There can be no silver lining for those who lost Jose Ramirez to a fractured hamate bone over the weekend. Their first-round pick is now out for more than a month, and no matter how shallow the league, there's no accounting for that loss.
Worse yet, the injury comes only two weeks after consensus best player in Fantasy Aaron Judge was lost to a stress fracture in his rib and a week after Ronald Acuna's hamstring put him out of commission again. Between those three and Oneil Cruz (fractured hand), the IL is as abounding in star power as it's been all year.
Those of us who've managed to dodge those bullets can indeed see a silver lining, though, and it's that Hunter Brown at long last returned from a shoulder strain Tuesday. The undisputed Fantasy ace made only two starts before landing on the IL in early April.
Some others who have returned this week include Cal Raleigh (strained oblique), Yainer Diaz (strained oblique), J.P. Crawford (bruised hand), Kodai Senga (lumbar spine inflammation) and Casey Mize (strained adductor). The list is actually shrinking faster than it's growing, but it doesn't feel that way with so many high draft picks having succumbed to injury.
I'll remind you once again that the order here is more about how impactful the player will be when healthy than how close he is to returning, though both factors carry some weight.
Too valuable to drop, period1
Elly De La Cruz Cincinnati Reds SS strained hamstring - testing himself on the bases early this week to determine if he's ready for a rehab assignment2 
Aaron Judge New York Yankees RF stress fracture in rib - about two weeks into an injury that will be reassessed in 4-6 weeks3 
Ronald Acuna Jr. Atlanta Braves RF strained hamstring - same injury cost him two weeks earlier this year, but Braves expected to give him longer this time; first half is likely over4 
Jose Ramirez Cleveland Guardians 3B fractured hamate bone - expected to miss 5-7 weeks, which puts him out until the second half5 
Francisco Lindor New York Mets SS strained calf - has been playing in simulated games as he nears a rehab assignment, could return before the end of June6 
Oneil Cruz Pittsburgh Pirates CF fractured hand - fractures are non-displaced, which will hopefully put him on the closer end of the 4-to-6 week timetable7 
Max Fried New York Yankees SP bone bruise in elbow - ready to resume throwing off a mound; first session will be "touch and feel" as he progresses toward rehab assignment8 
Hunter Greene Cincinnati Reds SP bone spurs in elbow - will begin rehab assignment Thursday, may need a month to build up but should return before All-Star break9 
Tyler Glasnow Los Angeles Dodgers SP back spasms - still no word on when he'll resume throwing following an injury that seemed minor at first; out until the All-Star break at least10 
Garrett Crochet Boston Red Sox RP strained lat - mixed messages about injury, from it being "a lot worse" than first reported to it being asymptomatic; should return in second half11 
Munetaka Murakami Chicago White Sox 1B strained hamstring - about three weeks into 4-to-6-week timetable, so we should hear talk of him resuming running soon12 
Corey Seager Texas Rangers SS concussion - generally banged up after home plate collision, seemed like he might avoid the IL at first so may require only the minimum seven days13 
Konnor Griffin Pittsburgh Pirates SS flexor strain - has been throwing at team's spring training complex, could return before the end of the month14 
Ryan Helsley Baltimore Orioles RP elbow inflammation - has looked good in two rehab appearances, so you can expect him back at some point this week15 
Edwin Diaz Los Angeles Dodgers RP loose bodies in elbow - will throw first bullpen session this week, trending toward returning right around the All-Star break16 
Blake Snell Los Angeles Dodgers SP loose bodies in elbow - began playing catch over a week ago; had same less-invasive procedure as Tarik Skubal and now nearly a month into recovery17 
Teoscar Hernandez Los Angeles Dodgers LF strained hamstring - resuming baseball activities this week and could go on rehab assignment this weekend, expected to beat initial one-month timetable18 
Eury Perez Miami Marlins SP adductor strain - initial timetable was eight weeks, but he's set to begin rehab assignment Thursday after missing only threeAlso really difficult to drop19 
Brent Rooker Athletics DH bone bruise in knee - cortisone shot will hopefully speed up recovery, allowing him to return when first eligible20 
Brandon Woodruff Milwaukee Brewers SP shoulder inflammation - scheduled for another rehab start Tuesday after iffy showing in Complex League; Sunday return possible21 
Kris Bubic Kansas City Royals SP elbow soreness - felt something in shoulder in rehab start, but resumed throwing Sunday when no structural damage was found22 
Spencer Strider Atlanta Braves SP elbow inflammation - confirmed to have no structural damage; will be reevaluated after four weeks but placed on 60-day IL, keeping him out until mid-August23 
Cole Ragans Kansas City Royals RP elbow impingement - latest setback Friday has him slated for more testing; return is entirely up in the air but likely won't be in the first half24 
Roman Anthony Boston Red Sox OF sprained wrist and finger - still hurts to swing, but he feels like he's making progress; hard to imagine he'll return before the All-Star break25 
Vinnie Pasquantino Kansas City Royals 1B fractured hamate bone - has already undergone surgery; 4-to-6-week timetable will put him out until second half26 
Will Smith Los Angeles Dodgers C neck inflammation - not expected to be a long-term absence, but he's lost an increasing number of at-bats to Dalton Rushing as the year has progressed27 
Mickey Moniak Colorado Rockies LF ankle tendinitis - doing most baseball activities but still not changing directions while running; likely still has a few weeks of recovery ahead28 
Ryan Jeffers Minnesota Twins C fractured hamate bone - began taking swings about a week ago, probably still a month away29 
Daniel Palencia Chicago Cubs RP elbow inflammation - no timetable offered; just pitched Monday and showed usual velocity, so hopefully severity is low30 
Emilio Pagan Cincinnati Reds RP strained hamstring - has been throwing bullpen sessions and should begin facing hitters this week, with an eye on returning before the end of June31 
Mick Abel Minnesota Twins P elbow inflammation - looked good in first rehab outing with five strikeouts in three scoreless innings; likely to need at least two more32 
Shane Bieber Toronto Blue Jays SP forearm fatigue - latest rehab start was best one; one more to go33 
Matthew Boyd Chicago Cubs SP torn meniscus - shoulder soreness canceled weekend return but set to resume rehab assignment Saturday; could return by the end of JuneStill a priority on some level34 
Logan Henderson Milwaukee Brewers SP strained back - no updates since his injection two weeks ago, making a June return unlikely35 
Kyle Teel Chicago White Sox C sprained knee - set to begin rehab assignment Tuesday; suffered the knee injury in an earlier one in which he was rehabbing a hamstring strain36 
Daulton Varsho Toronto Blue Jays CF wrist inflammation - has received cortisone shot and is already back to hitting in the cages; doesn't seem like the sort of injury that will sideline him for long37 
Spencer Schwellenbach Atlanta Braves P bone spurs in elbow - has begun throwing program; no word on rehab assignment yet, so likely out until August, at least38 
Nick Pivetta San Diego Padres RP flexor strain - increased throwing distance and intensity a week ago, still trending toward second-half return39 
Justin Steele Chicago Cubs SP UCL revision surgery - scheduled to throw weighted balls this week and then will progress to actual ones, could potentially return in AugustStashing is purely a luxury40 
Luis Robert New York Mets CF herniated disc - back has been responding to treatment, and he's been doing some hitting and running; sounds like he could return in second half41 
Trevor Story Boston Red Sox SS sports hernia - was expected to miss 2-3 months as of May 21 surgery, so looking to return at some point in the second half42 
Joe Musgrove San Diego Padres SP Tommy John surgery - back to playing catch as of late May, still hopeful of returning in second half43 
Seth Lugo Kansas City Royals SP concussion - expected back Friday; CT scan came back negative after he was hit in the head by a liner Wednesday, but he wound up on the IL anyway44 
Brendan Donovan Seattle Mariners 2B strained groin - finally cleared to run Tuesday, likely to begin rehab assignment before the end of the month45 
Chase DeLauter Cleveland Guardians RF fractured rib - no official timetable, but typical six weeks would put him out until August; he had been pretty useless since massive opening weekend46 
Trent Grisham New York Yankees CF strained hamstring - determined to be of moderate severity, which will likely sideline him through the All-Star break47 
Giancarlo Stanton New York Yankees DH strained calf - tweaked injury soon after he resumed running, which could set back return by several weeks48 
Noah Schultz Chicago White Sox SP patellar tendinitis - threw bullpen session Wednesday and beginning rehab assignment Tuesday, which should last multiple starts49 
Bailey Ober Minnesota Twins SP flexor strain - began playing catch last week, should resume throwing off mound this week and go on rehab assignment soon thereafter50 
Gleyber Torres Detroit Tigers 2B strained oblique - same injury cost him a month earlier this year, so you can expect it to take at least as long this time51 
Jorge Polanco New York Mets 1B Achilles bursitis - earlier rehab assignment was cut short due to continued soreness, but he's expected to resume it this week52 
Addison Barger Toronto Blue Jays 3B elbow inflammation - on verge of a rehab assignment, which could be a lengthy one given that he's appeared in one game since early April53 
Heliot Ramos San Francisco Giants LF strained quadriceps - has been building up as a hitter and runner and is now about ready to begin rehab assignment Wednesday54 
Grayson Rodriguez Los Angeles Angels SP back inflammation - injury isn't considered serious, but he wasn't providing much reason for optimism even before it Add CBS Sports on Google Join the Conversation comments 
