Top 100 prospects: Injuries & roster moves

Here is the latest on injuries and roster moves involving MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects:

LATEST NEWS

No. 3 Walker Jenkins, OF, Twins
Injury: Left ankle sprain
Expected return: Mid-to-late March
The Twins' top prospect recently suffered a left ankle sprain and is sidelined for the time being. The club estimates that Jenkins is “one to two weeks behind” as a result of the injury, which he sustained while jumping for a ball. The injury is being characterized as a mild high ankle sprain.

The belief is that Jenkins’ injury is minor, but any setback at all is a disappointment for the 20-year-old phenom. Jenkins suffered a significant left hamstring injury in his Minor League season opener last year, which caused him to miss two months and left him feeling somewhat limited for the entire season. (Last updated: March 1)

MORE TOP 100 PROSPECT NEWS
(ordered by ranking)

No. 19 Matt Shaw, INF, Cubs
Injury: Left oblique soreness
Expected return: Day to day
Shaw has resumed hitting in the cage. He resumed fielding and throwing work earlier in the week. He could join the team for on-field workouts next week, per manager Craig Counsell. (Last updated: Feb. 22)

No. 35 Rhett Lowder, RHP, Reds
Injury: Right elbow injury
Expected return: Possibly Opening Day
The Reds are being cautious with their second-ranked prospect after an MRI on his elbow showed no structural damage. Lowder said he didn't feel like he was recovering well from bullpens in January but feels great now that he's working with fellow rehabbing players. Manager Terry Francona declined to give a timetable for Lowder's return but said the team is hopeful that he can return by Opening Day. (Last updated: Feb. 14)

No. 37 Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Twins
Injury: Left ankle sprain
Expected return: Late February/Early March
Rodriguez missed significant time in 2024 with a recurring thumb injury and also was limited in previous seasons by knee and abdominal maladies. The 21-year-old is now a week or two behind in Spring Training after spraining his left ankle on Feb. 10 while fielding in the outfield. A team spokesman said imaging was negative. (Last updated: Feb. 17)

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No. 47 Jeferson Quero, C, Brewers
Injury: Torn labrum in right shoulder
Expected return: 2025
Quero injured his shoulder diving back to first base in the first inning of Triple-A Nashville's first game last season and underwent surgery. He reported to Spring Training at 75-80 percent by his estimation, and was throwing to bases during the first week of camp. Manager Pat Murphy said the plan is for Quero to catch in exhibition games before the end of camp. (Last updated: Feb. 14)

No. 48 Blake Mitchell, C, Royals
Injury: Broken right hamate bone
Expected return: Potentially early April
Mitchell's first time in big league camp didn't last long, as the Royals found a broken hamate bone in his right hand, which will require surgery in the coming week. Kansas City expects him to return to play in 4-to-6 weeks, meaning he'll be sidelined until the regular season. The 2023 first-rounder is expected to begin the season at High-A Quad Cities, where he ended the 2024 campaign. Mitchell had a delayed start to Spring Training as well after getting his tonsils removed in late January but was able to take part in catching bullpens and fully practice before the injury. (Last updated: Feb. 22)

No. 50 Alejandro Rosario, RHP, Rangers
Injury: Elbow
Per MLB.com's Kennedi Landry, Rosario suffered an elbow injury and will likely be out for the 2025 season.

"It's likely UCL, I don't want to officially say, but yeah, it's elbow and will probably require Tommy John,” Rangers general manager and president of baseball operations Chris Young told reporters. (Last updated: Feb. 23)

No. 54 Owen Caissie, OF, Cubs
Injury: Left oblique soreness
Expected return: March/April
Caissie is in a shut-down period (he estimated 10 days) after sustaining a groin strain. The Cubs are being cautious due to his ongoing comeback from core muscle surgery in October. (Last updated: Feb. 22)

No. 70 Travis Sykora, RHP, Nationals
Injury: Labrum surgery
Expected return: May
After a breakout 2024 campaign in which he struck out 129 batters with a 2.33 ERA in 85 Single-A innings, the 6-foot-6 right-hander underwent minor labrum surgery on his hip over the winter. He is expected to return to action in the Minors in May. (Last updated: Feb. 13)

No. 96 Jonny Farmelo, OF, Mariners
Injury: Torn right ACL
Expected return: Midseason 2025
The 29th overall pick in the 2023 Draft was in the midst of a breakout season when he tore his right ACL in June, just 46 games into the season. Farmelo is expected to return at some point this summer, and all eyes will be how his potentially double-plus speed returns after the injury. (Last updated: Jan. 24)