Injuries & Moves: Alvarado takes 1st step in elbow recovery
LATEST NEWS
May 16: LHP Bailey Falter optioned to Triple-A, RHP Erich Uelmen recalled
Falter became the first Phillies starter since 2017 to open a season 0-7 with a loss on Monday night in San Francisco. The Phillies announced the next afternoon that Falter had been optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Uelmen, 26, is 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA in seven appearances with the IronPigs in 2023. He went 2-1 with a 4.67 ERA and one save in 25 appearances last season with the Cubs.
INJURY UPDATES
10-day and 15-day IL
LHP José Alvarado (left elbow inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Alvarado played catch from 60 feet on May 16-17 in San Francisco, the first steps in his recovery. He was placed on the IL on May 10, retroactive to May 8, after having posted a 0.63 ERA in 14 appearances this season and recording five saves in seven opportunities. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Alvarado is likely to take a rehab assignment before he rejoins the bullpen. (Last updated: May 17)
1B Darick Hall (torn UCL in right thumb)
Expected return: Mid-June
Hall underwent surgery on April 12 to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb. He sustained the injury on April 5, when he jammed his thumb into second base. Following the surgery, the Phillies said the timetable for Hall's return is approximately two months. Hall started to play catch on May 3. He has been dry swinging. (Last updated: May 14)
CF Cristian Pache (right meniscus tear)
Expected return: 4-6 weeks
Pache had a right knee lateral meniscectomy on May 1. Phillies physician Steven Cohen performed the surgery in Philadelphia. Pache suffered the injury in the fifth inning of a 3-1 win over the Astros on April 28. He doubled off Framber Valdez and then extended his secondary lead towards third base, stopping abruptly. That’s when the tear occurred. The Phillies said Pache could return in four to six weeks.
Pache said he initially thought he could continue playing, but his knee progressively felt worse as the night wore on. When he woke up on April 29, “that’s when I knew something was wrong, because it was hurting like hell.” (Last updated: May 1)
RHP Noah Song (back tightness)
Expected return: TBD
Song, who opened the season on the injured list because of a back issue, threw a bullpen session on April 1 in Clearwater. He had been shut down since March 19 in an attempt to clear up any lingering tightness. Song, a Rule 5 Draft pick, will need to be on the active roster for at least 90 days this season to remain in the organization. (Last updated: April 1)
60-day IL
RHP Andrew Painter (sprained UCL in right elbow)
Expected return: Midsummer
Painter visited Philadelphia on May 9 to see team physicians and throw in front of Phillies coaches and medical staff. Painter is playing catch from 120 feet.
“He hasn’t had any setbacks,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “Everything has been going fine.”
The Phillies placed Painter, their top prospect and the No. 4 overall prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline, on the 60-day injured list to begin the Minor League season. Painter and the Phils said they are confident that rest and rehab will allow him to avoid surgery after he was shut down in Spring Training due to a sprained proximal ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said on March 19 that he expects Painter to pitch for the team this season. (Last updated: May 9)
C Rafael Marchan (right hamate fracture)
Expected return: Early June
Marchan, who was placed on the 60-day injured list to begin the season after undergoing a procedure to repair a right hamate fracture, has started taking dry swings. He has not played since March 7 due to what was initially believed to be a bruised hamate on his throwing hand, but further testing revealed the fracture. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the recovery is expected to take seven to eight weeks. (Last updated: April 22)
1B Rhys Hoskins (torn left ACL)
Expected return: Likely out for season
Hoskins underwent reconstructive surgery on March 30 in Fort Worth, Texas, to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. He was given a timetable of seven to nine months, which would effectively end Hoskins' 2023 season. Hoskins, however, is confident that he can beat that timeline.
"In my mind, of course," Hoskins said on April 10 when asked if he believed he could play in October if the Phillies make a deep run.
Hoskins sustained the injury while attempting to track down a high chopper to first base in a March 23 Spring Training game against the Tigers. The 30-year-old Hoskins is set to become a free agent after the season. (Last updated: April 10)