Astros' Michael Brantley: Swinging bat but not hitting
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Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters Friday that Brantley (shoulder) has been swinging a bat but hasn't resumed hitting yet, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.
Brantley has been shut down since May 12 after it was revealed he was dealing with inflammation in his surgically repaired right shoulder. Because of the length of his absence, it seems plausible the veteran will need another rehab assignment. At this point it would be a surprise if Brantley is back in the lineup for Houston before the start of June.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Shut down with inflammation
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Brantley has inflammation in his surgically repaired shoulder, and the Astros are shutting him down for an indefinite period, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The veteran outfielder was expected to return to the lineup this week, but Brantley was checked out in Houston on Wednesday after he reported continued soreness in his shoulder. There's no timeline for when he will be able to resume baseball activities, and it's possible the Astros will take the next stage of the 36-year-old's recovery with a lot more caution. Brantley has yet to play in 2023 after undergoing surgery on his shoulder last August.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Having shoulder checked out
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Astros manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday that Brantley (shoulder) returned to Houston for further testing after the veteran outfielder/designated hitter experienced renewed soreness while out on his rehab assignment, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
The Astros don't seem to think Brantley had a setback with his surgically-repaired right shoulder. Rather, Baker believes Brantley is simply "more sore than usual because he played a lot" during his rehab assignment. A better idea with regard to Brantley's potential return date should come once he gets checked out, but the hope is that he can rejoin the team this weekend. When he's activated could be another matter.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Shut down from hitting
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Astros managers Dusty Baker told reporters before Tuesday's game against the Angels that Brantley (shoulder) has stopped hitting, but that it's not a setback, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Baker also told reporters that Brantley is getting "really close" to returning to action, but he still isn't quite ready for a return. The 35-year-old has missed all of the 2023 campaign while recovering from shoulder surgery, and while the words from Baker are encouraging, it's still a curious development for a player that appeared to be closing in on a return this week. Brantley could still return over the weekend, but this latest development could mean there's a change in plans.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Not quite ready for return
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Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters that Brantley (shoulder) is with the team in Los Angeles after coming through his rehab fine, but he isn't quite ready to be activated off the 10-day injured list, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Baker's exact words were that Brantley is "almost ready, but not quite ready." Brantley hasn't been able to play in 2023 while recovering from surgery on his right shoulder he underwent late last summer, but the fact he's been able to play in games with no reported issues is a positive development. If Brantley isn't activated for the series against the Angels, there's a very good chance he's ready to roll for the series against the White Sox in Chicago over the weekend.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Chance to return against Angels
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Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters before Friday's game against the Mariners that Brantley (shoulder) could return to the lineup early next week against the Angels, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Brantley has been ruled out from returning over the weekend for the three-game set against the Mariners, but his season debut doesn't appear to be far off. The veteran outfielder has been recovering from surgery on his right shoulder, and he should see regular playing time as the designated hitter with some stints in left field and first base once he's back.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: To play some 1B on rehab
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Astros manager Dusty Baker said Saturday that Brantley (shoulder) will play some first base on his minor-league rehab assignment, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Baker added that Brantley will see action at first base here and there once he returns to the active roster, probably around the second week of May. The rehabbing veteran started in left field in his first three games with Triple-A Sugar Land before taking a turn at designated hitter Friday. He's on his way back from surgery last August to repair the labrum in his right shoulder.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: No timeline for return
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Manager Dusty Baker told reporters before Friday's game against the Phillies that Brantley (shoulder) doesn't have an at-bat or innings threshold to reach on his rehab assignment before rejoining the Astros, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
"We kind of leave that up to Mike a little bit," Baker said when asked about when the veteran outfielder will be ready. Brantley has yet to make his 2023 debut while recovering from right shoulder labrum surgery he underwent in August, and he's played three rehab games thus far for Triple-A Sugar Land. Assuming no setbacks, it seems likely that Brantley is up with the Astros in the early part of May.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Starting rehab assignment Sunday
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Astros general manager Dana Brown told reporters before Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays that Brantley (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.
Brantley is facing live hitting, and he's progressed enough to begin squaring off against Triple-A pitchers starting this weekend. The outfielder will likely need a week-plus of action before joining Houston, as he missed all of the spring while recovering from surgery to repair his right shoulder labrum. Assuming no setbacks, he should be a regular for the Astros near the start of May.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Taking live BP
Rotowire
Brantley (shoulder) took live batting practice Friday, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Brantley continues to ramp up into baseball activities as he nears the end of his recovery from right shoulder labrum repair surgery last August. He could soon begin taking at-bats in simulated games and is on track to join the Astros around the first week of May.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Aiming for early May return
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Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that he's hopeful that Brantley (shoulder) will be ready to return from the 10-day injured list around the first week of May, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
When spring training ended in late March, Brantley stayed behind at the Astros' camp in Florida to continue his rehab from the right shoulder labrum repair surgery he underwent last August. Brantley hasn't hit any reported snags while he continues to ramp up in Florida, but he still has yet to play in any simulated games. Once he's deemed ready for game action, Brantley will likely require multiple games at camp or at a minor-league affiliate before he's formally reinstated from the IL. The Astros have been rotating a number of players at the designated-hitter spot for the first week and a half of the season while Brantley has been on the shelf.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Continuing rehab in Florida
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Brantley (shoulder) left the Astros on Sunday to continue his rehab program at the team's spring facility in Florida, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The veteran slugger joined the club in Houston for Opening Day and took batting practice Friday, but he'll now return to Florida to continue his rehab work. Brantley will be eligible to be activated from the injured list later this week, and the Astros hope he'll be ready for game action sometime in mid-April.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Takes batting practice Friday
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Brantley (shoulder) took batting practice Friday at Minute Maid Park, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Brantley was placed on the injured list ahead of Opening Day as he completes his recovery from labral repair surgery last August. It's notable -- and probably encouraging -- that he is doing pregame work with the Astros rather than rehabbing at the club's spring training complex in Florida. The 35-year-old looks likely to be activated in mid-April.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Moved to IL
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The Astros placed Brantley (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.
Brantley will be eligible to come off the IL next week, but since he didn't appear in any spring training games while working his way back from right shoulder surgery and remains in rehab mode at Astros camp in Florida, he's not expected to make his 2023 debut until mid-to-late April. His absence could open up more opportunities at designated hitter for Yainer Diaz, who made the Opening Day roster as a backup catcher but is occupying the DH spot in Thursday's season opener versus the White Sox.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Return date pushed back
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General manager Dana Brown stated Monday that Brantley (shoulder) isn't expected to make his 2023 debut until mid-to-late-April, Michael Connor of Sports Talk 790 reports.
Brown noted that the club's initial expectation was for Brantley to take the field in mid-April, but he's already a week or so behind that target date. The GM mentioned that the veteran outfielder has been hitting and getting his necessary days off, and the squad has no intention of rushing him back before he's ready. An update on Brantley's timeline should arrive as he gets closer to seeing live at-bats, likely in a minor-league setting.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Rehab ongoing
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Brantley (shoulder) will begin the season in West Palm Beach to continue his rehab at the Astros' team facility, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
This report confirms the expectation that Brantley will begin the season on the injured list. There's no clear timeline for his return, though he underwent surgery on his shoulder over seven months ago. Brantley figures to occupy a key role in the Houston lineup when he's able to take the field, though the lingering injury isn't a positive way to begin the new campaign.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Likely to miss Opening Day
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Astros manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that Brantley (shoulder) isn't expected to be ready in time for Opening Day, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Brantley has been brought along slowly this spring after undergoing right shoulder surgery last August, and he also was away from camp for a spell due to a personal matter. The 35-year-old has since rejoined the Astros, but because he didn't spend much time going through baseball activities while he was away from the team, he appears to have run out of time to get fully ramped up before the opener. It's unclear how much time he might miss, but fantasy managers should plan for a minimum of a couple weeks in the likely event that he's placed on the injured list. With Brantley and Jose Altuve (thumb) out, the top two spots in the Houston lineup have been opened up.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Returns to camp
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Brantley (shoulder) rejoined the Astros at spring training Monday, but manager Dusty Baker said it "will be close" whether the veteran outfielder is ready to go for Opening Day, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Brantley's status for Opening Day was already in question while he continues to recover from the surgery he underwent last August to repair the labrum in his right shoulder, and it didn't help his cause that his rehab program was essentially put on hold when he stepped away from the team just under two weeks ago to tend to a family matter. Now that he's back at camp, Brantley is expected to steadily increase his baseball activities, but he still may have an uphill battle to get fully ramped up by the time Houston opens its season March 30 versus the White Sox. When Brantley is healthy, Baker said that the 35-year-old is expected to serve as the Astros' No. 2 hitter while likely sharing time at designated hitter and in left field with Yordan Alvarez (hand).
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Doubtful for opener
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Brantley (shoulder/personal) is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Brantley has been brought along slowly this spring as he works his way back from shoulder surgery, and he's been away from the team for a week or so while dealing with a family matter. It's not clear when he might return and at this point he's simply running out of time. Brantley still has some fantasy appeal as the projected No. 2 hitter in a strong Astros lineup, but his injury history and mediocre power make him both a risky option, and one with a limited ceiling.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Opening Day in doubt
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Brantley (shoulder) may not be ready to play on Opening Day, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Brantley is recovering from surgery to repair his right labrum and has been progressing slowly. He's currently away from the team due to a personal matter, but prior to that, he had not appeared in any Grapefruit League games. On Wednesday, general manager Dana Brown said Brantley's availability for Opening Day is in doubt, but the team hopes he'll be able to return to the field no later than April 10.
