2026 Injury Report: Updates on Ruiz, Stowers, Tauchman

NL East teams are battling injury troubles heading into the 2026 season. Miami won’t have two of its outfielders to begin the year, while the Phillies will officially be without Orion Kerkering. The Mets, meanwhile, lost non-roster player Mike Tauchman to a torn meniscus.

Marlins down two outfielders

The Marlins announced that two outfielders will start the 2026 campaign on the injured list.

Kyle Stowers, dealing with a hamstring strain, was diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. He is expected to be out three to four weeks.

This news comes several days after Stowers was removed from a spring game with hamstring tightness.

Esteury Ruiz, meanwhile, is expected to miss six to eight weeks thanks to an oblique strain.

Tauchman suffered torn meniscus

The Mets confirmed that outfielder Mike Tauchman suffered a torn meniscus, which will obviously prevent him from making the team’s roster and keep him out for a significant period of time.

Tauchman didn’t have a bad spring at all, as the veteran outfielder slashed .241/.371/.448 over 13 Grapefruit League games. The ex-Yankee and White Sox outfielder has been generally good at getting on base and hitting for power, which made him a potential option to start out 2026 as an option in the outfield.

Instead, that could open the door for 2024 first-round pick Carson Benge. Benge entered play on March 22 as the spring team leader in hits (15).

Pena continues to progress

Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena may very well be ready for the team’s opener this week.

Pena took batting practice and took part in fielding drills on the 22nd. Manager Joe Espada stated that the shortstop has not been ruled out for Opening Day.

He has made steady progress after he sustained a finger fracture earlier this month.

Other news

Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering will begin the 2026 season on IL as he recovers from a hamstring strain (h/t New York Times).

Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias stated that Jordan Westburg won’t be ready for the start of May. Meanwhile, team manager Craig Albernaz indicated that Dylan Beavers, dealing with a sore knee, is progressing.

Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage will throw in a Minor League game on March 25.