2026 Injury Updates - Answering Your Questions When Possible (ARobsBrewCrew Thread)

[ARobsBrewCrew]

On 3/9/2026 at 1:50 PM, ARobsBrewCrew said:

Can never hurt to ask!  Rudy, Wagoner, Cortez, and Prado are all expected to be ready for the start of the 2026 season.  I’ll try to see what I can find out about the statuses of Bukauskas, Pannone, and Smith!

Following up on this, Rudy experienced a setback (unsure of the specifics) in his rehab - Wagoner did not, he should be nearly ready to go.

[CheeseheadInQC]

I know there are more, but two of the missing players on the minor league rosters who caught my eye were Jacob Morrison and Kevin Garcia, who I don’t think I have seen mention of this spring. Any update on them?

[Joseph Zarr]

2 hours ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

I know there are more, but two of the missing players on the minor league rosters who caught my eye were Jacob Morrison and Kevin Garcia, who I don’t think I have seen mention of this spring. Any update on them?

Thank you for mentioning these. I saw this yesterday as well and got swallowed by my farm tasks. Two noteworthy absences!

[ARobsBrewCrew]

2 hours ago, CheeseheadInQC said:

I know there are more, but two of the missing players on the minor league rosters who caught my eye were Jacob Morrison and Kevin Garcia, who I don’t think I have seen mention of this spring. Any update on them?

Kevin Garcia is working through a minor injury and expects to be with the Warbirds by the end of April.  I’m currently trying to find out what’s going on with Morrison as that was a concerning omission from Opening Day rosters.

[ARobsBrewCrew]

14 hours ago, ARobsBrewCrew said:

Following up on this, Rudy experienced a setback (unsure of the specifics) in his rehab - Wagoner did not, he should be nearly ready to go.

Three more live rehab outings for Wagoner and he will be ready for an assignment, likely A+ Wisconsin. 

[Ro Mueller]

On 4/1/2026 at 1:06 AM, ARobsBrewCrew said:

Following up on this, Rudy experienced a setback (unsure of the specifics) in his rehab - Wagoner did not, he should be nearly ready to go.

Thanks a lot for the updates on Rudy and Wagoner.

I hope INF Eduardo Garcia didn’t have a setback or new injury and is just building up strength before joining AA Biloxi.

[Waunakee]

It is really great you provide so much info on this thread.  What is the story with J.D. Thompson?

[ARobsBrewCrew]

14 minutes ago, Waunakee said:

It is really great you provide so much info on this thread.  What is the story with J.D. Thompson?

Hamstring strain looking to join A+ Wisconsin by the end of April

[ARobsBrewCrew]

CF Braylon Payne exited the second game of today’s doubleheader with a calf cramp.  He should be back in the lineup tomorrow.

[Ro Mueller]

Seems like a good place for this: 

 

[biedergb]

Is there any insight into Melvin Hernandez. He dominated low A as a teenager and was still placed there again, but on the developmental list to start the season, which just seems odd. Maybe no answer, or none that can be provided, but figured I'd see if any sleuths here knows, or if ARobs heard anything he is a liberty to provide to us.

Also really looking forward to seeing Thompson and Morrison pitch some time this year, with Thompson recovering from the hamstring injury, but Morrison - did I miss any updates on him?

[ARobsBrewCrew]

On 4/2/2026 at 7:55 AM, Ro Mueller said:

Thanks a lot for the updates on Rudy and Wagoner.

I hope INF Eduardo Garcia didn’t have a setback or new injury and is just building up strength before joining AA Biloxi.

Garcia’s progress was slower than originally anticipated, but he is nearing a return and is currently taking part in extended spring training games.

[ARobsBrewCrew]

2 hours ago, biedergb said:

Is there any insight into Melvin Hernandez. He dominated low A as a teenager and was still placed there again, but on the developmental list to start the season, which just seems odd. Maybe no answer, or none that can be provided, but figured I'd see if any sleuths here knows, or if ARobs heard anything he is a liberty to provide to us.

Also really looking forward to seeing Thompson and Morrison pitch some time this year, with Thompson recovering from the hamstring injury, but Morrison - did I miss any updates on him?

I can say that Hernández is healthy; the development list cannot be used for injuries, even day-to-day situations.  Unfortunately, that’s all I have to share at this point.  As for Jacob Morrison, he was removed from Milwaukee’s Spring Breakout roster a few weeks ago after experiencing elbow soreness.  He was shut down temporarily, but has since resumed throwing and has started to build back up.

[Jim Goulart]

From Friday night's Link Report:

The Shuckers had to place two outfielders on the IL after each had to leave Wednesday's game early. For the ability to view archived minor league games, it seems you now need an MLB+ subscription as opposed to the old MiLB.TV subscription, and it's pricier, at least that's what I've encountered. Regardless, in the review of that game:

 

Top of the 3rd (archive link for subscribers) - go to the 01:34:50 hour/minute mark - Emaarion Boyd doubles (1) on a sharp line drive to left fielder Jordyn Adams. Emaarion Boyd to 3rd. Emaarion Boyd advances to 3rd, on a fielding error by left fielder Jordyn Adams.

 

This was really unique. Adams made a somewhat awkward dive to his right as the ball clipped him and bounded away, with Adams delayed in his recovery to chase the ball down and get it in. After several viewings, it appears the ball caught Adams on a short hop to his head/face, and the trainer spent a few minutes with him as Adams' facial expressions while standing on the field seemed to confirm that. We won't fully speculate as to whether his absence is concussion-protocol related, but it's a possibility.

 

Keith reached on an infield single to third base leading off the 5th, 02:27:05 hour/minute mark. There was absolutely no doubt about this injury, as Keith grabbed at his right hamstring as he crossed first base. Clearly in pain, the red-hot Keith (1.343 OPS in five games) hobbled back into the dugout.

 

With Jacon Hurtubise's recent promotion to Nashville preceding these injuries, Biloxi is reduced to Dasan Brown and Kay-Lin Nicasia as true outfielders, though Eduardo Garcia's activation from the IL will help, while Dylan O'Rae and Jheremy Vargas have plenty of experience on the grass. This helps explain Mike Boeve's left field debut this week.

[ARobsBrewCrew]

RHP Jayden Dubanewicz will begin his 2026 season on a rehab assignment with the ACL squad.  His first outing is scheduled for May 5.

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Madhawk23]

I'm sure this has been discussed somewhere on this board in recent weeks, but can someone remind me what the deal is with JD Thompson and why he hasn't pitched in a game yet this spring? Clearly must be dealing with some type of an injury, but do we know what that is?  

**Nevermind** Just saw the earlier post that he's dealing with a hamstring injury and should be back later this month. Clearly I need to do a better job of reading through this thread before posting!  

[Jim Goulart]

From the Link Report for Saturday's games --

"Outside of the catching corps, the Sounds have a one-man position player bench (Manager Rick Sweet loves when that is the case - not). Sweet emptied the non-catcher crew when OF Jacob Hurtubise entered as part of a defensive shuffle to begin the bottom of the 10th, with first baseman Luke Adams exiting. Adams had struck out swinging in the top of the 9th and had remained in the game on defense for the bottom of that frame. So, at this time, nothing concerning from that perspective, but as always, we'll see."

***

Sure enough, in Sunday's pre-game interview with Jeff Hem, Manager Rick Sweet mentions Adams' "injury" more than once, but doesn't divulge the nature or the severity. No IL Stint yet.

NOTE: I find that I'm able to choose "Listen in Browser' (at least on my phone) which bypasses creating a Soundcloud account.

[Joseph Zarr]

On 4/11/2026 at 5:41 PM, ARobsBrewCrew said:

RHP Jayden Dubanewicz will begin his 2026 season on a rehab assignment with the ACL squad.  His first outing is scheduled for May 5.

 

[Ro Mueller]

From Maryvale: 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

3 hours ago, Ro Mueller said:

From Maryvale: 

 

 

[Jim Goulart]

Via Ro's Thursday night Link Report:

19-year old Wilson starting RHP Enniel Cortez, who was making his 3rd appearance since missing the entire 2025 season with an injury, unfortunately exited after 1 1/3 innings with an accompanying “injury delay” in the game log. We hope that there’s been no physical setback for the young hurler.

 

---

 

Cortez wasn't long for that 2nd inning of the game, as five runs were in and there was only one out. However, the exit was injury-related as the training staff came out to the mound and were checking out what appeared to be the biceps area of the 19-year-old Nicaragua native's right arm. Of course, that's also very close to the elbow. Cortez did not appear to be in significant pain, but of course caution was taken. This will go in the category of "we'll see"...

MiLB.TV subscribers can watch the sequence at the 01:27:00 minute mark here.

NOTE: The Wilson broadcast picture quality is excellent, but watching a game without any kind of score bug is a real challenge. Brought me back to my 1970's childhood! I've asked Voice of the Warbirds Chris Edwards for an update in that regard.

[ARobsBrewCrew]

LHP Frank Cairone has officially been cleared for a return to full baseball activity and is heading to Arizona this weekend.

[Jim Goulart]

18 minutes ago, ARobsBrewCrew said:

LHP Frank Cairone has officially been cleared for a return to full baseball activity and is heading to Arizona this weekend.

If unfamiliar, the January posts thru earlier this month on the topic of Cairone's serious injury in a December car crash and subsequent updates can be found here.