10 Biggest Major League Baseball Injuries in 2012 (So Far)

Injuries are a part of Major League Baseball. Teams can’t use them as an excuse for losing.

But that doesn’t mean injuries don’t affect the way a team plays (just ask the Boston Red Sox).

The 2012 season has been defined by injuries so far, with many teams having to compensate for star players missing time.

Let’s take a look at the 10 biggest injuries in baseball so far this season.

10. B.J. Upton, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

Desmond Jennings has been good, but the Rays need Upton back if they are going to compete for the AL East title.

Having both Upton and Jennings in the lineup at the same time makes the Rays’ defense better and greatly improves their team speed.

Moving Jennings to left field and Upton resuming his center field spot would allow Matt Joyce to come off the bench as the fourth outfielder and also DH occasionally.

That makes the Rays a whole lot better.

9. Scott Baker, SP, Minnesota Twins

The Twins can’t hit very well, so they need to rely on their pitching staff this season.

Unfortunately, one of their best pitchers, Baker, is now done for the year with an elbow injury.

With the way guys like Francisco Liriano and Carl Pavano have already struggled in 2012, the injury to Baker could mean a fourth-place—or worse—finish in the AL Central for Minnesota.

8. Carl Crawford, OF, Boston Red Sox

Crawford is the first of many Red Sox on this list.

For a team with such high expectations coming into the 2012 season, battling back from this injury bug will be very difficult.

Crawford struggled in 2011, but he’s still one of the best outfielders in the game of baseball and has been missed in the Red Sox's lineup.

If he can come back healthy and play like he did when he was in Tampa Bay, the Red Sox have a fighting chance in the AL East.

7. Michael Morse, 1B/OF, Washington Nationals

The Nationals can stand to be without Morse for a little while longer, as long as Adam LaRoche continues his hot start.

So far, LaRoche is hitting .342 with two homers and 12 RBI.

That level of production won’t continue, though, so the sooner Morse can come back, the better.

6. Drew Storen, RP, Washington Nationals

The bigger injury for the Nationals is the one to their closer, Storen.

Brad Lidge isn’t the pitcher he once was and isn’t the long-term answer at closer. He’s too inconsistent to keep Washington competitive all season long.

If Storen can’t come back before the All-Star break and regain his 2011 form, this team could be in serious trouble.

5. Chris Carpenter, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

Chris Carpenter, when healthy, is the ace of the Cardinals' pitching staff.

With the way Adam Wainwright has struggled in two starts since coming off Tommy John surgery in 2011, the Redbirds need Carpenter to get healthy.

If he comes back and struggles too, St. Louis could start to slide in the standings.

4. Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Boston Red Sox

Ellsbury was the runner-up for the AL MVP award in 2011 after a year in which he hit .321 with 32 home runs, 105 RBI and 39 stolen bases.

The Red Sox were going to need him to come close to matching that production in 2012 if they were going to make it to the playoffs. But Ellsbury suffered a shoulder injury and is now on the 15-day DL.

That means Jason Repko will take over in center for the time being.

The Red Sox won’t make it to the playoffs with Repko in center.

3. Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, 1B and 2B, Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are having trouble hitting the ball and definitely miss their two biggest sluggers.

Howard ruptured his Achilles tendon in the postseason and Utley has been plagued by knee injuries the past couple years.

Howard will be out until his heel fully heals and Utley’s timetable is still uncertain.

It’s a good thing the Phillies have one of the best rotations in baseball with Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels, because they won’t be scoring many runs until one of their two big hitters return.

2. Andrew Bailey, RP, Boston Red Sox

By far the biggest injury sustained by the Red Sox this season is the one to their closer.

Have you seen Mark Melancon and Alfredo Aceves pitch?

They aren’t good and have already cost Boston a couple wins.

The longer Bailey is out (it could be all season), the longer the season will seem to Red Sox fans.

1. Brian Wilson, RP, San Francisco Giants

The Giants aren’t going to score a ton of runs with their offense, so there will be plenty of close games for this squad.

In the past, they’ve been successful in close games because they have one of the best closers in baseball in Wilson.

But now that he’s likely out for the season with an elbow injury, the Giants are in trouble.

Sergio Romo is going to have to pitch better than he’s ever pitched before or this season could go downhill in a hurry for San Francisco.