Fantasy Baseball Injury Report: The All-Scar Team

Nine years ago I started selecting my MLB All-Scar teams as a way to retroactively look at the most impactful injuries of the season at the All-Star break. When last year's All-Star game was canceled the All-Scar distinctions were shelved too. Well I can happily report the All-Scar honors are back for their 10th anniversary with some noteworthy players making up the roster.

*Sidenote: Ironically the traditional gift for a 10th anniversary is something made of tin to resemble strength and durability.

CATCHER

AL: Mitch Garver

The Twins backstop suffered a few bumps and bruises, including a knee contusion, before suffering a particularly painful injury. Garver suffered a left "groin contusion" that required surgery to repair and has not played since early June. He, reportedly, is nearing a rehab assignment, but his prolonged absence was impactful.

NL: Travis d'Arnaud

The veteran catcher had emerged as a top option in a shallow position after a bounce-back campaign with the Braves. Unfortunately, injuries have once again become an issue, as he has played just 23 games due to a ligament tear in his thumb. The injury required surgery and will likely keep him out for at least four more weeks.

FIRST BASE

AL: Josh Naylor

American League first baseman have been remarkably healthy, which is why I had to get creative with this one. Naylor had made 15 starts at first base for Cleveland before he suffered a gruesome leg injury. The collision with teammate Ernie Clement left Naylor with multiple fractures to his fibula and an ankle dislocation. He has since undergone surgery and is done for the year.

NL: Cody Bellinger

The former MVP notched four games before suffering an injury that was initially believed to be a calf contusion. As the injury progressed, a crack of his fibula was discovered, forcing Bellinger to miss 46 games. He missed an additional 10 games with a hamstring strain but has played in Los Angeles' last 17 contests. 

SECOND BASE

AL: Nick Madrigal

The White Sox make multiple appearances on the All-Scar team with Madrigal's injury just the latest setback in what has been a difficult season. He suffered a severe hamstring injury that required surgery to repair a tear in the proximal end. He should be ready for the 2022 campaign. 

NL: Mike Moustakas

A non-COVID illness was the culprit for Moustakas' first trip to the IL, but a heel contusion has cost him more time. He has not played since late May, and is still reporting soreness in the area and has yet to shed the protective walking boot. He remains out indefinitely. 

SHORTSTOP

AL: Adalberto Mondesi

The Royals speedster has played just 10 games for Kansas City. He started the season on the IL with an oblique strain and made a brief cameo before heading back to the IL with a hamstring strain. He recorded three more games the second time around before straining the opposite oblique. He has begun field work but remains without a definitive timeline.

NL: Corey Seager

Seager joins his Dodger teammate Bellinger on the All-Scar team with a bone injury of his own. The L.A. shortstop continues to work his way back from a broken fifth metatarsal on his right hand. Seager has reported lingering pain and soreness in the area but hopes to be back in action for a series against the Giants, starting July 19.

THIRD BASE

AL: Anthony Rendon

The Angels infielder has struggled with soft tissue injuries, including groin and hamstring strains. He also missed time with a triceps injury and a knee contusion. All in all Rendon has needed three IL stints so far this season and will navigate the remainder of the season with an elevated level of injury risk.

NL: Brian Anderson

Anderson suffered an oblique strain in April and then subluxed his left shoulder in May. The associated damage was moderate, but surgery was not deemed necessary. Instead, Anderson has spent the last six weeks rehabbing and is targeting an early August return.

OUTFIELD

AL: Mike Trout, Luis Robert and Eloy Jimenez

The 2021 All-Scar outfield may be the most talented group to ever earn this dubious distinction. Trout, the consensus top pick in most fantasy drafts, has missed the longest stretch of his career with a Grade 2 calf strain. He last played on May 17, and the team is still unsure when he will return to action.

A pair of White Sox outfielders join Trout on the team. Robert suffered a Grade 3 hip flexor strain on May 2 and remains weeks away from returning. Jimenez is still waiting to make his season debut after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle. Fortunately, he appears close to a return as he is currently on a rehab assignment. 

NL: Ronald Acuna, Kyle Schwarber and Ketel Marte

Okay, I cheated a bit here, as the overall impact of the injuries for this trio really hasn't been felt just yet. Acuna's injury is the most significant of the bunch as he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. His 2021 season is over, and he will undergo surgery in the near future. Fortunately, studies reveal a high return to play rate for professional baseball players following the injury though the average missed time is about 10 months. Look for his recovery to carry over into next season. 

Schwarber's hamstring strain ended his hot hitting streak and is expected to keep him out for a prolonged period of time. Unlike Acuna, the Washington outfielder will not require surgery, but his injury still derailed one of the most impressive home run barrages in recent memory.

Rounding out this trifecta is Marte who has battled a lingering hamstring injury for the majority of the season. Hamstring injuries have been a problematic injury across the league, and Marte is no exception. He will be at an increased risk for re-injury when he does eventually return.

STARTING PITCHERS

AL: Tyler Glasnow and Corey Kluber

Glasnow is currently on the 60-day IL with a partial ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tear and flexor strain in his throwing elbow. He opted to take the conservative approach with treatment and not turn to Tommy John surgery right away. The Rays right-hander is hoping he can return this season but history isn't on his side. If he does need surgery, the injury would impact the 2022 season as well.

Sadly, Kluber is making a repeat appearance on the All-Scar team. A broken arm in 2019 earned him his first nod, and a subscapularis strain of his right shoulder is the reason for this year's appearance. He may have earned three straight "honors" if there had been an All-Scar squad last season after he suffered a Grade 2 teres minor strain in his one inning pitched with the Rangers. He is hoping to return in late August. 

NL: Jack Flaherty and Stephen Strasburg

An oblique strain derailed Flaherty's dazzling start, marked by an 8-1 record and 2.90 ERA. The injury is expected to keep him out through the end of the month, though the 25-year-old hopes to begin a throwing program soon. 

Strasburg makes his first All-Scar appearance since 2015. This year he has added shoulder inflammation and a trapezius strain to his laundry list of injuries that includes Tommy John surgery, wrist surgery and other upper extremities strains. He is nearing a rehab assignment but will have to put together a sustained stretch of good health before anyone invested in the right-hander can feel confident about him moving forward.

RELIEF PITCHERS

AL: Trevor Rosenthal

The A's had hoped the veteran would assume closing duties for the team after a successful 2020. Unfortunately, he will not throw a single pitch this season after undergoing two surgeries. The first procedure was to address thoracic outlet syndrome, while a second procedure was needed to repair a torn labrum in his hip.

NL: Jordan Hicks

The Cardinals reliever has thrown just big-league 10 innings since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2019. He continues to battle inflammation in the elbow, and St. Louis is unsure of when he will return to the mound.