2025 Injuries: Austin Hays, Tyler Stephenson Start Year on IL

MLB teams have begun to sort out the rest of their 2025 roster decisions on March 26, as many players hit the IL. We knew Alexis Diaz would hit the IL, and that was confirmed on the 26th. The same could be said for Shane McClanahan, who left his last spring start with a triceps strain. But, there were also additional moves to look at.

Five Reds on the IL

The Reds will start short-handed to begin the season, as Austin Hays and Tyler Stephenson will begin 2025 on the IL.

It’s a tough blow for Hays (calf strain), who had a tough 2024 season, one in which he spent most of the last months on the IL. Hays, though, had a great spring, batting .310/.370/.690 (1.060 OPS) and tied with Christian Encarnacion-Strand for second on the team in home runs (3).

Stephenson (oblique strain), meanwhile, had a .825 OPS in Cactus League action. Those two will also join left-hander Andrew Abbott (shoulder – rotator cuff strain), rookie Rhett Lowder (forearm strain), and the aforementioned Alexis Diaz on the injured list.

However, Spencer Steer won’t be on the IL. Steer only had seven at-bats in the spring thanks to a shoulder injury.

Several Twins on the IL

The Twins knew before leaving Florida that Royce Lewis would begin on the IL. Minnesota officially placed him on the injured list before their season opener against the Cardinals.

Lewis will be joined by Brooks Lee, who’s been nursing a back strain, and reliever Michael Tonkin (shoulder strain).

Other injuries

To little shock, INF DJ LeMahieu and DH Giancarlo Stanton are on the IL to begin 2025 for the Yankees. Those two will be joined by Scott Effross (hamstring), Clayton Beeter (shoulder), Ian Hamilton (illness), Jonathan Loaisaga (recovering from elbow surgery), and JT Brubaker (rib).