Spring training is in full swing, with the regular season start just over two weeks away. Now is the time to pay close attention to any news coming out about player injuries. Drafting a player and not being aware that he will miss significant time could set your team back significantly. Major players are dealing with a wide range of injury issues. This is the fantasy baseball player injury updates.

Willie Calhoun, OF Texas Rangers

Calhoun was looking to break in big time with the Rangers after hitting 21 homes in 83 games last year. He will have to get healthy first after taking a fastball to the face Sunday, fracturing his jaw. He’s set to undergo further evaluation. His return is not known. Make sure you know when his return is if you draft him.

Alex Verdugo, OF Boston Red Sox

Alex was previously designated as a fantasy player to watch this spring. That is less true now. He is still dealing with his back injury this deep into camp. It’s not known when, or even if, he will play in any spring training games. Now the report is he will start the season on injured reserve. His ADP has fallen since camp started and he should be on waiver wire when the season begins.

Griffin Canning, SP Los Angeles Angels

Canning was looking to make a big contribution to the less-than-stellar Angels’ rotation this season. That expectation has been slowed by a sore right elbow. The news is that he won’t be reevaluated until late March. Of course, the season will be underway by then. Leave him on waivers. He could be a strong addition during the season if healthy.

Justin Verlander, SP Houston Astros

Verlander is one of the top pitchers in baseball. But, it was reported that he came out of his start yesterday against the Mets due to tricep soreness. He went in for medical tests and the results are unknown. Make sure they are known if you use a second round draft pick on him.

Mike Clevinger, SP Cleveland Indians

Clevinger was injured early in camp and had surgery on a torn right meniscus. He was expected to miss six to eight weeks. That timeline still holds, which means he will miss the first month at least. He is not worth any kind of early or mid-round draft pick.

Keep an eye on these injured players: Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, Yankees, Chris Sale, Red Sox, and Blake Snell, Rays. All are major players and their injuries will affect their teams and fantasy managers.

I’m sure everyone is excited spring training is in full swing. The regular season is coming fast and fantasy drafts right along with it. Some leagues use an injured list spot on rosters. Looking over this fantasy baseball injury updates, now and in the days ahead, might determine if you use that list to start the season.

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