This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The Dodgers remain optimistic that Seager has ample time to move past his current injury in time for Opening Day. The unanimous National League Rookie of the Year has been limited over the two and half weeks with a mild strain of his oblique, though Seager's ambidextrous abilities make this is a unique case.
There are two sets of oblique muscles situated on both sides of the rib cage. Each set is divided into two groups, the external obliques and the internal obliques. The muscles on one side contract with the other group on the opposite side to complete trunk rotation. For example in a left-handed batter like Seager, this means his right internal obliques contract along with his left external obliques while completing his swing. Switch hitters that suffer specific oblique injuries can sometime return ahead of schedule as they can approach the plate in manner that minimizes the stress placed on the injured area. However, Seager doesn't have that option. In fact, his situation is bit more complex as he bats left but throws with his right hand. While the Dodgers haven't specified which group has been strained, Seager remains vulnerable to aggravating the injury, either in the field or at the plate.
Fortunately, Seager has shown signs of positive steps forward in recovery. He has reportedly begun both throwing and batting, indicating the oblique is improving. As a result, Seager should be ready for the start of the season though it may be with a
The Dodgers remain optimistic that Seager has ample time to move past his current injury in time for Opening Day. The unanimous National League Rookie of the Year has been limited over the two and half weeks with a mild strain of his oblique, though Seager's ambidextrous abilities make this is a unique case.
There are two sets of oblique muscles situated on both sides of the rib cage. Each set is divided into two groups, the external obliques and the internal obliques. The muscles on one side contract with the other group on the opposite side to complete trunk rotation. For example in a left-handed batter like Seager, this means his right internal obliques contract along with his left external obliques while completing his swing. Switch hitters that suffer specific oblique injuries can sometime return ahead of schedule as they can approach the plate in manner that minimizes the stress placed on the injured area. However, Seager doesn't have that option. In fact, his situation is bit more complex as he bats left but throws with his right hand. While the Dodgers haven't specified which group has been strained, Seager remains vulnerable to aggravating the injury, either in the field or at the plate.
Fortunately, Seager has shown signs of positive steps forward in recovery. He has reportedly begun both throwing and batting, indicating the oblique is improving. As a result, Seager should be ready for the start of the season though it may be with a slight bump in inherent injury risk. Continue drafting Seager somewhere in the mid-second to third rounds.
I talked about Kipnis in last week's column, but let's take another look at what has been a difficult situation to gauge. The diagnosis remains a strained rotator cuff and Kipnis continues to progress through the Indians' treatment protocol. However, the length of recovery has been stretched from two weeks to four-to-five weeks. As a result, it seems more than likely he will start the season on the disabled list. Furthermore, a quick look through Kipnis' injury history suggest his power numbers could be at risk of dropping due to his recent ailment. The second baseman put together his first All-Star season in 2013 when he hit 17 home runs with a .452 slugging percentage. Unfortunately, over the next two seasons he failed to hit double-digit home runs as shoulder inflammation and an oblique strain limited him at various points. Last year, the pop in his bat resurfaced, as he finished the year with a career best 23 homers. While he did miss some time with a hamstring injury, Kipnis completed the 2016 season without reporting a shoulder problem. Given this pattern, it's reasonable to scale back expectations on Kipnis' long-ball potential when he eventually returns to the lineup.
Check Swings
Miguel Cabrera: The one-time Triple Crown winner saw his time at the World Baseball Classic come to a premature end after he experienced tightness in his back. However, the Tigers seem largely unconcerned by the ailment and see his early return as purely precautionary. Even with his history of back problems I wouldn't overreact to the situation just yet. Instead, keep a close eye on how he looks and feels when he's back with Detroit.
Carlos Carrasco: The 29-year-old right-hander completed a bullpen session on Saturday and is expected to throw a minor league spring training start on Monday. If he manages to remain symptom-free, he could be in line to make his Cactus League start on Friday. Carrasco has recently battled swelling in his elbow, though medical imaging failed to uncover any substantial structural damage. Performing well Friday would be a nice way to ease fears about Carrasco's value entering the year, though I'd still be hesitant to make him the centerpiece of my pitching staff.
Cody Anderson: The Carrasco news is a nice development for the Indians considering Anderson will miss the entire season after opting for Tommy John surgery to repair his sprained ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). The timing of the injury is unfortunate in the short-term but is the right call for his career. By addressing the problem now, the 26-year-old should be ready for the 2018 season.
Didi Gregorius: Tests taken on the Yankees shortstop's injured right shoulder revealed a hematoma near his subscapularis muscle. A hematoma is a collection of blood resulting from some form of trauma, including a direct impact or underlying tissue damage like a sprain or strain. For Gregorius, the location of the hematoma is the most concerning aspect of the injury. The subscapularis is one of the four muscles that comprise the rotator cuff muscle group. The subscapularis sits on the "underside" of the shoulder blade and is responsible for medial or internal rotation, a primary component of throwing. A strain of the rotator cuff would be a considerable setback for Gregorius. Look for the Yankees to continue to evaluate the injury to determine if the hematoma is an indicator of a more problematic issue or an isolated event. For now tread cautiously until more information is provided.
Salvador Perez: The Royals catcher is amassing a laundry list of injuries before the season even begins. Perez suffered a mild knee injury that resulted in inflammation while representing Team Venezuela in the WBC. However, it later was determined that Perez also suffered a hyperextended left elbow on the play. While it isn't his throwing elbow, it would be a risk to heavily invest in a catcher with a troublesome knee and elbow. The demands of manning the backstop are particularly hard on these two areas, elevating Perez's level of risk entering the year. While he remains on track to be in the lineup on Opening Day, it may be worth considering more reliable options at this point.
