MLB Top Prospects: May Injury Updates

While we are starting to see actual reports and stats posted by minor leaguers, there are a number of our top 50 fantasy prospects which have already missed time this year due to injuries. Let's take a look at when we can expect to see them back in action, and if this affects their timeline to the majors.

RETURNED TO ACTION

#3 Javier Baez 

Baez returned to game action on April 20th, but has struggled at the plate so far. In 21 games so far he has hit .143/.234/.202 with one home run, 8 walks, and 35 strikeouts. I had anticipated at the start of the year that Baez would go out, crush AAA for a month, and force the Cubs to make the move to bring him up to second base or even third base. Unfortunately, I don't think we see him before the All-Star break at this point, as he really needs to show that he has to hit for an extended period of time.

#11 Clint Frazier

Frazier debuted this year with Low-A Lake County on April 17th, going 1 for 5 against Burlington. He has appeared in 27 games in total, and is hitting .259/.349/.384 with a home run and five stolen bases. 

STILL INJURED

#1 Byron Buxton

Well, Buxton returned to game action on May 4th at High-A Fort Myers. He appeared in five games, struck out 8 times in 20 at bats, and unfortunately managed to aggravate his left wrist injury while sliding into a base. There is unfortunately no timetable for his return as of now, and while it was a long shot that he debuted this year, it looks like practically impossible at this point.

#6 Taijuan Walker

Walker has not appeared in a minor league game since April 9th, when he unfortunately had a setback. He has been throwing bullpen sessions lately, but it doesn't sound like there is an updated timeline of when he could return to Seattle.

#9 Addison Russell

No news is... well, it's no news unfortunately for Addison Russell. He's been out for a month now with a torn hamstring, and it sounds like he continues to work to get back to game action, but he's another prospect without a clear timeframe for return to the field. 

#13 Dylan Bundy

Bundy threw live batting practice this week as he continues to work back to the field. I still think we see him return to game action some time in June or July, with the possibility of a late season call up to work in relief.

#25 Kyle Zimmer

Zimmer heads to AA to start his season this week, and will be interesting to watch as we see what he can do at the level. It's entirely possible we see Zimmer in the majors before the end of the season.

#38 Austin Meadows

Meadows was expected to debut when I wrote about injury updates in April, but has not been able to get on the field yet this season. He is still nursing a hamstring strain, and the last update really to be found honestly was two weeks ago.

#43 Max Fried

Looks like we're getting pretty close to Fried debuting with Lake Elsinore (h/t to PadresProspects). Should be there in another week or so.

#Padres LHP prospect Max Fried hit 93 mph in an extended ST game today. He'll get one more start there and then head to Lake Elsinore.

— Corey Brock (@FollowThePadres) May 17, 2014

New to the Injury Report

#7 Archie Bradley

Well, this wasn't what we wanted to see. Bradley was placed on the disabled list back on April 29th with a flexor strain in his throwing elbow. It remains to be seen when exactly he will start throwing again, but is expected to be re-examined soon.

#27 Mark Appel

This one isn't necessarily an injury, as the Astros sent Mark Appel back to extended spring training to help with ramping up for the full season. An update from beat writer Evan Drellich last week noted that Appel is expected to be back out at Lancaster soon.

No News Expected

#12 - Miguel Sano - Sano had Tommy John surgery and isn't expected to return to the field until much later in the season, if at all this year.

#21 - Jameson Taillon - Taillon had successful Tommy John surgery last month, and should be out for the full season.