Injury Bug Bites Early: Spring Training Opens With a Wave of Setbacks Across MLB
Spring training is supposed to be a time of hope - new beginnings, fresh starts, and the promise of what could be. But just as the first rays of Arizona and Florida sunshine hit the diamonds, Major League Baseball is already dealing with a familiar and unwelcome storyline: injuries. And not just a few nicks and bruises - we’re talking about significant setbacks to some of the game’s biggest names, all before the first official workout.
Let’s start with the bone that’s suddenly on every fan’s mind: the hamate. It’s a small, hook-shaped bone in the palm, tucked beneath the pinky - and it’s become the first villain of the 2026 season.
The repetitive torque of a baseball swing puts serious stress on it, and this week, three key players have fallen victim. Francisco Lindor (Mets), Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks), and Jackson Holliday (Orioles) are all undergoing hamate surgery.
Carroll’s injury means he’s out for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, and all three players are now questionable for Opening Day. That’s a blow not just to their clubs, but to fans hoping to see these stars hit the ground running in 2026.
Recovery from hamate surgery typically takes four to six weeks, but the real concern is what comes after. Hitters often lose some pop in their swing post-surgery - not ideal for three players expected to be key offensive engines this season.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo summed it up best: “It’s a part of the game… it’s just the timing of it that’s unfortunate.”
Unfortunately, the hamate isn’t the only body part under siege. The Atlanta Braves, still reeling from last year’s injury-plagued rotation, placed promising young arm Spencer Schwellenbach on the 60-day IL with an elbow issue. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and was hoping to bounce back with a healthy staff.
In Houston, the Astros are facing uncertainty with their new $95 million closer. Josh Hader is dealing with biceps inflammation after feeling discomfort during a bullpen session earlier this offseason. He’s resumed throwing, but any arm issue for a reliever - especially one with Hader’s mileage - is going to raise eyebrows.
Meanwhile, north of the border, the Toronto Blue Jays are bracing for a long stretch without Anthony Santander. The slugging outfielder is expected to miss at least five months following shoulder surgery, marking another tough chapter in what’s already been a rocky tenure in Toronto.
Year one of his five-year, $92.5 million deal was marred by injury and underperformance - just 54 games played, a career-low .565 OPS, and a back issue that kept him off the World Series roster. The Jays had hoped Santander could help fill the offensive void left by Bo Bichette’s departure.
Now, they’ll be looking elsewhere.
And the hits just keep coming for Toronto. Shane Bieber, who surprised some around the league by picking up his $16 million player option instead of testing free agency, is dealing with forearm fatigue and will start the season on the IL.
That decision to stay in-house now looks like it may have been injury-influenced. Add in Bowden Francis needing Tommy John surgery after a breakout 2024 campaign, and suddenly the Jays' pitching depth is under serious strain.
In Detroit, the Tigers are dealing with their own rotation shakeup. Reese Olson underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on February 2, which helps explain the team’s aggressive moves in the following days - signing Framber Valdez to a three-year, $115 million deal and bringing back Justin Verlander on a one-year, $13 million reunion tour. Detroit clearly wasn’t waiting around to see how things played out.
As for the Braves, they haven’t made a big splash in response to Schwellenbach’s setback - at least not yet. The right-hander fractured his pitching elbow last June, and while he’d been working his way back, inflammation around the joint has pushed his return timeline back at least two more months. For a team that’s already seen Chris Sale and Reynaldo López deal with injuries, it’s another early test of depth.
Across the league, teams are dealing with a mix of new injuries and flare-ups from old ones. And while some of these setbacks may end up being minor blips, others are already shaping the early storylines of the 2026 season.
Mets ace Kodai Senga may have said it best when asked about his spring training goals: “To not get injured.”
Right now, that’s looking like a pretty lofty ambition.