Hitters Who Played Through a 2026 Injury

by
October 1, 2026


Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

With the regular season over, it’s time to find out how the hitters who didn’t let an injury heal and played through the pain performed. Whether these hitters cause permanent damage to their bodies or pick up bad habits (detailed reasoning on why this occurs), they continue to underperform their next season’s projections. Besides collecting the names myself, I’ve asked for some help (article) for this past season’s list.

First, here is a look back at how the hitters on the 2025 list performed compared to their Steamer projections. Normally, I need to adjust the final values using the overall OPS changes (conversion of OPS to fantasy-relevant stats). This season’s .719 OPS was the same as last year.

2026 Results for Hitters who Played Through a 2025 Injury
Name Injury Steamer Proj OPS Actual 2026 OPS Difference
Aaron Judge Shoulder .998 .871 -.127
Anthony Santander Shoulder .737 DNP
Anthony Volpe Labrum Tear .695 .658 -.038
Brendan Donovan Foot .755 .780 .025
Bryan Reynolds Shoulder .747 .789 .041
Bryce Harper Wrist .863 .865 .002
Carlos Narvaez Knee .702 .467 -.235
Colton Cowser Ribs .725 .687 -.038
Corey Seager Calf .858 .736 -.121
Elly De La Cruz Quad .807 .880 .073
Ernie Clement Hand .715 .649 -.066
Ezequiel Tovar Hip .745 .617 -.129
Francisco Alvarez Thumb .778 .710 -.068
Francisco Lindor Toe .788 .733 -.055
Freddie Freeman Neck .833 .792 -.040
Gunnar Henderson Shoulder .846 .715 -.131
Jackson Holliday Knee .737 .640 -.097
Jacob Wilson Hand .794 .685 -.109
Jake Fraley Shoulder .714 .652 -.062
Jazz Chisholm Jr. Shoulder .763 .711 -.052
Jordan Westburg Finger .783 DNP
Jose Altuve Foot .767 .701 -.066
Kyle Tucker Hand .867 .715 -.152
Lane Thomas Foot .707 .702 -.006
Lars Nootbaar Rib .756 .721 -.034
Lawrence Butler Knee .747 .720 -.027
Marcell Ozuna Hip .775 .612 -.163
Masyn Winn Knee .725 .625 -.099
Miguel Andujar Quad .741 .726 -.015
Mike Trout Knee .784 .803 .019
Nick Castellanos Knee .702 .560 -.141
Nolan Arenado Finger .729 .865 .136
Paul Goldschmidt Knee .731 .765 .035
Rafael Devers Back .810 .865 .055
Sean Murphy Hip .711 .556 -.155
Spencer Steer Shoulder .732 .739 .007
Steven Kwan Wrist .746 .731 -.015
Trent Grisham Hamstring .739 .703 -.036
Willi Castro Wrist .723 .748 .025
William Contreras Finger .804 .758 -.047
Wyatt Langford Oblique .805 .754 -.051
Xander Bogaerts Shoulder .741 .676 -.065
Yoán Moncada Knee .710 .605 -.105
Average -.052
Median -.051
Overperformed 10
Underperformed 31
Underperformed% 75.6%

The numbers are nearly in line with the historical rates. Here are the combined historical values.

Historic Results from Hitters who Played Through an Injury
Total 434
Average OPS Change -.044
Avg Adj OPS Change -.045
# of Overperformers 141
# of Underperformers 293
Underperformed% 66.7%
Data from 2017 to 2025

The overall adjustments settled into a narrow band with two-thirds of these hitters underperforming. If fantasy managers ignored the players on the list, they would have been on the wrong side of Devers and Arenado, but they would have avoided a ton of landmines (Judge, Tucker, Altuve, Jazz, Freeman, Henderson, Holliday, Lindor, Tovar, Seager). The goal in fantasy baseball is to be more right than wrong.

Finally, here is this year’s list with a link to the injury being mentioned.

Played Through a 2026 Injury
Name Injury Played Through
Aaron Judge Rib
Addison Barger Shoulder
Bo Bichette Bruise
Brice Turang Knee
Bryce Harper Knee
Cal Raleigh Oblique
Caleb Durbin Pinky
Colt Emerson Wrist
Daulton Varsho Wrist
Freddie Freeman Knee
Gavin Sheets Plantar Fasciitis
Gunnar Henderson Wrist
Jac Caglianone Shoulder
Jake Bauers Shin
JJ Wetherhold Wrist
Jordan Walker Hip
Jorge Polanco Knee
Jorge Soler Oblique
Jose Ramirez Wrist
Kerry Carpenter Heel
Kyle Isbel Foot
Luis Perdomo Wrist
Maikel Garcia Hand
Manny Machado Finger
Marcelo Mayer Leg
Marcus Semien Hip
Matt Chapman Core
Mickey Moniak Ankle
Nathan Lukes Vertigo
Nolan Schanuel Calf
Rafael Devers Groin
Ramon Laureano Hip
Rob Refsnyder Knee
Salvador Perez Hip
Samuel Basallo Shoulder
Shohei Ohtani Knee and Bicep
Taylor Ward Bone Bruise
Tyler Freeman Back
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Back
Willson Contreras Hamstring
Willy Adames Back
Wyatt Langford Arm

And the data dump is done.

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Jeff, one of the authors of the fantasy baseball guide,The Process, writes for RotoGraphs, The Hardball Times, Rotowire, Baseball America, and BaseballHQ. He has been nominated for two SABR Analytics Research Award for Contemporary Analysis and won it in 2013 in tandem with Bill Petti. He has won four FSWA Awards including on for his Mining the News series. He's won Tout Wars three times, LABR twice, and got his first NFBC Main Event win in 2021. Follow him on Twitter @jeffwzimmerman.

13 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Jeff ZimmermanFanGraphs Staff
13 days ago

And another one: Jakob Marsee:
“Credit to Jakob, he was banged up all season with a lot of different things,” Bendix said. “Not just the elbow, a lot of things, [and] never went on the IL. Continued to play through, and not only that, but had an incredible stretch at the end of the season.” https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/09/marlins-notes-mccullough-nardi-marsee-zuber.html

0
Matt GreeneMember since 2020
13 days ago

Julio Rodriguez stunk after being concussed. Also Cal Raleigh?

0
Another Old GuyMember since 2020
13 days ago

This is powerful and useful guidance, Jeff. Thank you.

2
RotoholicMember since 2016
13 days ago

Interesting. I wonder if it’s playing through an injury the previous year that should put up a red flag, or just having a major injury at all, even if you go on the IL for it right away.

3
GreggMember since 2020
13 days ago

I need to pay attention to this for 2027

0
BirdsFanMember since 2017
13 days ago

I believe Masyn Winn played through left knee injury/issues in 2026. Coming back from a right knee injury/surgery that plagued his 2025 season, I recall reading he tweaked the left knee near the end of 2026 spring training and then in May or so he had MRI on left knee due to soreness. Recall he played down the right knee injury requiring surgery almost all of 2025 so it wouldn’t surprise me if quietly played with a knee issue bothering him all 2026.

https://www.nbcsports.com/fantasy/baseball/player-news?playerNewsId=0000019e-42b8-d00d-afdf-57b8ecfe0000

Last edited 13 days ago by BirdsFan
0
SnerdMember since 2020
11 days ago

Corbin Carroll notably broke his hamate in ST and came back quickly, but also seemed to have been dealing with a nagging lower back issue across parts of the season and most notably during the late August/September stretch run:

https://www.mlb.com/news/corbin-carroll-exits-with-back-injury
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/arizona-diamondbacks-good-corbin-carroll-044520188.html

0
Jeff ZimmermanFanGraphs Staff
9 days ago

OF Luke Raley
Injury: Left forearm strain
Expected return: 2027
Status: Underwent season-ending surgery in mid-August after dealing with the injury for multiple weeks before going on the IL. (Last updated: Sept. 27)

https://www.mlb.com/news/mariners-injuries-and-roster-moves

0
Jeff ZimmermanFanGraphs Staff
9 days ago

OF Owen Caissie
Injury: Lumbar stress reaction
Expected return: Spring Training 2027
Status: Expected to have a normal offseason ramp-up and be ready for Spring Training. Had been experiencing low back discomfort. CT revealed fracture after he was lifted for a pinch-hitter during the third inning Sept. 12.

0
Jeff ZimmermanFanGraphs Staff
7 days ago

Naylor was regularly seen wincing and/or shaking out his wrist after swings for much of the summer, dating as far back as June, if not earlier. He also played through notable shoulder discomfort during last year’s postseason, but it was unclear how much — if at all — that lingered in 2026, given his preference not to divulge injury details.

0
SnerdMember since 2020
6 days ago
Reply to  Jeff Zimmerman

Naylor had surgery last week on that wrist and played through it nearly all year

https://www.mlb.com/news/cal-raleigh-josh-naylor-undergo-offseason-surgeries

0
D$$Member since 2020
6 days ago

Missing Yordan from 2025 injured players list. Big bounce back in 2026!

0
Jeff ZimmermanFanGraphs Staff
3 days ago

Since the surgery during Spring Training 2024, McLain said he’s had “zero problems” with his shoulder but noted he occasionally feels it.
“It happens on dives sometimes,” he said. “But I moved around today, and I think we avoided anything serious.”

https://www.mlb.com/news/matt-mclain-scratched-with-shoulder-injury

0