Fantasy baseball injury report analysis Schwarber, deGrom, Choo
Kyle Schwarber
The Cubs road to a potential World Series berth suffered its first setback last week when the hard-hitting Schwarber collided with teammate Dexter Fowler. The collision left Schwarber with significant knee and ankle injuries that will effectively end his season after just two games.
The primary concern is Schwarber's knee injuries. An MRI taken on the injured joint revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL). For reference, four primary stabilizers: the two cruciate ligaments (ACL and PCL) and the two collateral ligaments (MCL and LCL) fortify the knee. The ACL and PCL work together to limit undue forward and backward motion of the lower leg bone (the tibia) on the upper leg bone (the femur). The MCL and LCL prevent excessive side-to-side motion and stabilize the knee during lateral movement.
Surgery is required to address both ligament tears. The standard recovery for an isolated ACL in an athlete falls within an eight to 12 month window. The LCL involvement will like push Schwarber's recovery to the latter end of this initial timeline.
However, his ankle injury could also affect the rehab process. The Cubs revealed Schwarber also suffered a Grade III ankle sprain. Sprains are graded on severity of damage to the involved ligament. A mild or Grade I sprain is considered minor with partial or micro tearing of the effected ligament. A Grade II sprain is often referred to as a partial tear, as ligament fibers are torn, which creates instability and weakness. A complete tear, or Grade III, injury is marked by a loss of function and mechanical stability, and often requires surgical intervention. As a result, there's reason to believe Schwarber may also need ankle surgery. Coupling the two surgeries together is the smart play, though it creates a tougher road to recovery.
This isn't a career threatening injury, but it could be career altering. The long-term ramifications of the injuries could result in a permanent shift from behind the plate, as the catching position is particularly tough on the knees. Other former catchers, like Victor Martinez, have made a position change following a similar injury, though Schwarber and the Cubs won't have the benefit of the DH spot. The slugger will have a legitimate chance to play in 2017, but how he responds to recovery and treatment will ultimately determine the capacity in which he plays.
In the meantime, Jorge Soler will take up a more permanent spot in left field with Matt Szczur and Ben Zobrist making the occasional appearance. Soler has the most upside, though he endured a rough spring and has collected just two hits in 18 plate appearances to start the season.
Jacob deGrom
The Mets right-hander will skip his next start due to tightness in his right latissimus dorsi. The lat muscle is situated along the thoracic region of the spine and is often considered a back muscle. However the muscle does insert into the shoulder at a small groove in the upper arm bone, the humerus. This positioning allows the lat to contribute to motion at various parts of the body, though its primary responsibility is to aid with multiple shoulder movements including extension, internal rotation and a motion known as horizontal abduction. Additionally, the lat plays a role in back motion, aiding with side-to-side bending and extension (backward bending) in the lower back.
DeGrom's tightness appears to be isolated in his lower back. However, based on the aforementioned information, preventing the tightness from having a carryover effect into his shoulder is key in minimizing his time lost and any long-term complications. He has reported an improvement, though the team felt it was in his best interest to take a conservative approach to treatment. The decision wasn't surprising given the eventual problems teammate Steven Matz dealt with last season after opting to play through a similar injury. Right-hander Logan Verrett will fill in for deGrom on Wednesday against the Marlins.
Check Swings
Shin-Soo Choo: The Rangers endured a historically injury-filled 2014 but bounced back last season in route to an American League West championship. However, this year has once again started off bumpy with Yu Darvish still recovering from Tommy John and Josh Hamilton working his way back from a chronic knee problem. Choo is now slated to join the duo on the disabled list after suffering a Grade II strain in his right calf. The team estimates he will miss four to six weeks recovering. Choo does have a history of lower extremities problems, though they have all been on the opposite side. The injury will open the door for Texas' top prospect, Nomar Mazara, who started in right field Sunday against the Angels. The rookie impressed in his debut, finishing 3-for-4 with a home run.
Evan Gattis: Gattis is nearing the completion of a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi. The hard-hitting Gattis has been sidelined since undergoing a sports hernia repair in February. The Astros will primary use him in the designated hitter role and should have him back in the lineup for the team's four-game series with Kansas City.
Adam Jones: The Orioles have played their last four games without Jones, who continues to deal with an injury being referred to as a rib cage strain. An oblique injury has been ruled out, though soreness in the area persists. It could be an intercostal strain, the muscles located between the ribs, though that term hasn't yet been used to describe Jones' ailment. A trip to the DL seems inevitable if he fails to improve over the next few days.
A.J. Pollock: Pollock's doctors have determined he won't be able to participate in baseball-related activities for at least three months following his surgery to address an elbow fracture. The timeline indicates that it's very likely Pollock won't play this season, as additional time to return to top form will be needed once he's cleared to resume to action.
Tyson Ross: The Padres placed their Opening Day pitcher on the 15-day DL with inflammation in his right shoulder. The decision is being called purely precautionary, though I would be more confident in Ross' long-term status if the cause of the inflammation had been revealed. Still San Diego and Ross are optimistic he can be back on April 20 or shortly thereafter.