When will they be back? Bryce, Buxton, more
An unfortunate spate of injuries has impacted some of MLB's top stars. As we await their returns, here's the latest on when they could be back.
Bryce Harper, OF, Phillies (10-day IL)
Injury: Bruised left forearm/wrist
Expected return: Possibly June 2
Harper suffered his injury on April 28, when a 97 mph fastball ricocheted off his face and struck his left forearm. The slugger played with the issue for nearly a month before being placed on the IL. He's first eligible to return on Wednesday.
Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets (10-day IL)
Injury: Right hand sprain
Expected return: Possibly May 29
According to Mets acting general manager Zack Scott, the team is hoping to have Alonso back before the end of the month. He's first eligible to return from the IL on Saturday.
Byron Buxton, OF, Twins (10-day IL)
Injury: Grade 2 right hip strain
Expected return: Possibly week of May 31
Buxton is on track to begin a rehab assignment by the end of this week, and he could return to the Twins after two or three rehab games.
J.T. Realmuto, C, Phillies (10-day IL)
Injury: Left wrist bone bruise
Expected return: Possibly week of May 31
Realmuto is pain-free, but manager Joe Girardi said it seems “kind of quick” to expect the catcher to return by Saturday, when he's first eligible to be activated.
Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pirates (60-day IL)
Injury: Left wrist strain
Expected return: Possibly June 3
Hayes is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis and has had no issues with his wrist, according to Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk. The rookie third baseman is eligible to return from the 60-day IL on June 3.
Joey Votto, 1B, Reds (10-day IL)
Injury: Fractured left thumb
Expected return: Possibly early/mid-June
Votto is fielding grounders and swinging a bat, putting him on track to return in the first half of June.
George Springer, OF, Blue Jays (10-day IL)
Injury: Right quad strain
Expected return: Possibly early/mid-June
Springer still needs to progress to sprinting and baserunning drills before he can begin a Minor League rehab assignment.
Corey Seager, SS, Dodgers (10-day IL)
Injury: Fractured right hand
Expected return: Possibly mid-to-late June
Nearly two weeks since he fractured his right hand on May 16, Seager is taking grounders and swinging a bat with one hand.
Michael Conforto, OF, Mets (10-day IL)
Injury: Strained right hamstring
Expected return: Late June
Mets acting general manager Zack Scott doesn't expect to have Conforto or McNeil back from their respective hamstring strains for another month.
Zac Gallen, RHP, D-backs (10-day IL)
Injury: UCL sprain in right elbow
Expected return: Possibly June
Gallen has been playing catch on flat ground up to 120 feet and is nearing a bullpen session. If he continues to progress, it's possible Arizona could get him back before the end of next month.
Luke Voit, 1B, Yankees (10-day IL)
Injury: Grade 2 right oblique strain
Expected return: Possibly June
The Yankees haven't offered a timetable for Voit's return, but it will likely be at least a few weeks.
Chris Sale, LHP, Red Sox (10-day IL)
Injury: Recovering from Tommy John surgery
Expected return: Possibly late June/early July
Sale is throwing bullpen sessions and working his way toward facing live hitters. May 30 will mark 14 months since the left-hander underwent Tommy John surgery.
Mike Trout, OF, Angels (10-day IL)
Injury: Grade 2 right calf strain
Expected return: Early/mid-July
Trout could miss six to eight weeks with a Grade 2 right calf strain. The superstar center fielder suffered the injury while running the bases against Cleveland.
Marcell Ozuna, OF, Braves (10-day IL)
Injury: Two fractured fingers on left hand
Expected return: Early/mid-July
Ozuna won't need surgery, but he's expected to miss at least six weeks after fracturing the middle and ring fingers on his left hand while diving into third base.
Corey Kluber, RHP, Yankees (10-day IL)
Injury: Subscapular muscle strain in right shoulder
Expected return: Late July
Kluber will be shut down from throwing for the next four weeks and is expected to miss a minimum of two months with his shoulder injury.
Noah Syndergaard, RHP, Mets (60-day IL)
Injury: Recovering from Tommy John surgery
Expected return: Possibly August
Syndergaard was removed from his rehab start with Low-A St. Lucie due to right elbow inflammation and will be shut down from throwing for six weeks.