2018 Injury Outlook – Michael Conforto

On August 24, 2017, Michael Conforto took a massive swing at a pitch from Robbie Ray and suffered a catastrophic injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder (video here).

What does it mean?
The tissues that keep the shoulder in place were torn, causing instability.  He was diagnosed with a posterior shoulder capsule tear and required arthroscopic surgery. The surgery repaired the instability by tightening the shoulder capsule and surrounding tissues. Conforto’s surgery was done on September 20, 2017, and recovery includes avoiding sporting activities for up to four-to-six months to allow the affected tissues to heal from the injury and the trauma of surgery. We can expect him to return to the lineup eight-to-ten weeks after resuming baseball activities.

The Good News
Long-term, Conforto should be just fine: posterior capsule surgeries have a 92% success rate.

The Bottom Line
Conforto is a still a promising young player that should be sought out in all dynasty formats. Expectations for 2018 are that he will miss 1-2 months and may have a slow start upon his return.

Estimated Recovery: May 15, 2018
Fantasy Diagnosis, 2018: 400 PA, .260, 22 HR, 65 R, 65 RBI

Dynasty Prescription: Buy

Dr. Mike Tanner
@DrMikeTanner