This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The Rangers shortstop will be out at least six weeks after suffering an elbow injury early last week. Andrus was the active leader in career games played without a trip the disabled list but sees his streak end just short of 1,400 games played. The injury has been diagnosed as a fractured olecranon process, the result of an errant pitch from Angels pitcher Keynan Middleton.
The olecranon is a bony protuberance on the proximal end of the lower arm bone known as the ulna. This prominence forms the point of the elbow and is the area affected any time you bump your elbow on a hard surface. The olecranon is commonly fractured, particularly after a fall, but as Andrus learned first-hand, it can break following direct contact.
Recovery following an olecranon fracture depends on multiple factors. The first cause for concern is the type of fracture and any potential bone displacement. If the bone breaks in multiple spots or is significantly displaced from alignment, surgery is often necessary to re-align the fractured pieces. If the segmented bone remains in place, the focus shifts to the neighboring structures. Multiple muscles and ligaments anchor to the olecranon, providing stability while allowing for movement. One of the ligaments, the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), is of particular importance in baseball as it's the tissue repaired via Tommy John surgery.
Fortunately, Andrus' fracture appears stable and aligned, and won't require surgical intervention. The supporting structures also seem unscathed, meaning Andrus will simply
The Rangers shortstop will be out at least six weeks after suffering an elbow injury early last week. Andrus was the active leader in career games played without a trip the disabled list but sees his streak end just short of 1,400 games played. The injury has been diagnosed as a fractured olecranon process, the result of an errant pitch from Angels pitcher Keynan Middleton.
The olecranon is a bony protuberance on the proximal end of the lower arm bone known as the ulna. This prominence forms the point of the elbow and is the area affected any time you bump your elbow on a hard surface. The olecranon is commonly fractured, particularly after a fall, but as Andrus learned first-hand, it can break following direct contact.
Recovery following an olecranon fracture depends on multiple factors. The first cause for concern is the type of fracture and any potential bone displacement. If the bone breaks in multiple spots or is significantly displaced from alignment, surgery is often necessary to re-align the fractured pieces. If the segmented bone remains in place, the focus shifts to the neighboring structures. Multiple muscles and ligaments anchor to the olecranon, providing stability while allowing for movement. One of the ligaments, the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), is of particular importance in baseball as it's the tissue repaired via Tommy John surgery.
Fortunately, Andrus' fracture appears stable and aligned, and won't require surgical intervention. The supporting structures also seem unscathed, meaning Andrus will simply have to wait for the bone to heal. He'll likely have the joint immobilized for at least three weeks before progressively returning to activity. As a result, the six-to-eight-week window provided by the Rangers appears appropriate, especially since the injured elbow is on Andrus' throwing arm. I'm guessing he's back on the latter end of the estimated timeline, putting him out until early to mid-June. Jurickson Profar, a former top prospect, has filled the vacancy left by Texas' Ironman. Profar had been playing second base in place of the injured Rougned Odor, who remains out with a hamstring strain. Profar is only 25 years old and is worth a look in most formats. Isiah Kiner-Falefa will take over as the primary second baseman though he's only a consideration in deeper leagues.
Boston also has a void at shortstop after Bogaerts suffered a broken bone of his own. The 25-year-old Bogaerts originally injured the ankle on April 8 following an awkward slide. Additional testing later revealed a small fracture of the talus bone.
The talus bone is located between the two bones of the lower leg and is a primary component of the ankle joint. It also sits atop the calcaneus, better known as the heel bone. Like discussed with Andrus, the nature of the break often dictates recovery. Fortunately, Bogaerts, like Andrus, appears to have avoided any remarkable displacement and won't require surgery.
Still, time remains essential in recovery, as the talus plays an important role in transferring stress across the ankle and into the foot. Returning before a complete union has occurred could place undue stress on other areas of the foot and ankle, making Bogaerts vulnerable to a secondary injury.
The team initially indicated they expected Bogaerts to miss 10 to 14 days, though he was seen back in his walking boot last Thursday. As a result, it seems likely he returns on the latter end of the initial estimate, and it wouldn't be surprising to see that window extended by a week or two, especially since a conservative approach could insure his long-term availability.
The Pirates infielder has been diagnosed with a fractured fifth metacarpal in his left hand to complete the broken bone trifecta for this week's column. Harrison suffered the injury Sunday after being struck by a pitch.
The metacarpals bridge the area between the wrist and the fingers with their distal ends forming the knuckles of the fist. The second and third metacarpals, located below the pointer and middle finger, are tightly anchored to the carpal bones and are generally immobile. However, the fourth and fifth metacarpals are mobile to allow for a high degree of motion at the wrist and pinkie. This seemingly small difference may appear minor, but it requires additional time to heal following an injury.
Last September, Harrison suffered a nearly identical injury that prematurely ended his season by a month. The Pirates expect this incident to cost Harrison at least six weeks. Look for Pittsburgh to turn Adam Frazier or Sean Rodriguez to fill the sudden hole in their lineup.
Check Swings
Taijuan Walker: The Diamondbacks placed Walker on the 10-day DL with right forearm inflammation. A MRI is slated for Monday and will provide more insight into the root of the problem. While Walker has tried to downplay the severity of the injury, forearm injuries are usually linked to the elbow. Hopefully the issue doesn't involve the UCL, but Walker owners should consider possible replacements for the immediate and long-term future.
Zack Greinke: If Walker's injury wasn't bad enough, another Arizona starter is managing an injury. Greinke endured back spasms in his most recent start but still managed to pitch 6 1/3 innings and pick up his first win of the season. It doesn't appear the injury will keep him from Thursday's start against the Giants but will be worth monitoring. The issue is Greinke's second muscle related problem so far this year after the former Cy Young winner missed time in the spring with a mild groin strain. He's too valuable to bench, but it may be worth scaling back your expectations over his next few outings.
J.T. Realmuto: It's not all doom and gloom here on the Injury Report. It appears as if Realmuto will make his season debut sometime this week after starting the year on the DL with a back contusion. The Marlins catcher has hit the ball well during his rehab assignment with High-A Jupiter, including a three-for-three performance Sunday that included a home run and a double. He doesn't appear to show any lingering signs of discomfort and should be started with confidence upon his activation.
