The 2023 MLB season is underway and as always, injuries are beginning to pile up. Today we'll look at injured hitters including
Yordan Alvarez,
Michael Harris II,
Amed Rosario,
Jose Siri and
Josh Donaldson. Baseball season is a marathon and not a race, so finding replacements for players out of action is key for fantasy baseball success.For those not yet familiar, this is our weekly edition of
fantasy baseball injury updates for hitters as of April 19, 2023. We'll be covering all positions throughout the week, so stay tuned. Some players on this list impact fantasy baseball more than others, but with leagues of all shapes and sizes, you never know which guys will force fantasy managers to search waiver wires in hopes of finding adequate replacements.To keep close tabs on all of the news across the MLB, make sure to favorite or bookmark the
fantasy baseball player news page, and download the free
RotoBaller fantasy baseball mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. Let's look at the injury updates for hitters. 
Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter
Yordan Alvarez (ankle) looked to turn his left ankle a bit on a swing on Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays and was pulled from the contest early in the eighth inning. Alvarez started the game in left field and went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk in the contest before departing with his injury. It's unknown exactly how serious his ankle injury is, but for now, fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day until we know more.https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/1648515063500918785The 25-year-old Cuban slugger came into Tuesday's game hitting .273 (15-for-55) with three doubles, four home runs, a league-leading 20 RBI and 11 runs scored in 15 games. Hopefully for fantasy managers, Alvarez can return soon and avoid a trip to the injured list. 
Atlanta Braves outfielder
Michael Harris II(back) said last Saturday that he'd probably begin taking batting practice in the coming days, but it doesn't appear that he's been cleared for that step yet as he rehabs a back injury. "Same place he's been," manager Brian Snitker said. "Just rehabbing. It's not there yet."https://twitter.com/SportsTalkATL/status/1647623611593760769The 22-year-old second-year player landed on the injured list in early April with a lower back strain and still isn't quite ready to return for the Braves. As soon as he's able to take batting practice, a minor-league rehab assignment shouldn't be far off. Fantasy managers should continue to stash last year's National League Rookie of the Year. Until he returns,
Sam Hilliardshould continue to see more playing time in the outfield. 
Cleveland Guardians shortstop
Amed Rosario(back) went back to Cleveland on Monday to get an MRI exam on his back, which came back fine. However, the team is hoping he'll be ready to return to the lineup on Friday, and he remains out of the starting lineup for Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers.
Tyler Freemanis with the club in the meantime and is starting at the 6 and hitting eighth in Game 1 against Tigers left-hander
Matthew Boydon Tuesday.https://twitter.com/ZackMeisel/status/1648350813624958977Rosario hasn't played since last Saturday and has gone 14-for-63 (.222) with two doubles, a triple, a home run, four RBI, three stolen bases and seven runs scored in his first 14 games of the season. Fantasy managers should plan to have him back by this weekend. 
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder
Jose Siri (hamstring) has made significant progress in his return to action, as he ran full speed on Monday. However, he still has to do some baserunning drills and get some at-bats on a rehab stint, so according to Marc Topkin, the 27-year-old is still a bit away from coming off the injured list. He'll likely play rehab games in AAA this weekend, and could join the team next week against the Astros:https://twitter.com/TBTimes_Rays/status/1648713615678099456Before getting hurt, Siri was on a tear, slashing .318/.333/.682 with two homers, five runs, eight RBI, and one steal across six games. When he's back with the Rays, the speedster will try to continue to break out in his third season at the big league level. 
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder
Jesse Winker(oblique) is not in the lineup for his team's Monday matchup against the Seattle Mariners. Winker was a late scratch on Sunday and was not quite ready to return to action on Monday, although he is reportedly close.https://twitter.com/A_Jude/status/1648111089165676544He was able to work out on-field before the game and is potentially available as a pinch-hitter according to manager Craig Counsell. Winker has a strong shot at being in the lineup for Tuesday. 
San Francisco Giants outfielder
Michael Conforto (calf) remains out of the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Miami Marlins. The organization was hopeful that Conforto would return here. Sadly, he'll miss his fourth game in a row due to left calf tightness.https://twitter.com/sfchronicle/status/1648462459483848704The Giants haven't placed Conforto on the injured list yet, so hopefully it's still only a minor issue. The left-handed slugger was able to pinch-hit over the weekend, so he must be doing a little better. Hopefully, he'll be back in the lineup within the next few days. 
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that third baseman
Josh Donaldson(hamstring) will be the team's starting third baseman when he returns from the injured list, possibly as soon as this Wednesday. However, Boone also said he will ease Donaldson back into the lineup after two weeks off, and he could cycle through the designated hitter spot with
Giancarlo Stanton(hamstring) now on the IL.https://twitter.com/BryanHoch/status/1648509023648636933As of right now,
DJ LeMahieuis the starter at the hot corner, but Donaldson remains a high-level defender at the position. But if Donaldson continues to struggle at the plate, the Yankees could consider cutting him despite still owing him $27 million. The Yankees will give Donaldson time to turn things around, but they could get impatient if he continues to struggle.