still needs to be able to properly grip a bat to effectively hit. An early June return seems probable but the effects of the injury may persist for a bit longer. In the meantime, the Brewers will employ a platoon at shortstop with Hector Gomez and Luis Sardinas each getting a chance in the starting lineup.
Corey Dickerson
The Rockies outfielder is dealing with a reoccurring case of plantar fasciitis and could be looking at a trip to the DL. The inflamed tissue has been a problem since late April and has forced Dickerson to receive regular days off. Much to the disappointment of fantasy owners, the rest hasn't been enough and the pain continues to persist.
The plantar fascia is a band of connective tissue that originates at the heel and extends along the bottom of the foot. It provides stability for the arch of the foot while providing additional protection. Like most connective tissue, if the plantar fascia is overstretched or torn it can become inflamed and cause the affected individual pain and discomfort. Unfortunately, there isn't an easy cure for plantar fasciitis. The underlying symptoms, primarily the inflammation, can be treated but the condition will linger until the body has successfully repaired the tissue. Even when surgery is warranted, the procedure simply involves cutting the tissue to relieve the tension and allowing the body to again repair the area. As a result, an extended amount of time is necessary for a complete recovery.
Rays slugger Evan Longoria battled a problematic case of plantar fasciitis during the 2013 season that nearly derailed an impressive campaign. Longoria batted .293 and hit 32 home runs that year but struggled during July when his plantar fasciitis was at its worst. His average dropped to .194 during the month and he hit just seven extra bases hits. His numbers would slightly improve in the final months of the year but his best stretch occurred before the injury. Given the similarities of the situation, both Dickerson's short-term and long-term value for the year are in flux. The Rockies will wait for a few days before determining if a DL-stint will be necessary, but expect the injury to remain an issue.
Check Swings
Travis d'Arnaud
The Mets are keeping their fingers crossed that an X-ray on their catcher's fractured right hand shows the area of concern has successfully healed. If the bone has formed a union, d'Arnaud should be cleared to swing a bat. If all goes well, an early to mid-June return remains possible.
Doug Fister
The Nationals pitcher has been diagnosed with a flexor strain in his pitching arm and has already been placed on the DL. Expect Washington to handle the situation extremely conservatively given the synergetic relationship between the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and the flexor bundle. Surgery doesn't appear to be in play at this time but determining a timetable for his return is difficult. A mid-June return would appear to a best-case scenario but the situation remains extremely fluid. A.J. Cole will take Fister's spot in the rotation.
Yan Gomes
A moderate medial collateral ligament (MCL) has kept Gomes sidelined since early April but a return is on the horizon. Gomes appeared in two games with Low-A Lake County and will now join Triple-A Columbus for the final phase of his rehab. If all goes well, he could be back with the Indians by the weekend. Consider adding Gomes if he's dangling on the waiver wire, as the 27-year old could be a nice way to bolster your catching position.
Wil Myers
The Padres outfielder was a spectator over the weekend after the team opted to give him a bit of extended rest to help treat a case of tendinitis in his wrist. San Diego isn't scheduled to play Monday, which gives Myers a full eight days off. Fantasy owners in weekly leagues may want to wait and see if he's able to return to form before reinserting him into their lineups, and those in daily leagues should scale back their expectations, particularly when it comes to power, until he has proven the ailment is behind him.
Ben Zobrist
The A's infielder is slated to begin a rehab assignment with High-A Stockton after undergoing a medial meniscectomy in late April. The team hopes he can return early next week in time for an extended home stand that starts on May 25. If that's the case, Zobrist will return just one month after going under the knife. A quick return is possible following a meniscectomy because the damaged bit of cartilage causing the problem is simply removed. Zobrist will likely require daily maintenance on the joint in the near future, but he should be fine for the remainder of the season.
