These injury replacements are ready to step up

It doesn’t take long for a team’s best-laid plans to go awry.

Injuries are inevitable when Spring Training begins and players start to ramp up for the regular season. But the show goes on, and every team needs a contingency plan.

Due to injuries, the players below have been thrust into more prominent roles than they were expected to fill when camps opened in March.

C.J. Abrams, SS, Padres
The Padres have a huge hole at shortstop after Fernando Tatis Jr. fractured his left wrist and needed to undergo surgery, which is expected to keep him out until June. While Ha-Seong Kim started at shortstop on Opening Day, Abrams (MLB’s No. 9 prospect) could eventually get a chance to run with the job until Tatis returns. The fleet-footed 21-year-old earned a spot on the Padres’ roster with a .324 average, two homers and an .873 OPS over 17 games this spring.

Wilmer Flores, 3B, Giants
Flores has spent much of his career as a part-time player, reaching 400 plate appearances only three times in 10 years (436 PAs in 2021). But after third baseman Evan Longoria underwent surgery to repair a ligament in his right index finger on March 29, Flores is expected to fill in at the hot corner. The right-handed hitter has posted a lifetime .723 OPS vs. same-handed pitchers (.822 vs. LHP), but the Giants are likely going to need him to play every day for the time being, especially with left-handed hitters Tommy La Stella and LaMonte Wade Jr. joining Longoria on the injured list.

Jordan Hicks, SP, Cardinals
After turning heads with superhuman velocity -- he reached 105 mph on multiple occasions -- as a rookie in 2018, Hicks opened 2019 as the Cardinals’ closer, but his season came to an end that June when he underwent Tommy John surgery. The right-hander barely pitched in the two years that followed, opting out of the shortened 2020 campaign and missing most of 2021 due to right elbow inflammation. As a result, Hicks entered 2022 having thrown just 38 2/3 innings since the beginning of 2019. But with Jack Flaherty hitting the IL due to a right shoulder ailment, Hicks will bring his sizzling heater to St. Louis’ rotation as the team’s No. 5 starter.

Tanner Houck, SP, Red Sox
Houck might have made Boston’s rotation regardless, but Chris Sale’s injury -- a stress fracture in his right rib cage that landed him on the 60-day IL to start the season -- made it a certainty. Houck, who resembles a right-handed Sale on the mound, had an impressive rookie season in 2021, posting a 3.52 ERA with an 87-to-21 K/BB ratio in 69 innings spanning 18 appearances (13 starts). With Sale out, the 25-year-old is arguably the team’s second-best starter behind Nathan Eovaldi.

Nick Lodolo, SP, Reds
Hunter Greene (MLB’s No. 22 prospect) was the Reds prospect who drew the most attention this spring, but Lodolo (No. 42) actually had the more impressive Cactus League performance, recording a 2.38 ERA with 12 strikeouts and two walks in 11 1/3 innings. The 6-foot-6 left-hander doesn’t throw as hard as his right-handed counterpart, who features an eye-popping 80-grade fastball, but Lodolo has three above-average pitches with plus command. He joined Greene in the Reds’ rotation after Luis Castillo and Mike Minor both went on the IL due to shoulder injuries.

Tylor Megill, SP, Mets
The additions of Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt left Megill without a clear path to a rotation spot when camp opened, but a spot opened up when an MRI revealed a stress reaction in Jacob deGrom’s right scapula. With deGrom on the IL and Scherzer slightly delayed due to a hamstring issue, Megill drew the unexpected Opening Day starting assignment and did a fine impression of New York’s two aces. Averaging 96.1 mph with his four-seamer -- nearly two mph higher than his 2021 average -- Megill held the Nationals to three hits and struck out six with no walks over five scoreless innings.

Jake Odorizzi, SP, Astros
Odorizzi had a career year in 2019 (3.51 ERA, 10.1 K/9), but he recorded a 4.49 ERA and a 7.8 K/9 across 118 1/3 innings since, making five trips to the injured list in that time. He made both of his appearances in the 2021 postseason out of the bullpen, and after Houston re-signed Justin Verlander, Odorizzi was positioned to begin this season pitching in relief as well. However, Lance McCullers Jr.’s lingering forearm issue landed him on the IL to start the year and opened up a rotation spot.

Justin Steele, SP, Cubs
Steele seemed likely to begin 2022 in Chicago’s bullpen after the team claimed Wade Miley off waivers from the Reds and signed free agent Marcus Stroman, but with Miley (left elbow inflammation), Adbert Alzolay (right lat strain) and Alec Mills (lower back strain) all going on the IL, Steele got a chance to step into the Cubs’ rotation. The left-hander struggled in nine starts last season, posting a 4.95 ERA and a 5.99 FIP, but he held the Brewers to four hits over five scoreless innings in the Cubs’ second game of the year.

Spencer Strider, RP, Braves
Strider impressed on Opening Day for the defending World Series-champion Braves, striking out five batters over two perfect innings while flashing 100-mph gas. Atlanta’s bullpen is well stocked with left-handers, but the team is in need of a right-handed setup man after Luke Jackson was diagnosed with a torn UCL in his right elbow. The 23-year-old Strider may be the man for the job.

Matt Vierling, CF, Phillies
Philadelphia was planning to enter the season with a center-field platoon, but after Odúbel Herrera suffered a right oblique strain and Mickey Moniak fractured his right hand in the team's final exhibition game, Vierling is the last man standing. The 25-year-old showed promise in limited opportunities last year, posting a 53.8% hard-hit rate while hitting .324 with two homers and an .843 OPS in 77 plate appearances.