Karl Ellison

Karl Ellison has had a nightmare 2026 season marked by multiple injuries. He suffered a left foot contusion from a comebacker on Opening Day that sidelined him for over a month. Upon beginning a rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha, he reported shoulder discomfort and was diagnosed with a rotator cuff strain. He will be shut down from throwing for three weeks and reevaluated at the end of May, with a mid-to-late June return target at the earliest. Even during spring training when ostensibly healthy, his velocity was significantly diminished (89.4 mph on four-seam fastball, nearly 7 mph below last year's level), raising concerns about his overall physical condition.