Here is the latest on injuries and roster moves involving MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects:
LATEST NEWS
No. 55 Travis Sykora, RHP, Nationals
Promoted to Double-A
Sykora has now leapt two levels in less than two months, jumping to Harrisburg only eight starts after making his 2025 full-season debut with Single-A Fredericksburg on May 14. The 21-year-old has been one of the Minors' most dominant pitchers in that stretch, including a six-start run at High-A Wilmington over which he pitched to a 1.21 ERA and 47-8 K-BB ratio across 29 2/3 innings. (Last updated: June 26)
No. 31 Lazaro Montes, OF; No. 76 Michael Arroyo, INF, Mariners
Promoted to Double-A Arkansas
Both 20-year-old sluggers were forces in High-A Everett's lineup before jumping levels. Arroyo produced a .934 OPS with 15 homers in 65 games, while Montes cracked 18 homers, 50 RBIs and a .959 OPS in 67 games, pacing Northwest League hitters in a slew of major statistical categories. (Last updated: June 26)
No. 90 Noble Meyer, RHP, Marlins
Placed on 7-day IL
Meyer made his last start on June 19. He was placed on the 7-day IL at High-A Beloit on June 25 (retroactive to June 23) with a right knee issue, per multiple reports. The injury, which is believed to be minor, is apparently related to the back issue that sidelined the 20-year-old for stretches in 2024. (Last updated: June 26)
No. 36 Blake Mitchell, C, Royals
Injury: Broken hamate
Began rehab assignment
Mitchell started his latest rehab assignment in the Rookie-level Arizona Fall League on June 23 and then swatted his first homer of the season two days later. He previously embarked on a rehab assignment in the ACL in early May but suffered a setback after four games on May 13 that sidelined him for more than two months. The eighth overall pick in the 2023 Draft spent most of 2024 at Single-A, and his 135 wRC+ between there and High-A was tops among Royals full-season Minor Leaguers and best among qualified full-season teenaged catchers. (Last updated: June 25)
No. 75 Jonny Farmelo, OF, Mariners
Injury: Rib stress reaction
Expected return: Late July/Early August
Farmelo missed the start of the season as he recovered from a torn right ACL that prematurely ended his 2024 campaign. His latest setback came in the form of a rib stress fracture sustained while swinging a bat during game action and the expectation is that he'll be down for four to six weeks from mid-June. When healthy, Farmelo has delivered a .959 OPS across 15 games for High-A Everett, including a homer in his first game back on April 29. (Last updated: June 25)
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MORE TOP 100 PROSPECT NEWS
(ordered by ranking)
No. 12 Travis Bazzana, 2B, Guardians
Injury: Right oblique strain
Expected return: 8-10 weeks
Bazzana exited the second game of Double-A Akron's doubleheader on May 14 after hitting a double in fourth inning. An MRI revealed an internal oblique strain, which the Guardians expect to sideline Bazzana for 8-10 weeks. Bazzana will undergo his rehab at the team's spring facility in Goodyear, Ariz., per the club. (Last updated: May 20)
No. 18 Bryce Eldridge, Giants
Injury: Right hamstring strain
Expected return: 3-4 weeks
The Giants' burgeoning slugger was beginning to find his footing at Triple-A, hitting in safely in five of six games before injuring himself while running the bases. Eldridge missed the first three weeks of the season with a right wrist injury, but his production at Double-A Richmond (.280/.350/.512 in 34 games) prompted his promotion to Sacramento. Although the 20-year-old got off to a slow start for the River Cats, he went 8-for-19 (.421) with four extra-base hits and four RBIs in his previous five games. (Last updated: June 24)
No. 25 Ethan Salas, C, Padres
Injury: Lower back stress reaction
Expected return: Late July
Back spasms threw a wrench into Salas' early-season plans, and he hasn’t appeared in game action since April 17. San Diego general manager A.J. Preller told MLB.com's AJ Cassavell that the 18-year-old has been diagnosed with a lower back stress reaction. The Padres are optimistic his recovery will simply require rest and won't impact his development much, aside from the missed games. (Last updated: May 12)
No. 26 Hagen Smith, LHP, White Sox
Injury: Left elbow soreness
Expected return: June 28
The White Sox 2024 first-rounder is scheduled to return to the mound for Double-A Birmingham on June 28 for what will be his first start since May 10. Smith's velocity fluctuated before the layoff, and he experienced soreness the team believes was related to his mechanics, which he has revamped during his time at the club's complex in Arizona. The 21-year-old was 2-0 with a 2.10 ERA in seven starts for the Bisons before the layoff. (Last updated: June 24)
No. 27 Rhett Lowder, RHP, Reds
Injury: Right elbow discomfort/left oblique strain
Expected return: TBD
The 2023 seventh overall pick suffered a left oblique strain in a May 22 rehab start with Triple-A Louisville that he exited after just 12 pitches. He visibly grabbed at his left side immediately after his final offering and walked gingerly off the field. While the Reds do not have an ETA for his return, manager Terry Francona said the injury is viewed as "fairly significant." Lowder had previously made rehab starts in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League (May 6) and for High-A Dayton (May 11) as he works his way back from a preseason elbow injury. (Last updated: May 23)
No. 28 Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF, Twins
Injury: Right hip injury
Began rehab assignment
Rodriguez began a rehab assignment at the Rookie-level Florida Complex League after suffering a right hip injury that sidelined him for Triple-A St. Paul since May 31. The 22-year-old started in center field and went 1-for-3 with an RBI single and a walk in his debut. Rodriguez had hit .232/.400/.392 over his first 39 games with the Saints. (Last updated: June 21)
No. 41 Bryce Rainer, SS, Tigers
Injury: Dislocated right shoulder
Expected return: 2026
Detroit's 2024 first-round pick will undergo season-ending surgery after dislocating his shoulder diving back to first base in a June 3 game for Single-A Lakeland. He slashed .288/.383/.448 with a 134 wRC+ in 35 games this season. Rainer is expected to be a full participant in Spring Training next year. (Last updated: June 6)
No. 48 Luke Keaschall, 2B, Twins
Injury: Nondisplaced fracture of his right forearm
Expected return: TBD
Keaschall does not need surgery on his fractured right ulna bone, but it’s probably going to be a couple of months before the dynamic rookie is playing in games again, according to the Twins. The 2023 second-round pick will have weekly X-rays to make sure his nondisplaced fracture stays nondisplaced and will be re-evaluated in late May. (Last updated: April 28)
No. 59 Jarlin Susana, RHP, Nationals
Injury: Grade 1 UCL sprain
Expected return: TBD
Susana will be shut down from throwing for two weeks after suffering a Grade 1 UCL sprain. In six starts at Double-A this season, the flame-throwing right-hander has a 4.15 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 26 innings. Susana stands at 6-foot-6 and features a 75-grade fastball that can reach 102 mph. (Last updated: May 11)