Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) hit off a tee on Thursday, according to manager Dusty Baker. The Astros were expecting Brantley to return for the first time all year in early May, but a setback prompted the team to shut him down temporarily. The 36-year-old veteran left-handed hitter is now swinging again, which is a positive, but there's no clear timetable for his return after a long recovery after having labrum surgery in August of 2022. Brantley should eventually be able to return this year, but most fantasy managers should have moved on by now, at least in mixed leagues. When healthy, Brantley makes a lot of contact and can help with a high average, but he won't offer much else.

According to Astros manager Dusty Baker, outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) hasn't resumed hitting. Although the 36-year-old has swung a bat, it doesn't appear he's anywhere close to a return. Brantley has been on the shelf since June 2022 and underwent surgery in August. At this rate, nobody knows for sure when he will be back on the field, so he's not worth much from a fantasy standpoint.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) remains out indefinitely after experiencing a setback in his return to action. He played in nine minor-league rehab games at Triple-A Sugar Land (24 at-bats) and was hoping to be activated from the injured list soon. However, he continued to feel pain in his surgically repaired right shoulder and was shut down. Brantley hasn't played for the Astros since last June 26 and had surgery in August. "Very frustrating," Brantley said. "You rehab all offseason, you put in the work every single day, you do everything the right way -- and sometimes it just doesn't work out to your favor." The 36-year-old left-handed hitter has no timeline to return to Houston, and it remains to be seen if he'll even play at all in 2023.

The Houston Astros have sent outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) back for further testing after it was announced on Tuesday that he had been shut down from hitting for a couple of days. Manager Dusty Baker said Brantley is "more sore than usual because he played a lot" on his minor-league rehab assignment. Baker said Tuesday night that the team wasn't considering it a setback and that Brantley was still close to returning from the injured list, but this says otherwise. The 35-year-old veteran has yet to play in 2023 while recovering from right-shoulder surgery last year, and there remains no timetable for his return. There has been hope that Brantley could make his 2023 debut this weekend, but we'll know more once we get the results back from his tests.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) has been shut down from hitting, according to manager Dusty Baker. The skipper also said it's unclear when Brantley will return and said it wasn't a setback. When specifically asked if Brantley had suffered a setback, Baker said, "Not really. We decided to just take it easy for a couple days." Baker also said that Brantley is "really close" to returning. It sounds like the 35-year-old veteran has made progress, but it also sounds like a bit of a setback for a player that has yet to play at all in 2023 while recovering from shoulder surgery last year. We'll keep an eye on when Brantley resumes his rehab progression. At this point in his career, Brantley has little to offer fantasy managers besides a decent average because of his contact-oriented approach at the plate.

According to Houston Astros skipper Dusty Baker, outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) might return early next week for the series with the Los Angeles Angels. The 35-year-old underwent shoulder surgery in August and recently began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land. Although Brantley is not the player he once was, he still has something to offer for those in deeper fantasy leagues.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) has begun a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land, according to MLB.com. The veteran underwent shoulder surgery in August and has been on the shelf since. Brantley's expected to be with the Minor League team for at least a week before joining the Astros in early May. The 35-year-old has always handled himself at the dish and produced a .288/.370/.416 slash line with five homers 28 runs, 26 RBI, and one stolen base over 64 games in 2022. When Brantley does come back, fantasy managers can't expect much power or baserunning but should benefit from a high average and decent counting stats.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder), who had shoulder surgery in August and has been rehabbing since the start of the season, went 1-for-1 with a walk in his first game of a rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Sugar Land. The 35-year-old is expected to remain with the Space Cowboys for at least a week, and he should return to the Astros in early May if he has no setbacks. Brantley is still a productive hitter, but he no longer provides the power or speed he used to. As such, he may only be worth a look in deeper points leagues when he does return.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) is ramping up his rehab after taking live batting practice on Friday. Brantley had shoulder surgery in August and has recently been working out at the team's training facilities in Florida. A return in May still looks like the expectation for Brantley.

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Michael Brantley (shoulder) is heading to the team's training facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., to continue his shoulder rehab. The 35-year-old underwent season-ending shoulder surgery back in August and signed a one-year deal to return to Houston last winter. The team expects him back within the next few weeks, barring any setbacks, and he should slide right back into the top of the lineup upon his return. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his rehab, and he's currently worth a speculative stash in deeper leagues.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) was able to take batting practice ahead of Friday's game against the Chicago White Sox. The veteran outfielder continues to work his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. The organization hasn't given a clear timetable for Brantley. That being said, the expectation is that he'll be ready to return in late-April or early-May. In the meantime, Corey Julks will likely get a decent playing time until Brantley is ready to return.

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said that outfielder Michael Conforto (shoulder) is not expected to make his 2023 season debut until mid-to-late April. Brantley had surgery on his shoulder last September and didn't take part in spring training at all while also missing time with a personal issue. The 35-year-old veteran has been hitting in camp, but he's a week behind schedule and the team doesn't want to rush him back at all. Before he makes his season debut with the Astros, he'll also likely need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment. Brantley will be a lineup regular for Houston between left field and designated hitter when he's healthy, but he doesn't offer much for fantasy managers at this point in his career outside of a high batting average.

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker all but confirmed on Tuesday that outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) will start the 2023 season on the injured list. Brantley had surgery on his right shoulder last August and has been taking it slow during spring training. He also missed some valuable time in camp while he was away from the team tending to a personal matter. There is no timetable for when the 35-year-old will make his season debut, which hurts his already low fantasy value heading into 2023. Brantley makes a lot of contact, doesn't strike out much and can contribute a valuable batting average, but he does little else for fantasy managers. And on top of it, he's now an injury risk at his age.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (personal, shoulder) is back with the team in spring training on Monday. Brantley was away from the team due to personal reasons, but he has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut while recovering from surgery he had on his right labrum last August. The Astros aren't ruling out Opening Day, but the 35-year-old will need to ramp up his baseball activities quickly in camp if he's to have any shot at being ready for the 2023 regular season opener. When he's healthy, he's expected to hit in the two-hole for the Astros while playing regularly between left field and designated hitter. Brantley makes a ton of contact and can provide a high batting average, but he doesn't do much else for fantasy managers.

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Michael Brantley (shoulder, personal), who had shoulder surgery last August, may not be ready for the start of the 2023 regular season, according to general manager Dana Brown. Brantley has been away from the team in recent days while dealing with a personal matter. "It's going to be really close, to be there Opening Day or shortly thereafter, a week after, tops," Brown said. "We don't know where that is. I'm hoping than no later than April 10 with him." The 35-year-old left-handed contact hitter missed the second half of 2022 and the entire postseason as well. His fantasy stock continues to fall as a player that really only contributes in batting average.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) is currently away from the team in spring training while dealing with a family matter, according to a team spokesman. Brantley hasn't even made his Grapefruit League debut this spring after having shoulder surgery last August, and it remains to be seen when he'll actually get into a game in camp. The Astros have been hoping all along that the 35-year-old veteran can be ready for Opening Day, but it wouldn't be a surprise at all if he began the 2023 season on the injured list. Fantasy managers in shallow mixed leagues should probably be leaving Brantley to the waiver wire. He's an excellent contact hitter and also hits for a high average when he's healthy, but he provides little else.

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Michael Brantley (shoulder) will take batting practice on the field on Sunday for the first time since having shoulder surgery. The 35-year-old veteran underwent surgery to fix the labrum in his right shoulder last August, so this is a significant step for Brantley as he prepares to get ready for the 2023 season. Even if he doesn't have any setbacks this spring, there's no guarantee he'll be ready for Opening Day, though. The five-time All-Star hit .288/.370/.416 with a .785 OPS, five home runs, 26 RBI and 28 runs scored in only 64 games last year before being shut down. Brantley can handle a bat with the best of them, but his lack of power and speed and the threat of injury as he nears the end of his career have put him off the fantasy radar in shallow mixed leagues.

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) said he's on schedule in his recovery from shoulder surgery, but he also probably won't be ready to play in spring games when Grapefruit League contests begin this Saturday. Brantley has no limitations defensively, but he'll be eased into action. The 35-year-old had surgery to fix his right labrum last August and is still recovering. When healthy, he should be a regular in Houston's lineup, either in left field or at designated hitter. He's not out of the woods yet to avoid a trip to the injured list to begin the season, either. Brantley makes a lot of contact and should be a good bet for a serviceable batting average, but outside of that, he's not helping fantasy managers much.

Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said that outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) remains day-to-day with spring training beginning this week. "It's still day-to-day. He's hitting, fielding ground balls, moving well, not feeling much pain. He's on course. I think it's going to go down to the wire, but I think it's going to be close." The Astros are holding out hope that Brantley will be ready for Opening Day. He had surgery on his right labrum last August, so he'll be brought along slowly in camp. The 35-year-old will probably see a lot of designated hitter duties at the beginning of the year, but he can also split time in left field with Yordan Alvarez. Brantley makes a ton of contact and doesn't strike out much, but injuries are a concern and he doesn't offer fantasy managers much more than a high average.