Lane Thomas, center fielder for the Cleveland Guardians, has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a bruised right wrist incurred from a hit by a pitch earlier in the month. The Guardians made this move retroactive to April 20, just before their matchup against the New York Yankees. In response, Cleveland has called up infielder Will Wilson from Triple-A Columbus, where he was performing well with a .324 batting average and six home runs in just 18 games.

Thomas previously shone in the postseason for the Guardians in 2024, hitting two homers in the AL Division Series. His absence is felt as he was instrumental in several clutch moments last October. Meanwhile, Wilson's recent form suggests he could make an immediate impact at the major league level.

The Cleveland Guardians will be without center fielder Lane Thomas for at least 10 days due to a bruised right wrist, sustained from a hit-by-pitch two weeks ago. The injury has forced the Guardians to recall infielder Will Wilson from Triple-A Columbus, where he had been excelling with a .324 batting average, showcasing power with six home runs this season. Thomas, who was a key performer in the postseason for Cleveland last year, hitting crucial homers to help the team advance, will likely be missed as the Guardians face the New York Yankees in a pivotal matchup. Additionally, right-hander Trevor Stephan has been transferred to the 60-day injured list as he continues recovery from Tommy John surgery.

As we dive into Week 3 of the 2025 MLB season, several players are raising eyebrows among fantasy managers. Lane Thomas of the Cleveland Guardians has had a dismal start, hitting just .167 and battling a wrist injury, casting doubt on his stolen base potential. Meanwhile, Jordan Romano of the Philadelphia Phillies is struggling, with a 10.50 ERA and decreased fastball velocity, making him a risky hold in fantasy leagues.

On the other hand, Tanner Houck and Walker Buehler from the Boston Red Sox are worth keeping an eye on, despite not being dominant thus far. Houck's ground-ball rate remains promising, and Buehler's recent bounce back suggests he is finding his rhythm post-Tommy John surgery. Lastly, rookie Dylan Crews of the Washington Nationals is on the hot seat, showcasing speed but lacking consistency at the plate. Patience might be needed with him.

The introduction of torpedo bats has sparked considerable interest across Major League Baseball, especially following their successful debut by Yankees hitters like Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe, who quickly tallied multiple home runs. The design aims to enhance contact and power by concentrating more wood at the barrel's sweet spot. Guardians players, including Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez, have expressed curiosity but have yet to fully embrace this trend.

While some players are cautiously optimistic, assessing the effectiveness of torpedo bats remains challenging due to limited sample sizes from their initial use. Ramirez remarked that he hasn't observed significant differences after trying them, and concerns about making mid-season adjustments linger. Nonetheless, the curiosity persists, and it's possible that Guardians hitters could adopt torpedo bats if success stories continue.

Chase DeLauter's recent surgery for a sports hernia has left the Cleveland Guardians facing a significant challenge heading into the new season. With an expected recovery time of 8 to 12 weeks, DeLauter's absence from the Opening Day roster highlights the Guardians' glaring weakness in their outfield's offensive production. Last year's performance from the outfielders was lackluster, particularly in right field, where the combined slash line of .219/.288/.385 was one of the worst in the AL.

This setback places the Guardians in a precarious position, having to rely on their existing outfielders such as Will Brennan and Jhonkensy Noel, who struggled to deliver adequate offensive contributions last season. The organization could have benefited from securing a free-agent outfielder as insurance, especially given DeLauter's injury history. Now, Cleveland must regroup and find a way to improve their offensive output from a struggling outfield as they prepare for the 2024 season.