MLB Weekly Digest: Pitcher Injuries Piling Up, Rockies Losing At Record Pace

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This week in MLB featured multiple pitcher injuries, the Rockies continuing to lose at a record pace, and a top prospect being called up.

Pitcher Injuries Piling Up –

Astros RHP Ronel Blanco to undergo Tommy John surgery next week, the Astros announced Wednesday. Blanco was placed on the IL last month with elbow discomfort. He will miss the rest of this season and potentially some of 2026.

Update on Ronel Blanco: pic.twitter.com/fTunhbFFC6

— Houston Astros (@astros) May 28, 2025

Blanco broke out in his age-30 season last year, pitching to a 2.80 ERA in 167.1 innings for Houston. This season, he had posted a 4.10 ERA with 48 K and 20 BB in 48.1 innings.

This puts the Astros at the top of the list of teams that will be seeking the top available arms at this year’s trade deadline. Blanco now joins Luis Garcia, Christian Javier, Spencer Arreghetti, JP France, and Hayden Wesneski as pitchers on the IL for Houston.

Another pitcher who will miss the remainder of the 2025 MLB season is NL Rookie of the Year candidate, Atlanta Braves RHP AJ Smith-Shawver.

The #Braves today recalled LHP Dylan Dodd to Atlanta and selected OF José Azócar to the major league roster. The club placed OF Stuart Fairchild on the 10-day injured list with a dislocated pinky finger, and optioned RHP Michael Petersen to Triple-A Gwinnett following last…

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 30, 2025

Smith-Shawver, 22, was removed from his start on Thursday vs the Phillies, and underwent imaging that revealed a torn UCL. It has yet to be announced whether he will undergo Tommy John or a reconstruction surgery. Regardless, Smith-Shawver will have a long rehab ahead.

The young righty was off to a very strong start to his season, pitching to a 3.86 ERA with 42 K and 21 BB in 44.1 IP.

Detroit Tigers rookie RHP Jackson Jobe was also placed on the IL with a grade one flexor strain after leaving his start early Wednesday.

Tigers Major League medical update for May 30: pic.twitter.com/1VTCZTE4pl

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 30, 2025

“>https://x.com/tigers/status/1928559621121188134

Jobe is expected to miss a decent chunk of time, but the Tigers remain optimistic about his return. “I try not to rush to any judgment until we see how his rest goes and see how his rehab goes,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “We’ll listen to the doctors and the pitching coaches on that. Obviously, it’s tough to lose a guy out of the (starting) rotation.”

Jobe has struggled in his recent starts against the Guardians and Phillies. His stat line sits at a 4-1 record with a 4.22 ERA and 39 K in 49 IP. He was drafted third overall in the 2021 draft, so the Tigers will be very careful with their former top prospect.

The last injury occurred Sunday with Arizona Diamondbacks RHP Corbin Burnes. He left his start early with elbow discomfort and is set to undergo an MRI Monday.

Burnes, 30, signed a massive six-year, $210 million contract with Arizona this past offseason. He had been pitching well to start the year with a 2.72 ERA with 57 K in 59.2 IP.

The righty appeared to have said something along the lines of “my elbow” to teammates after he called for trainers. He was visibly in pain and upset after throwing a pitch that resulted in a single for Nationals SS CJ Abrams. The Diamondbacks are hoping for positive news tomorrow.

Rockies continue their losing ways –

The Colorado Rockies are entering June without having won their 10th game. After being swept this weekend by the New York Mets, they have now been swept in 10 of their 20 series, dropping their record to a measly 9-50.

The Rockies have now lost eight straight games and sit 27 games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. The next worst team in MLB, the Chicago White Sox, has double the amount of wins the Rockies do, at 18-41.

The whole roster can be blamed for their failures. Still, the offense has been putrid, as they are near the bottom of the league in almost every category, including average 30th out of 30 (.215), home runs 27th (50), stolen bases 28th (28), runs 30th (184), on-base percentage 30th (.280), walks 26th (160), on base plus slugging 30th (.632), and rank first in the league with 577 strikeouts.

Their pitching is nearly as bad with the 29th-ranked ERA (5.59), the least amount of strikeouts with only 389, and a WHIP of 1.58.

As if it couldn’t get any worse for the Rockies, they lead the league in errors with 49, leading to the league’s worst fielding percentage of .977.

The Rockies are on pace for a 25-137 season, which would make the Bad News Bears look like World Series champions.

Royals promoting top prospect Jac Caglianone –

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The Kansas City Royals have promoted top MLB prospect and 2024 sixth overall pick Jac Caglianone to the big leagues.

This season at Double-A and Triple-A, Caglianone has slashed .323/.391/.600 in 225 PA.

The Royals, who find themselves eight games back of the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers, rank 28th in all of MLB in runs scored with 194, only 10 ahead of the Rockies. Caglianone’s promotion is to help an offense much in need. Caglianone is expected to see time in right field, along with some starts at his primary position at first base.

About Post Author

Michael Bodzenta

Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, I fell in love with sports from a young age. Whether I was playing them throughout high school or in the yard with my friends, I knew I had found something I loved. Watching them was also a main part of my childhood, as I could name almost every player on all three Cleveland sports teams. Talking about sports is something I can do for hours, so as I got older, I quickly realized that I knew what I wanted to do. I started writing about sports and talking about sports in high school. It was fun and easy for me. My dream goal would be to become baseball analyst, covering breaking news and other stories in the sport. I've written numerous articles about sports including the Browns and the Guardians. I currently write for Kent Wired, where I expanded my knowledge to cover Health and Fitness. I have experience with Adobe Photoshop, Premier, and Audition. I work as the social media manager/representative for the Kent State Club Baseball team creating graphics mostly on Instagram and some on Twitter (X) . The goal of this is to get more engagement for the team, create awareness, and raise money. I also currently coach for a 17u travel baseball organization (Midwest Stars) out of Hudson, Ohio. Through this I have been able to continue my love for the game, give back to the community, and strengthen my leadership qualities. My passion for sports especially baseball remains unquestioned and I strive to continue to report on something I love.

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https://ngscsports.com/

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Michael Bodzenta: Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, I fell in love with sports from a young age. Whether I was playing them throughout high school or in the yard with my friends, I knew I had found something I loved. Watching them was also a main part of my childhood, as I could name almost every player on all three Cleveland sports teams. Talking about sports is something I can do for hours, so as I got older, I quickly realized that I knew what I wanted to do. I started writing about sports and talking about sports in high school. It was fun and easy for me. My dream goal would be to become baseball analyst, covering breaking news and other stories in the sport. I've written numerous articles about sports including the Browns and the Guardians. I currently write for Kent Wired, where I expanded my knowledge to cover Health and Fitness. I have experience with Adobe Photoshop, Premier, and Audition. I work as the social media manager/representative for the Kent State Club Baseball team creating graphics mostly on Instagram and some on Twitter (X) . The goal of this is to get more engagement for the team, create awareness, and raise money. I also currently coach for a 17u travel baseball organization (Midwest Stars) out of Hudson, Ohio. Through this I have been able to continue my love for the game, give back to the community, and strengthen my leadership qualities. My passion for sports especially baseball remains unquestioned and I strive to continue to report on something I love.