Cleveland Guardians injuries pile up as 2025 season draws to a close
Injury Overview
The last few weeks have turned into a health crisis for the Cleveland Guardians injuries headline. On September 23, designated hitter David Fry took a 99.1 mph fastball straight to the face against Detroit. He spent the night at the Cleveland Clinic for scans and is listed as day‑to‑day, but the uncertainty lingers.
Outfielder Lane Thomas, who’d been battling plantar fasciitis since July, finally went under the knife on the same day. The surgery aims to address a stubborn foot problem and is slated to keep him out well into the 2026 season. A three‑ to four‑month recovery window means the Guardians won’t see him back on a field for the rest of this year.
Shortstop Nolan Jones hit the 10‑day injured list on September 20 after a right oblique strain flared up while swinging. No return date has been set, adding another hole to the middle‑infield depth chart.
Season‑Ending Setbacks and Rehab Progress
Some injuries are final. Tommy Hawke’s shoulder has been out of commission since mid‑September, and Will Brennan’s sports‑hernia surgery in early September officially closed his season. Both were key pieces in the Guardians’ offensive push.
Ben Lively’s elbow drama topped the list: a torn UCL and flexor tendon required reconstructive surgery in July, ending his 2025 campaign. The loss of a reliable starter has forced the club to shuffle the rotation and lean on less experienced arms.
Closer Emmanuel Clase has been missing the stretch since early August, though his absence is noted as personal rather than medical. Relief pitcher Andrew Walters joined the growing list of season‑long casualties after a lat injury took him out in August.
On the brighter side, veteran left‑hander John Means is inching back from left elbow UCL surgery. He threw a seventh rehab start for Triple‑A Columbus, surrendering three runs on four hits over 5⅓ innings. If the club feels the timing is right, he could rejoin the big‑league squad before the regular season ends.
Even the minors aren’t immune. Second baseman Travis Bazzana dropped onto a 7‑day IL with left flank soreness, while shortstop Juan Brito faced hamstring surgery that will bench him for 8‑12 weeks. Reliever Sam Hentges has been stuck on the 60‑day IL since February with a lingering shoulder issue, effectively missing the entire year.
To plug the gaps, Cleveland has been active on the roster front. After Jones’ injury, outfielder Petey Halpin was recalled from Triple‑A Columbus. Pitching depth moves included calling up Nic Enright and Zak Kent in early September, both aiming to give the overtaxed bullpen a breather.
- David Fry – facial injury, day‑to‑day
- Lane Thomas – foot surgery, out through 2026
- Nolan Jones – oblique strain, return TBD
- Tommy Hawke – shoulder, season‑end
- Will Brennan – sports hernia surgery, season‑end
- Ben Lively – UCL & flexor tendon surgery, season‑end
- Emmanuel Clase – personal leave, season‑end
- Andrew Walters – lat injury, season‑end
- John Means – rehab start, possible late‑season return
- Sam Hentges – shoulder, missed entire season
The depth chart is now a revolving door of call‑ups, role players, and veterans on the mend. As the regular season wraps up, the Guardians are forced to lean heavily on whatever health they can salvage, while also planning ahead for a roster that may look very different come 2026.