MLB Baseball 24 Hours

Last updated: April 4, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

MLB Injury Updates Plague Opening Weeks

The early portion of the Major League Baseball season has been marred by a rash of injuries, with key players across several teams landing on the injured list. Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk will miss at least ten days after suffering a left thumb fracture, an injury sustained when he was struck by a foul tip in the 10th inning on Friday night 5. In the National League, the New York Mets are awaiting results from an MRI on outfielder Juan Soto's right calf after he exited early in the first inning during Friday's victory against the Giants. Further west, Minnesota Twins All-Star Byron Buxton was forced from the home opener win against Tampa Bay, a 10-4 contest, due to a right forearm contusion, compounding early-season woes for the Central division contenders.

Injuries continued to impact rosters in the desert and the Midwest, as the Arizona Diamondbacks placed outfielder Jordan Lawlar on the IL after he sustained a fractured right wrist after being hit by a pitch versus the Braves. Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs are preparing for more testing for pitcher Cade Horton, who left the game in the second inning due to right forearm discomfort and will be headed to the injured list. These early setbacks forced roster adjustments, as the Kansas City Royals recalled right-hander Luinder Avila from Triple-A Omaha to take the mound for the series opener against the Brewers after Wacha was ruled out due to illness.

Star Performers & Franchise Moves

Despite the injury news, several major league stars delivered marquee performances in weekend action. Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani ended an early plate slump by launching a key three-run homer in the third inning against the Nationals, marking his first RBIs of the campaign. In the Bronx, Aaron Judge's emotional pregame text set an upbeat tone as he contributed a home run to the Yankees’ decisive 8-2 home opener triumph over the Miami Marlins 7. On the defensive side, Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin made an immediate impact in his major league debut, smashing an RBI double that helped secure a narrow 5-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in their PNC Park home opener.

Off the field, the Chicago White Sox announced plans to honor a franchise legend, confirming that former shortstop and manager Ozzie Guillén will have his No. 13 jersey retired during a ceremony scheduled for August. Separately, White Sox General Manager Chris Getz addressed concerns about the starting rotation, stating the organization has no intention of rushing top pitching prospects to the majors despite early season struggles, prioritizing long-term development over immediate fixes.