Biggest MLB Injury Concern for Each Team Entering Spring Training
MLB's spring training season has only just begun, and injuries are already piling up.
It's not what anyone wants, least of all if you're the New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks and Baltimore Orioles. Broken hamate injuries to Francisco Lindor, Corbin Carroll and Jackson Holliday already tie those three together, and this is with Cactus and Grapefruit League games still to come.
It's worthwhile, then, to highlight the biggest injury concern for all 30 teams this spring. Some are specific, relating to injuries that have already happened. Others are more predictive, relating to injuries that might occur.
We'll go division by division, starting in the American League East and ending in the National League West.
American League East
1 of 6
Baltimore Orioles: Jackson Holliday's hamate
This is one that just happened, as Holliday broke the hamate bone on his right hand while hitting in a cage last week. He's having a procedure to get it removed, and he won't be able to return for "weeks" after Opening Day.
Though Holliday has yet to fully live up to his former status as MLB's No. 1 prospect, he still brings high upside to Baltimore's everyday lineup. Save for maybe Blaze Alexander, the team doesn't have a clear "next man up" for second base in the meantime.
Boston Red Sox: Triston Casas' knee
Casas ruptured his left patellar tendon in early May last year, after which he set an aggressive return date for himself: Opening Day of the 2026 season.
Though he has been cleared for outdoor activities, it remains unclear whether the slugging first baseman will actually be ready soon. Either way, Boston's front office indirectly put pressure on Casas by failing to add much power during the winter.
New York Yankees: Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón's elbows
Both Cole (Tommy John surgery) and Rodón (bone spur) are working their way back from elbow surgeries, yet the early word is that both could appear in Grapefruit League games before going on rehab assignments in April.
It's a promising update, yet the reality remains that both of them are in their 30s with a lot of miles on their arms. Even if they make it back in good time, there will be a lingering question of what they have left to give.
Tampa Bay Rays: Shane McClanahan's elbow
McClanahan last pitched in a major league game on August 2, 2023. He then had Tommy John surgery, and the road back has been anything but smooth.
The lefty is supposedly healthy now, which is great news for a Rays team looking to improve on a difficult 2025 season. But until he actually proves it, they can't take too much for granted.
Toronto Blue Jays: Shane Bieber's forearm
Though the Blue Jays also have Anthony Santander's shoulder and Bowden Francis' elbow to worry about, neither was a particularly important part of their World Series run in 2025.
Bieber was, notably in posting a 3.86 ERA in five appearances last October. His right forearm fatigue is nothing serious for now, but it still comes off as ominous after his Tommy John surgery in early 2024.
American League Central
2 of 6
Chicago White Sox: Munetaka Murakami's general well-being
Murakami is only on the White Sox because the market gave him such a cold shoulder that he had to settle for their two-year, $34 million offer. For that, his defensive limitations and major swing-and-miss issues were the most likely culprits.
However, upper body injuries also limited Murakami to just 69 total games in Japan last year. The White Sox must hope that history doesn't repeat itself.
Cleveland Guardians: Chase DeLauter's general well-being
As soon as he made his MLB debut in the playoffs last year, it became clear just how highly the Guardians think of DeLauter. And they still do, as he's slated to be their starting center fielder on Opening Day.
It's a lot to put on a guy who played in only 138 minor league games in three seasons. Injuries (including a sports hernia and a broken hamate) had a lot to do with that.
Detroit Tigers: Dillon Dingler's elbow
Given that he opened the 2023 and 2024 seasons on the IL and also missed time in 2025, the Tigers probably shouldn't expect Justin Verlander to hold up for all of 2026.
For now, though, Dillon Dingler's elbow should be top of mind. The Gold Glove-winning catcher had surgery to clean up his elbow in January, and he's still unable to throw. He could be ready for Opening Day, but is currently limited to catching bullpens.
Kansas City Royals: Cole Ragans' general well-being
The Royals know from 2024 that Ragans is an All-Star-caliber pitcher when he's healthy. In 2025, though, he missed all but 13 starts because of a left groin strain and a rotator cuff strain.
It's scary enough when any pitcher gets that banged up in one season. For Ragans, the concern is heightened because of how many injuries he's had as a pro, and because he's meant to be Kansas City's No. 1 starter.
Minnesota Twins: Byron Buxton's general well-being
For all the bad things that happened to the Twins in 2025, at least Buxton stayed on the field for the most part. He took a career-high 542 plate appearances over 126 games and took advantage by slamming 35 home runs.
Even so, this is a 32-year-old who has historically had a hard time playing in even 100 games in any given season. And this year, his involvement in the World Baseball Classic presents a whole new threat to his health.
American League West
3 of 6
Athletics: Zack Gelof's shoulder
Gelof dislocated his left shoulder toward the end of the 2025 season, bringing an end to a season that had already been sidetracked by a broken hamate and a stress reaction in his ribcage.
Even a fully healthy Gelof doesn't figure to be part of the A's everyday plans, but he could be a valuable depth piece in the minors. He had a breakout season in the majors back in 2023, and he's still only 26 years old.
Houston Astros: Yordan Alvarez's general well-being
There are many things that sunk the Astros in 2025, but arguably nothing loomed as large as the hand injury that cost Alvarez all but 48 games. They played 70 percent of the season without their best hitter.
Alvarez was no stranger to injuries even before his hand acted up last year, and he isn't getting any younger. The Astros shouldn't necessarily be worried, but they should be determined to be careful with him.
Los Angeles Angels: Grayson Rodriguez's elbow
Rodriguez was one of baseball's best pitching prospects once upon a time. Injuries have long since robbed him of that shine, and he's coming off a low point after not pitching at all last year.
By acquiring Rodriguez in exchange for Taylor Ward, the Angels effectively bet that the righty still has upside. If they're wrong, they'll go from long-shot contenders to no-shot contenders.
Seattle Mariners: Their starting rotation's general well-being
The Mariners are fully healthy at the outset of spring training, but should still be mindful that four of their five starting pitchers—Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo—missed ample time with injuries last year.
The only guy who didn't was Luis Castillo, and he's a 33-year-old with over 1,400 major league innings on his arm since 2017.
Texas Rangers: Evan Carter's wrist
The Rangers have some age-related concerns at the top of their rotation, but what will really make or break their 2026 season is their offense. To this end, this pretty much needs to be the year that Carter finally breaks out.
He was a breakout candidate in 2024 and again in 2025, and injuries thwarted him both times. The right wrist fracture he suffered last August is merely the latest, and hopefully the last.
National League East
4 of 6
Atlanta Braves: Spencer Schwellenbach's elbow
The Braves know they won't have Schwellenbach on the mound for a while in 2026. He's already been placed on the 60-day injured list with bone spurs in his right elbow.
Particularly after not making good on their reported interest in adding to their rotation, this is the last thing the Braves needed. Schwellenbach, who has a 3.23 ERA in 38 career starts, will basically need to be a midseason savior for them.
Miami Marlins: Kyle Stowers' obliques
Yes, obliques. Plural. Stowers injured both of his obliques last season, resulting in his season coming to an early end in mid-August.
There's no indication that either oblique is still a concern now in 2026, but obliques are notoriously volatile body parts for hitters. And this is indeed Miami's best hitter, as he hit 25 home runs in just 117 games last year.
New York Mets: Francisco Lindor's hamate
Lindor underwent surgery on Wednesday to address a broken hamate bone in his left hand. The Mets are hoping he'll be ready by Opening Day, but it's not set in stone as a return date.
The All-Star shortstop has averaged 6.1 rWAR across the last four seasons, owing in part to his power production. That part of his game could be slow to recover, meaning he might not be 100-percent by Opening Day either way.
Philadelphia Phillies: Zack Wheeler's shoulder
This is admittedly an overly simple summary of Wheeler's situation. He had thoracic outlet surgery last October, a procedure which typically requires six-to-eight months of recovery time.
The Phillies already know that Wheeler won't be ready to pitch by Opening Day. Even when he is ready, he'll have questions to answer about his pitching form. Historically, TOS is a hard surgery for pitchers to come all the way back from.
Washington Nationals: Josiah Gray's arm
After an All-Star season in 2023, Gray had Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure in July of 2024. He's made two appearances in the majors over the last two years, plus three in the minors at the end of 2025.
Gray's goal is to be ready by Opening Day, which would be a positive development for a Nationals team that needs as many as it can get amid what has become a yearslong rebuild.
National League Central
5 of 6
Chicago Cubs: Justin Steele's elbow
Steele is almost a year removed from having surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his left elbow. He has since progressed to throwing off a mound, and he's expected to return sometime in the first half of 2026.
Assuming he avoids any setbacks, Steele's return could be the equivalent of a midseason trade for a top-of-the-rotation starter. He was steadily excellent between 2022 and 2024, making 78 starts and posting a 3.10 ERA.
Cincinnati Reds: Hunter Greene's general well-being
Greene has been one of MLB's top starters when healthy over the last two seasons, altogether making 45 starts and pitching to a 2.76 ERA. In some spurts, he's been downright unhittable.
The trouble is that "when healthy" does a lot of heavy lifting with Greene. Groin strains and other complications limited him to just 19 starts last year. He previously had elbow soreness in 2024, and further back in his history is Tommy John surgery.
Milwaukee Brewers: Brandon Woodruff's general well-being
William Contreras' recovery from finger surgery is also worth monitoring, but he was just fine when it was broken. And besides, the Brewers aren't on the hook to pay him $32 million this year, as they are with Woodruff.
It's a lot of money for a pitcher who has just 23 starts to show for the last three years. The lat strain he suffered last year should be in the past, but you can never take anything for granted with 33-year-olds with injury histories like his.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Jared Jones' elbow
Jones is coming back from an internal brace procedure that cost him the entire 2025 season. He's on the 60-day IL to start this season, but with an expectation that he'll be able to return in May.
The question then is whether Jones will have the same caliber of stuff that he did in 2024. It wasn't quite on Paul Skenes' level, but one metric will convince you it was actually pretty close.
St. Louis Cardinals: Lars Nootbaar's heels
With the club's rebuild in full swing, Cardinals fans can really only hope for individual players to brighten things up this season. Nootbaar has the ability to do that when he's healthy.
Presently, he's recovering from offseason surgery on both heels. He isn't likely to be ready for Opening Day, and it remains to be seen if good health will help bring back some of the speed he lost in 2024 and 2025.
National League West
6 of 6
Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll's hamate
Carroll is another member of the broken hamate brigade. His is in his right hand, which is his non-throwing hand. Even still, he needed surgery and a return in time for Opening Day is the best-case scenario.
The injury may be to Carroll's non-throwing hand, but his right hand is his bottom hand when he bats. He'll still have his elite speed to rely on if his power is slow to return, but any disadvantage in the NL West is a potential death sentence.
Colorado Rockies: Chase Dollander's knee
Kris Bryant is hurt again, but what else is new? Whatever hope the Rockies once had of his contract paying off is long gone.
They should be more focused on Dollander's knee, the site of a left patellar strain in 2025. A new and ostensibly improved delivery will hopefully help him avoid further knee trouble, which is crucial to his likelihood of breaking out in 2026.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Blake Snell's shoulder
The Dodgers have a couple of guys who are recovering from injuries right now, yet nothing looms larger than Snell's timeline.
Shoulder inflammation sidelined him for a big chunk of the 2025 season, and he had lingering discomfort during the offseason. He and the Dodgers are taking it slow, with the idea being to ensure the 33-year-old has gas in the tank whenever he's ready to pitch.
San Diego Padres: Joe Musgrove's elbow
Musgrove had Tommy John surgery all the way back in October of 2024, so it's not a surprise to hear that he's a full go for spring training. With Dylan Cease gone and Yu Darvish potentially retiring, the Padres certainly need him back.
Mind you, it's the good Musgrove the Padres need back. They only saw that guy in spurts in 2023 and 2024, and now he's 33 years old and coming off a major surgery.
San Francisco Giants: Bryce Eldridge's wrist
The Giants' lineup could be dangerous if Eldridge breaks out in 2026. His bat (and specifically his plus-plus power) are why he's ranked as a top prospect after he slammed 25 home runs at Triple-A in 2025.
He is coming off wrist surgery in October, however. He's supposedly fully recovered, but it's just never comforting whenever a power-first hitter has wrist surgery. Without healthy wrists, hitting for power is that much harder.
Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.
