This article is part of our Fantasy Baseball Injury Report series.
The White Sox outfielder suffered a significant injury while trying to make a defensive play. Jimenez ruptured the tendon of his left pectoral muscle when he attempted to make a leaping grab along the outfield wall. He was helped off the field and further testing revealed the extent of the injury.
The pectoral muscles, more commonly known as the "pecs," are located in the upper portion of the chest. Most people associate the pair of muscles with weight-lifting, specifically the bench press. However, the pectoral muscles also influence shoulder motion, as the tendons of the pair attach to the upper arm bone and the shoulder blade. The attachment site of the larger pectoralis major allows the muscle to aid with flexing, extending and rotating the shoulder as well as a motion known as adduction. For baseball players, the pecs are active in nearly every required activity from swinging a bat to throwing a ball.
When the pec tendon ruptures, it becomes detached from its anchor point, rendering it useless. Surgery remains the preferred course of treatment but comes with a recovery timeline measured in months, not weeks. It wouldn't be shocking to see Jimenez miss at least five months, and it seems likely he does not play in the 2021 season. While the injury is a setback in one-year leagues, his dynasty or keeper value shouldn't dip much, as his long-term health should be fine once rehabilitation is complete.
Any injury to a player of Soto's
The White Sox outfielder suffered a significant injury while trying to make a defensive play. Jimenez ruptured the tendon of his left pectoral muscle when he attempted to make a leaping grab along the outfield wall. He was helped off the field and further testing revealed the extent of the injury.
The pectoral muscles, more commonly known as the "pecs," are located in the upper portion of the chest. Most people associate the pair of muscles with weight-lifting, specifically the bench press. However, the pectoral muscles also influence shoulder motion, as the tendons of the pair attach to the upper arm bone and the shoulder blade. The attachment site of the larger pectoralis major allows the muscle to aid with flexing, extending and rotating the shoulder as well as a motion known as adduction. For baseball players, the pecs are active in nearly every required activity from swinging a bat to throwing a ball.
When the pec tendon ruptures, it becomes detached from its anchor point, rendering it useless. Surgery remains the preferred course of treatment but comes with a recovery timeline measured in months, not weeks. It wouldn't be shocking to see Jimenez miss at least five months, and it seems likely he does not play in the 2021 season. While the injury is a setback in one-year leagues, his dynasty or keeper value shouldn't dip much, as his long-term health should be fine once rehabilitation is complete.
Any injury to a player of Soto's caliber is noteworthy even if the injury is considered mild. The Nationals slugger is dealing with a calf injury that has been described as soreness or tightness. While these terms are descriptive, they should be considered more like signs or symptoms than an actual injury diagnosis. As a result, it seems likely Soto is dealing with a low grade calf strain. Washington's management of the issue further strengthens this assumption, as the team has limited his on-field work, specifically running. However, he recently returned to action in a sim game and reported no setbacks or renewed issues. Look for the Nationals to continue their conservative treatment for the final few days of spring, but it does appear as though Soto will be available on Opening Day.
The Blue Jays will be without Springer's services to start the year after he was diagnosed with a Grade 2 oblique strain. The two groups of oblique muscles work together to complete trunk rotation. Following a strain to the area, athletes experience pain and a functional limitation with this motion, making swinging a bat or throwing a baseball extremely difficult. Despite growing optimism from Toronto about Springer's improvement, history suggests a multiweek absence is likely. Don't be surprised if he starts the year on the injured list. Randal Grichuk will take Springer's spot in the Blue Jays outfield.
The 2020 Homerun King will start the year on the IL after suffering a torn meniscus in his knee. Voit is scheduled to undergo surgery in the near future, and early estimates suggest he will be back in action by May. The quick turnaround provides a bit of insight to the severity of the injury, and the subsequent and expected treatment.
Each knee is equipped with two menisci that help stabilize the knee while also serving as shock absorbers. Unfortunately, the menisci are vulnerable to injury, especially with violent twisting motions. Surgery is often recommended if the damage is significant, though the location of the tear dictates the technique utilized. A true meniscus repair can be performed if the tear is isolated in a very specific region, usually in an area with a healthy blood supply. However, more often than not, a tear is not repaired but instead removed in a procedure known as a meniscectomy. Meniscectomies often allow the athlete to return much quicker, though it does increase their chances of issues like osteoarthritis down the road. Given that the Yankees are optimistic Voit will return in a matter of weeks, it seems likely he is slated for a removal. Earlier this spring Arizona outfielder Kole Calhoun suffered a similar injury and also underwent a meniscectomy. Calhoun has progressed nicely and is expected to return sometime in April, roughly six weeks after his procedure.
Voit should be back in mid-May with Jay Bruce taking over at first base until then. Voit could see some time in the designated hitter spot upon his return, though that move would shift teammate Giancarlo Stanton to the outfield.
Check Swings
Carlos Carrasco: The veteran right-hander is still working his way back from a moderate hamstring strain but has resumed throwing. While it is nice to see him progressing, a May return is still likely and, even then, he may need some time to shake off any accumulated rust.
Aaron Judge: New York's hard-hitting outfielder has been slowed in recent days by a non-COVID-19-related illness but should be fine by Opening Day. The Yankees did run Judge through the necessary COVID-19 protocols but did say he will be in the lineup against the Blue Jays.
Jose Leclerc: The Rangers closer will miss the entire 2021 campaign, as he is slated to undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing elbow. Look for his recovery to carry over into the 2022 season as well. Ian Kennedy and Matt Bush should each get a chance to close out wins for Texas, but neither should be counted for high save totals.
Kirby Yates: The Blue Jays are facing a similar predicament with their expected closer also out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Jordan Romano should cover the ninth inning for Toronto and could be a nice addition for anyone who missed out on a closer in early drafts. Erik Halterman highlighted Romero's prospects in his recent MLB Barometer.
Shohei Ohtani: Ohtani was removed from Monday's start due to a blister on his right middle finger. The Angels downplayed the severity of the issue and insist he will be ready for his scheduled start on Sunday. However, blisters can linger or reoccur, and the situation will be worth monitoring for the immediate future.
