Austin Nola Stats

San Diego Padres outfielder Trent Grisham (hamstring) and catcher Austin Nola (finger) will start the 2021 season on the injured list, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune. There had previously been some optimism that Grisham would be ready by Opening Day, but as it's gotten closer to Opening Day it has become more-and-more apparent that they would both start the year on the IL. Nola has been out since March 12 after suffering a fractured middle finger on his left (catching) hand, while Grisham has been out since March 11 with a left hamstring strain. According to Acee, Grisham has hit and done defensive drills but has not yet sprinted, while Nola has performed in defensive drills, but is not as far along with his hitting as Grisham. With Nola and Grisham out, the Padres are expected to turn to catcher Victor Caratini and utility man Jurickson Profar to fill in during the short term. Caratini likely won't have much value, but Profar could be an interesting option in deep-mixed or NL-only formats, as Profar has shown himself to be a 20 homer-10 steal threat in the past over a full season.

11 days ago

The San Diego Padres hope catcher Austin Nola (finger) can take batting practice this weekend. The Friars starting backstop fractured his finger nearly two weeks ago but has progressed quicker than expected. Nola recorded an .825 OPS with seven homers and 52 runs-plus-RBI in 184 plate appearances in 2020 but struggled after joining the Padres midseason with just a .705 OPS. He also played through a fractured foot. While the finger may result in a short-term IL stint to start the year, Nola's batted-ball track record suggests he can still provide top-10 value at the catcher position. While he's out, expect signal-callers Victor Caratini and Luis Campusano to fill the void. Campusano, the team's No. 3 prospect, is an intriguing April DFS option on days he starts for his offensive upside.

16 days ago

San Diego Padres catcher Austin Nola (finger) has a fractured finger on his left hand. Nolas suffered the injury while catching a foul tip during Saturday's game. While he was initially able to stay in the game, the pain intensified, and he was diagnosed with a fracture after being looked at by the team doctors. There is no timetable yet for his return, with manager Jayce Tingler saying that it "wouldn't surprise him if it was sooner rather than later." Nola was a good fantasy pick for managers who wait to invest draft capital in the catcher position, as he posted a .825 OPS in 48 games combined with the Mariners and Padres during the shortened 2020 season. The injury certainly throws a wrench in the plans of those waiting to draft Nola, as well as the Padres' catching situation, with Victor Caratini and Luis Campusano expected to pick up the slack.

26 days ago