Injury Updates: Hart, Wright, Utley, Swisher, Polanco, More

Your daily dose of injuries notes from around the league.

In today's notes: 18 players; 11 teams:

Key Injury Updates

• Brewers outfielder Corey Hart's recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery is so far ahead of schedule that manager Ron Roenicke believes he may be "physically ready" by Opening Day, writes Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel. Though he may be physically ready, Roenicke stipulates that Hart's return will depend on whether he is "baseball-ready", whatever that means.
• Mets manager Terry Collins believes that David Wright will increase his workload this week, possibly getting live action by the week's end, reports Dan Martin of the NYPost. Wright received a cortisone shot in his torn rectus abdominis muscle earlier this week.
• The usually-mum Chase Utley told Todd Zolecki of MLB.com yesterday that: "We’re making progress. I hope to be on the field next week." Utley has still yet to play in a spring game because of his chronic patellar tendonitis and is looking unlikely to be ready for Opening Day. Adjust your fantasy drafts accordingly.

• The MRI on Nick Swisher's sore groin came up negative yesterday, writes Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Out since Wednesday because of the soreness, the Yankee outfielder said he expects to return to the lineup today against the Orioles.

Newly Injured

• Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco left Saturday's game after jamming the ring finger on his left hand sliding. Bob Brookover of the Philly Inquirer reports that Polanco's x-rays came back negative, and that Polanco will miss a few days with a sprained ring finger.
• Young Royals right hander Blake Wood left Saturday's game due to elbow tightness, Bob Dutton tweets. Dutton calls the tightness "progressive", which may indicate the injury is something Wood has been dealing with for some time. Wood will undergo tests on his elbow today.
• Padres catcher Nick Hundley has been rested the last two days because of a sore oblique muscle, writes Dan Hayes of the North County Times. Though he missed a month of last season with an oblique strain, Hundley is not worried about the current setback: "It's not as close to as severe. I'd say it's 10 percent of what it was last year. We're just taking this time so I don't experience that."
• Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie is day-to-day because of tightness in his left groin, reports Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com. Lawrie suffered the injury running from second to home during Friday's game. It is not thought to be serious, the days off merely a precaution.

Still Hurting

• A large contingent of the Washington Nationals power supply--Michael Morse, Adam LaRoche and Rick Ankiel--are still nursing a variety of injuries that have kept them out of a majority of spring action, reports MLB.com's Bill Ladson. The trio is not eligible to play in Major League exhibitions until they are able to work out in front of manager Davey Johnson, but they have been cleared to take swings on the Minor League field.
• Though not reported until yesterday, Malins reliever Randy Choate has yet to make an appearance this spring because of a muscle strain in his right side. The LOOGY hopes to get work in some time in the next week and expects to be ready by Opening Day, writes Joe Capozzi of the PB Post.

On the Mend

• Rays center fielder B.J. Upton is hoping to return to the lineup by Tuesday, tweets Roger Mooney of TBO. Upton has been dealing with back stiffness since Wednesday when he collided with Desmond Jennings going after a flyball.
• Indians first baseman Casey Kotchman is expected to return to the field today after sitting out a week with lower back stiffness, reports Paul Hoynes of the Plain Dealer.
• Three more injured Indians are expected to make their returns soon as well, tweets Tribe Insider. Rafael Perez (left shoulder soreness) and Robinson Tejeda (right calf tightness) will pitch in minor league games today, while closer Chris Perez (left oblique strain) will throw his second bullpen of the spring today.
• Mets reliever Tim Byrdak, who underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair torn meniscus cartilage in his left knee just five days ago, believes that being ready by Opening Days is a "long shot, but a possibility", ESPN's Adam Rubin reports.