The Latest Phillies Injury Updates
- Ranger Suárez (mild back stiffness)
- Status: TBD; scratched from Friday’s spring training start
- Ranger Suárez is dealing with “mild back stiffness,” according to multiple reports from spring training — including The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Scott Lauber, who reports Suárez felt stiff on Sunday after a 60-pitch Saturday intrasquad. He won’t start on Friday as planned, and the Phillies will know more in the next day or two.
- It’s notable, of course, because it was a nagging back injury that severely hampered Suárez down the stretch last season; contributing to a 6.54 ERA in his last 11 starts of the regular season. Rob Thomson said it’s “not as bad” as last year’s injury, but it’s certainly a hold-your-breath moment until we learn more. Suárez is in a contract year, another factor that could have significant ramifications on his long-term outlook, if the injury is anything serious. — Last Updated March 19 by Nathan Ackerman
- Johan Rojas (right shoulder discomfort)
- Status: Outfield debut coming Thursday
- Johan Rojas has yet to play center field this spring — he suffered a shoulder injury sliding into second base while playing in the Dominican Winter League playoffs — but that’ll change on Thursday, Rob Thomson said Wednesday. He’ll patrol center for the first time this year, against the Braves, a week out from Opening Day. — Last Updated March 19 by Nathan Ackerman
- Matt Strahm (left shoulder impingement)
- Status: Could begin season on 15-day IL
- Matt Strahm has not pitched in a Grapefruit League game since March 5. He was dealing with inflammation in his left shoulder, but is now throwing pain free. Strahm threw from 75 feet on Saturday, March 15 and will throw again from 90 feet on Sunday. Rob Thomson told reporters, including Phillies Nation‘s Ty Daubert, that there is a “chance” he could be ready for Opening Day.
- Strahm thinks he’ll be ready for Opening Day, but he’s leaving it up to the team to make the final call. He gave a thorough explanation to reporters on Sunday regarding what went wrong with his shoulder. “It’s the positioning that my arm falls into when I get it back,” Strahm said. “So it’s basically the inflammation out of there allows the muscles to work how they’re supposed to. With inflammation, swelling shuts off muscles. And then with swelling, as I was coming back, it wasn’t stabilizing my shoulder, and then my shoulder was banging around. So, as long as we keep the inflammation out, the swelling out, it will be good.”
- As Todd Zolecki of MLB.com noted in his story, a potential injured list placement for Strahm can be backdated three days before the beginning of the regular season. He can return as early as April 8 against the Braves in Atlanta. — Last Updated March 16 by Destiny Lugardo
- Weston Wilson (left oblique strain)
- Status: Out six weeks, will begin the season on 10-day injured list
- Weston Wilson was one of the front runners to win the last bench spot as a fourth or fifth right-handed hitting infield/outfield option. He’ll have to wait a little longer to make an impact with the big league club. The 30-year-old will open the season on the injured list with an oblique strain. Wilson felt something while hitting in the batting cages on February 21.
- Wilson told reporters, including MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, that the injury was “a freak accident.” “I didn’t feel anything before, so, like, nothing warning me,” Wilson said, “Disappointment, I would say, is the biggest word. It sucks. I was really looking forward to starting the year. I felt really good about breaking with the team.” — Last Updated Feb. 24 by Destiny Lugardo
