Unfortunately, injuries are a part of the game of baseball.
Every spring, a number of players get hurt while ramping up for the new season, either re-aggravating something that nagged them over the offseason or sustaining a new, troublesome health concern.
This preseason has been rife with injuries to notable players, from Gerrit Cole to Sean Murphy. This latest injury update — on the same day as the beginning of the Tokyo Series and just about one week shy of the stateside Opening Day on March 27 — will have fans biting their nails ahead of the start of the season.
Minnesota Twins star Royce Lewis hurt... again
Royce Lewis is a star when healthy. He's been worth 3.6 WAR per 162 games in his career, posting an .825 OPS (126 OPS+) to match. At just 25 years old, he should be viewed as one of the game's brightest young players.
But, boy oh boy, has it been a nightmare trying to keep him healthy. He's played in just 152 games since debuting in the majors in 2022, including a career-high 82 contests last season. Despite appearing healthy and geared up for this spring, he hurt his lower body again over the weekend trying to run out a ground ball.
Royce Lewis pulled up running to first base and exited the game with what looks like a leg injury. pic.twitter.com/dgzimQfi7y
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) March 16, 2025
Lewis has suffered two torn ACLs already in his career to go along with numerous hamstring, quad, and oblique injuries. He's so good, but so frail.
Expect Jose Miranda or Brooks Lee to man third base as long as Lewis is out. So much of the Twins' hopes this season rests on the health of great-but-fragile players like Lewis, Carlos Correa, and Byron Buxton. They'll have to hope this injury isn't an omen for things to come in 2025.
Jung Hoo Lee heading for MRI for back troubles
Jung Hoo Lee didn't get much of a chance to shine in his rookie season with the San Francisco Giants, playing in just 37 games before a collision with the wall in center field required season-ending labrum surgery.
Now, his sophomore campaign is off to an ominous start, as he'll receive an MRI for a back injury that continues to pester him. He was scratched from the Giants' lineup over the weekend and hasn't returned to actions since.
Lee, 26, signed a six-year, $113MM contract with the Giants after starring in the KBO. In 35 plate appearances this spring, the outfielder is hitting .300/.400/.567 with two home runs. Lee is a key part of the team's lineup, as his lefty bat serves as a perfect complement to righty sluggers Willy Adames and Matt Chapman.
Hopefully, the MRI isn't a prelude to an extended absence for the Korean star.
Rangers starter Jon Gray out for "extended period"
The last thing the Texas Rangers needed was an injury to a reliable rotation member in spring training.
Alas, that's what happened when pitcher Jon Gray was struck by a line drive off Michael Toglia's bat last week. The pitcher broke his wrist, which we now know will land him on the 60-day IL and preclude him from throwing for at least six weeks.
Jon Gray left the game with a trainer back in Surprise after getting hit with this 106.4 mph comebacker off the bat of Michael Toglia pic.twitter.com/HTk6lqEJGh
— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) March 15, 2025
With Cody Bradford also out for an extended time with the dreaded label of "elbow soreness", the team will have to turn to two young, unproven (but exciting) prospects in Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter. Neither have taken to the big leagues well in limited action yet, but the team is already perilously thin on options.
If the Rangers want to compete this year, there will be tremendous emphasis on Jacob DeGrom, 36, and Nathan Eovaldi, 35, staying healthy for the entirety of the campaign. That is... not a safe bet.