First off, I’d like to welcome you to the first installment of the Prospect Injury Report. This report will be a weekly feature that will give you insight and info into the injuries of the top prospects around the nation, as well as their progression (or in some unfortunate cases, regression) through the injury.
We hope that you enjoy these updates and welcome any comments and suggestions that you may have. (You can email Brandon at btcharpied@hotmail.com.)
Now that introductions are out of the way, what do you say we get on to the important stuff?
We received bad news on Fernando Martinez’s injury this week (No. 13 in our rankings) with reports stating that talented Mets' farmhand will now miss the remainder of the season after suffering an injury to his hamate bone. This is a shame as Martinez was on the fast track to Triple-A this season. His batting average took a dip this season at Double-A Binghamton, however all of those tools that we drool over were still present. Look for this injury to potentially set Martinez back one half of a season, with him more than likely returning to Binghamton next season, at least to get him settled into playing everyday once again. Keep in mind that Martinez only turns 19-years old in October, so he can easily afford a small bump in the road like this one.
Our 14th ranked player, Homer Bailey, has been on the DL since mid-July, suffering a strained groin for the second time this season. The Reds appear ready to take their time with their future star this time around, and rightfully so. Bailey began throwing off of a mound this week but had his conditioning put on halt as he returned home to Texas for personal reasons. The Reds say that he will pitch in Triple-A again before they consider bringing him back up, which I believe is the correct thing to do. As apparent as Bailey’s talents are, he was a little overmatched in his first time around with the big league club. Given Bailey’s groin issues, struggles this season, and the fact that the Reds are nowhere near in contention for a playoff spot, I would not be the least bit surprised if Bailey spends the rest of the season down in Triple-A working on his mechanics while Bobby Livingston, Phil Dumatrait and Elizardo Ramirez fill any voids left in the Reds’ rotation.
Finally, our 40th ranked player, Brett Anderson, is suffering from a double whammy of arm fatigue and a mild concussion. The concussion was due to a car crash involving seven players from the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Visalia Oaks club. Prior to the crash, Anderson was already experiencing arm fatigue due to his 116 1/3 innings pitched on the season and had been scheduled for time off, so aside from one heck of a headache, the concussion does not put Anderson’s progression back any length of time. While there does not appear to be any current timetable for Anderson to return to the mound, this fatigue is typical for young pitchers.
| Top-75 No. | Player | Pos | Injury | Age | Org | Level | Out Since | Return |
| 13 | Fernando Martinez | CF | Fractured Hamate Bone | 18 | NYM | AA | 7/30 | Spring Training 2008 |
| Hamate bones are particularly tricky. While a player suffering from a broken hamate bone can come back to play within a few months, it typically saps the players power for up to 16 months. | ||||||||
| 14 | Homer Bailey | RHP | Groin Strain | 21 | CIN | AAA | 7/17 | Most likely mid-September |
| This is Bailey's second strained groin on the season and may cause him to stay in Triple-A for quite a while. He is just now beginning his throwing sessions off of a mound; however, no timetable has been set for his return | ||||||||
| 40 | Brett Anderson | LHP | Concussion / Arm Fatigue | 19 | ARI | A+ | 7/27 | No Timetable Set |
| While Anderson was already being scheduled to be briefly shutdown due to arm fatigue, he ended up suffering a mild concussion while in a car crash with six teammates. Anderson can be expected to return to the hill reasonably soon. | ||||||||
| 41 | Adam Miller | RHP | Elbow Soreness | 22 | CLE | AAA | 7/19 | Instructional Leagues? |
| The Indians are going to be cautious with this one, as this is the same elbow inflammation that caused Miller to miss the first half of the 2005 season. In all liklihood, Miller will not see the majors this season and may be prevented from throwing at all until Instructional Leagues kick in. | ||||||||
| 43 | Carlos Gomez | LF | Fractured Hamate Bone | 21 | NYM | MLB | 7/4 | Spring Training 2008 |
| Perhaps the Mets should invest in hamate bone insurance? Their second OF prospect to go down with this injury, and like Martinez, Gomez will be out for the rest of the season. Expect Gomez ready to go by next spring or in the Arizona Fall League. | ||||||||
| 64 | Scott Elbert | LHP | Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery | 21 | LAD | AA | 4/16 | Spring Training 2008 |
| The Dodgers' top pitching prospect is out for the year after finally going under the knife in June. Scarring was found on Elbert's labrum, prompting the need for surgery. Elbert should be ready by next spring; however will not be allowed to throw again for several months. | ||||||||
| 67 | Scott Moore | 3B | Unknown Injury | 23 | CHC | MLB | 7/24 | No Timetable Set |
| Apparently, no specific injury has been specified; however, he has been out of action since July 24th. We will fill you in as soon as we find out exactly what is going on; however, if it were something major, I am sure we would have heard about it by now. | ||||||||
| 69 | Jaime Garcia | LHP | Elbow | 21 | STL | AA | 7/18 | Spring 2008 at the earliest |
| The Cardinals have to choose between bad news or worse news for their prospect's ailing elbow; rest or surgery. The Cards are opting for the former, but it is looking like surgery might be the end result. If so, Garcia will more than likely be out for all of 2008. | ||||||||
| 71 | Ryan Sweeney | LF | Wrist | 22 | CHW | AAA | 8/5 | Taking Batting Practice |
| The ChiSox OF prospect was placed on the DL last week due to a nagging right wrist injury. It appears to be fully healed and he began taking batting practice with the Triple-A club on Friday. | ||||||||
| NR | Joaquin Arias | SS | Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery | 22 | TEX | AAA | 6/29 | Late September |
| Arias had suffered what Texas GM Jon Daniels described as "just a little bit more than normal wear and tear." The Rangers hope to have him back on the field by late September; however, expect him to be out until 2008 | ||||||||
| NR | Thomas Diamond | RHP | Tommy John Surgery | 24 | TEX | AAA | Season | Spring Training 2008 |
| In a surprise to even the Doctors that operated on him, the supremely talented Diamond needed Tommy John Surgery. He will be back and ready to go next Spring, as Texas will look to add him to their rotation mid-year if all goes as planned. | ||||||||
| NR | Anthony Lerew | RHP | Tommy John Surgery | 24 | ATL | AAA | 5/20 | Mid-August 2008 |
| Lerew clearly was not his usual dominant self during his short stint with the Braves earlier this summer, which was later confirmed by Lerew's need for TJ Surgery. Lerew will look to take the mound again sometime in the late Summer of 2008. | ||||||||
| NR | Glen Perkins | LHP | Strained Shoulder | 24 | MIN | MLB | 5/22 | Currently on Rehab |
| After suffering a setback to his recovery in mid-July, Perkins is now on rehab in the GCL and will look to get back to the Twins bullpen sometime in early September at the latest. | ||||||||
| NR | Humberto Sanchez | RHP | Tommy John Surgery | 24 | NYY | AAA | Season | Spring Training 2008 |
| Sanchez was supposed to be to the Yankees what Joba Chamberlain is having to do right now -- be their verion of Joel Zumaya. With his elbow at last repaired. Sanchez may at last be able to stay on the mound for more than a few months at a time. | ||||||||
| NR | Jeff Niemann | RHP | Shoulder Fatigue | 24 | TAM | AAA | 7/30 | Mid-August |
| Given the long history of injuries this big Texan has been hit with over the years, simple "shoulder fatigue" is a sigh of relief. Niemann will only miss two starts, so look for him to be back on the bump by next week. | ||||||||
| NR | Greg Reynolds | RHP | Shoulder Tendonitis | 22 | COL | AA | 6/19 | Spring Training 2008 |
| Reynolds' shoulder was causing him discomfort all year long, so shutting him down for the remainder of the season was a smart thing for the Rockies to do. Hopefully the talented 1st rounder can return to form in 2008. | ||||||||
| NR | Tyler Clippard | RHP | Strained Neck | 22 | NYY | AA | 7/26 | Late August |
| At the beginning of the season, Clippard was regarded as the Yankees next best major league-ready prospect. After being demoted to Double-A Trenton, Clippard will have to offer up a strong showing down the stretch to be considered anything next season. | ||||||||
| NR | Dellin Betances | RHP | Enflamed Right Elbow | 19 | NYY | A | 7/15 | No Timetable Set |
| Don't be surprised if the Yankees shut down their 19-year old flamethrower for the rest of the season. Throwing in the high-90s, the 6' 7", 185 lbs. Betances puts a tremendous amount of strain on his elbow, thus the injury. Better to be safe than sorry when you have a talent like this guy. | ||||||||
| NR | Kyle Drabek | RHP | Tommy John Surgery | 19 | PHI | A | 6/15 | Late 2008 |
| The Phillies' 2006 top pick had to undergo surgery in July which will put him out for most, if not all, of 2008. The team says it doesn't expect this year off to set Drabek's progression back any, so expect him to advance into Double-A in late 2008. | ||||||||
| NR | Shane Lindsay | RHP | Surgery on Frayed Labrum | 22 | COL | A | Season | No Timetable Set |
| Lindsay had surgery on a frayed labrum last October and was expected to begin throwing again in March. It is now August and the Rockies seem to be hush-hush on Lindsay's status. Assume he is out for the year until we hear otherwise. | ||||||||
| NR | Brahiam Maldonado | OF | Fractured Metacarpal - Middle Finger | 22 | NYM | A | 8/4 | Late August |
| The Mets surprising 10th rounder has done nothing but dominate down at Class A Savannah since signing. A damaged metacarpal is not uncommon and should not be looked upon as a major injury. Brahiam will be back in action soon. | ||||||||
| NR | Landon Powell | C | Torn ACL | 25 | OAK | AAA | 7/2 | Spring Training 2008 |
| Only days after getting promoted to Triple-A Sacramento, Powell went down with a torn ACL that will keep him out at least until next spring training. Powell has been a promising prospect for the A's, but his age coupled with his injury certainly do not bode well for his future. | ||||||||
| NR | Ryan Kalish | CF | Fractured Hamate Bone | 19 | BOS | A | 7/16 | Spring Training 2008 |
| What is it with OF's and hamate bones? After an absolutely torrid Class-A campaign (.368 / .471 / .540), Kalish will attempt to pick up next year where we left off. The bone was not displaced, therfore surgery is trying to be avoided since the injury heals much better if healed naturally. | ||||||||
Brandon can be reached at btcharpied@hotmail.com.