Hidden Injuries, 2024
May 1 2024
July 28, 2023.
Jonah Heim had a .295 batting average with 66 RBI (most among catchers), but left a game with wrist soreness and hit the IL shortly after. It marked a turning point in his season (rolling graph from FanGraphs; red line approximately when the injury occurred):
Heim hit just .189 with 4 HR over his final 185 PA, so while maybe it was just a coincidence, it was fair to speculate that things weren't quite right upon return.
Heim's case isn't uncommon—Tim Anderson said he played through 2023 with a knee injury sustained last April, Manny Machado gutted through an elbow issue that led to September surgery, etc.—but it does illustrate how we're often forced to make roster decisions with incomplete information.
Sometimes the...
Almost!
You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!
Already a subscriber? Sign in here
More From Speculator
Our Opening Day Eve tradition speculating on the top category producers who went late in drafts.
Mar 25 2026 3:07am
Mar 25 2026 3:07am
If history is any guide, this year's end-of-season Top 15 will come from all stages of the draft.
Mar 18 2026 3:08am
Mar 18 2026 3:08am
What lessons can we apply from Drew Rasmussen's 2025 breakout to this year's player pool?
Mar 11 2026 8:36am
Mar 11 2026 8:36am
Applying lessons learned from George Springer's 2025 breakout to this year's player pool
Mar 4 2026 3:04am
Mar 4 2026 3:04am
This week's exercise is all about picking holes to help avoid early-round busts.
Feb 25 2026 3:10am
Feb 25 2026 3:10am
