Kyle Trimble is a licensed physical therapist here to provide MLB injury analysis on Luke Voit’s left meniscus tear.
Yankees first baseman Luke Voit will miss at least the first three weeks of the 2021 season following a partial meniscus tear in his left knee. He will reportedly have surgery the last week of March. This comes after Voit was dealing with knee soreness all spring before getting an MRI revealing the partial tear and the decision for surgery over conservative rehab.
Luke Voit’s Meniscus tear
The meniscus is comprised of two C-shaped discs of cartilage that act as shock absorbers for the knee. A meniscus tear can occur as the result of a forceful pivoting motion that creates a shearing force on the knee, tearing a piece of the cartilage which limits regular movement, causing pain and swelling.
Knee anatomy and example of a meniscus tear. (Credit: Orthopedic & Shoulder Center)
While a three-week timeline is reasonable to return to low-level activities, additional time will be required to return to full activity.
As Voit bats right-handed, his left leg bears a significant amount of force during the swinging phase. The leg fully extends and acts as a pivot point for the hips to eventually open up and generate power during the swing. The left leg will also have to bear a lot of weight during fielding as he will be reaching out to extend while his right leg is maintaining contact with the base.
The demands of right-handed hitting and fielding for a left knee injury require a longer return to play.
Meniscus tears take an average of 44.1 days to return to play according to research. Rehab protocols also support these numbers with meniscectomies taking closer to 4-to-6 weeks, potentially even longer.
MLB Betting & Fantasy Baseball Outlook
A realistic timeline for Voit to return is mid-May and be fully healthy without residual issues by June. If he rushes back, pain and swelling could persist and further time could be missed. For fantasy, avoid Jay Bruce; find anyone else as a short-term replacement.
For betting, this injury alone shouldn’t deter any changes in placing money on the Yankees to win the pennant, but they may start inconsistent without Voit’s offensive production. Add in the slow progression of Jameson Taillon and the eventual return of Luis Servino, the Yankees could be a favorite for big money in June and July.
Kyle Trimble is a licensed physical therapist who also works as an injury spotter for Dr. David Chao. Kyle has extensive experience in outpatient orthopedics, skilled nursing, acute care hospital, and home care. He’s also a member of Bills Mafia and runs the website Banged Up Bills.
Disclaimer from Kyle: My opinions are my own. Any thoughts I have on the injuries are based on media reports, my knowledge of the injury, and speculation based on the information currently available including video and print media. This information is subject to change based on the information released by the team.
