Pitchers and Catchers are not the only things reporting this week. MLB teams are dumping injury news on our timelines and ruining the hopes and dreams of early fantasy baseball drafters. The reports have (thankfully) slowed down in recent days, but there is always more bad news creeping around the corner. Teams around the league are ramping up for MLB Spring Training, and this will result in more injuries. There is no avoiding them. We can only hope the nicks and strains are closer to mild rather than severe. Let’s dive into fantasy baseball injuries and updates for: Spencer Schwellenbach, Anthony Santander, and Cam Schlittler.
Fantasy Baseball Injuries & Updates
The players discussed in this piece will hopefully find themselves on the shorter side of their recovery timeline with a return to full health.
Spencer Schwellenbach (SP – ATL) – Elbow (60-Day IL)
Schwellenbach’s stellar 2025 season was cut short by a fractured elbow, and now, his 2026 season will be delayed due to bone spurs in that same elbow. He is potentially undergoing surgery to remove the loose bodies causing discomfort, but will start this season on the 60-Day IL regardless.
With back-to-back seasons of an issue like this, the best course of action is to avoid Schwellenbach entirely, even as an IL stash late in drafts (unless you have multiple IL spots). We have to see him healthy again first before buying back in.
Anthony Santander (OF – TOR) – Shoulder (5-6 Months)
This surgery is long overdue. A nagging shoulder injury ruined Santander’s 2025 season and will now ruin his 2026 season due to his delayed decision on said surgery. There were likely conflicting reports on surgery recommendations and rest, but the worst-case scenario has arisen.
Santander played 54 games last year and slashed .157/.271/.294 with the worst strikeout rate of his career. He attempted a return in the postseason after missing nearly every game from June through September, but was quickly shut down again.
This 5-6 month timeline may imply a July or August return for Santander, but with the needed time for ramp-up after missing over 100 games last year, his regular season is virtually over. The only chance he has to contribute is if the Blue Jays make another postseason run.
Cam Schlittler (SP – NYY) – Lat (No Timetable)
Initial reports for Schlitter’s injury were back tightness. However, there was later clarification from Schlitter himself on Twitter/X that the injury is a lat issue. Schlitter seems optimistic and unconcerned, but that is a natural reaction from athletes. Ideally, he takes the necessary time to recover and doesn’t exacerbate the issue by trying a different throwing motion, which could cause injuries elsewhere via overcompensation.
Schlitter is very talented, but due for some regression after a 2.96 ERA (3.84 SIERA) season and priced around several other talented pitchers. His cost should fall in drafts from roughly SP40 to SP55-SP60.
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