Top 10 MLB players benefiting from hiatus
Cole Hamels (Career: 51.6 fWAR | 59.6 bWAR)
This offseason, Cole Hamels received a generous 1-year contract from the Atlanta Braves. This would mark Hamels’ return to the NL East, the place he won a World Series MVP as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Then, it was announced in early February that the veteran lefty had “irritated” his shoulder in offseason workouts, followed by news that he wouldn’t be ready for opening day.
Cole Hamels will not have time to be ready for opening-day roster, #Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos said. Hamels told them it's nothing serious. But missing 3 weeks at least, he won't have enough time to build up and be ready by opening day.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) February 12, 2020
The most recent reports, a tweet by Braves reporter for The Athletic David O’Brien has it that Hamels hasn’t resumed throwing and there was “no timetable for his return.”
However, given the current hiatus, Hamels will have plenty of time to resume throwing and get ready for the start of the season — whenever that will be. What’s more, the fact that this season will likely be shortened could mean that he won’t have to put too much strain on his arm, making him potentially dangerous come the postseason.
In what could be the 36-year-old veteran lefty’s final big league season, you don’t want to see him walk away limping. Given the opportunity to go out on top, he’ll likely chomp at the bit.