Brewers manager Craig Counsell informed reporters, including Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, that outfielder Garrett Mitchell’s MRI revealed significant damage. Counsell said that Mitchell will seek a second opinion but surgery is likely and the remainder of his season is in jeopardy. Mitchell had been placed on the 10-day injured list earlier this week with a left shoulder subluxation.
Mitchell spoke after Counsell and provided more information to reporters, including Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. He said the plan is to go see Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on Monday. If it is deemed that surgery is necessary, that will take place the following day.
At this point, it’s not a foregone conclusion that Mitchell will go under the knife, but it seems the most probable course of events. If it does indeed come to pass, it will be a very frustrating setback for Mitchell and the Brewers, given the promising start to his career. Between his debut last season and the start of this year, he’s been in 44 major league contests so far. He’s struck out in a worrisome 40% of his plate appearances but has still managed to be productive. He’s hit five home runs and currently has a batting line of .286/.341/.462, which translates to a 121 wRC+. He’s also stolen nine bases and been graded well for his defensive work in center field.
Whether Mitchell is ultimately out for the remainder of the season or some shorter timeline, the Brewers will be pressing on without him for the foreseeable future. Joey Wiemer, who had been playing right field, took over center field last night and is in there again tonight, pointing to him having the job for now. With Tyrone Taylor also on the injured list, Brian Anderson might now be the regular right fielder. He had been playing third base but that could now fall to Owen Miller and Mike Brosseau. Blake Perkins is also now up with the club and can provide cover at all three outfield spots. Outfield prospect Sal Frelick won’t be an option in the short term, as he has been placed on the injured list in the minors due to a thumb sprain, per Hogg.
hiflew
Rockies about to have an extra big league OF when Grichuk comes off the IL in a couple days. I wonder if the Brewers would be interested in Grichuk or Daza to cover.
brewsingblue82
They have pretty solid OF depth of Weimer can come back around and correct his struggles, plus their number one prospect is an OF. I’m not expecting they’ll call up anyone just yet, but I don’t expect a trade to try to fill the void either. Right now they can likely keep things patched up until Urias returns, and then Brian Anderson would go back to right field, Weimer in center and Yelich in left. The biggest issue right now is just whether Weimer can correct his issues.
Bud Selig Fan
Guessing the team thinks they’re covered with Wiemer & Perkins and Tyrone Taylor starting a rehab assignment any day now. And of course Sal Frelick in AAA.
avenger65
Yeah, I would never say a team has enough anything, not with so many injuries in bb day after day after day.
brewsingblue82
It’s true you never have to much of anything, but making trades while you still have depth doesn’t make much sense still. It’s just going to deplete depth from one area to add to depth that you still have. I think they’re still good on depth for the moment. Now if Weimer can’t turn it around and they lose one more, than maybe it’s time to start looking for an extra of
Hammerin' Hank
Brewers don’t need Grichuk or Daza
JobuKnows
Better call Sal
OJ's White Ford Bronco
Sal who
nukeg
This sucks. Hate seeing young talent go down. Seen him up close and his contact sounds different. Hoping for a speedy recovery.
dannycore
I still cannot believe they left him in the game after clearly hurting his shoulder sliding into third. Shredded his shoulder on the throw. Falling on an outstretched arm injuries are no joke
Samuel
dannycore;
Ah, so that’s how it happened. Thanks. The in-depth article left out that minor detail.
dannycore
I mean he probably tore his labrum on the fall. But it might have been manageable. Having to make a play at the plate throwing from center right after definitely made it worse. It might have been manageable or an easier repair if he didn’t try to make that all out throw.
skinsfandfw
Orioles should trade one of their glut of OFers to MKE for some pitching. Hays and Santander would be my first two choices in that order. Hays would being more in return.
Then we call back up Stowers and give him a chance to show what he’s made of before Cowser and or Kjerstad get the call up later this season.
Make it happen, Elias.
MrSeptember
The Brewers have lots of outfield depth and aren’t going to trade pitching with 2 starters on the IL. Otherwise, that’s a sold proposal.
skinsfandfw
I’m not suggesting ML ready pitching, minor leaguers would suffice certainly. But maybe it’s not a good match. I’m not too familiar with the MKE system outside the top 5 or so.
avenger65
Hays and Santander looked pretty good the last time I saw them. But then, it was against the White Sox, so…
Samuel
skinsfandfw;
The Tigers got a run tonight in the 9th inning.
That stopped the O’s pitchers string of consecutive scoreless innings at 35.
skinsfandfw
I’d seen that. Good run by the Os pitchers for sure, but it was against the Nats and Tigers, both of whom are in the bottom 4 teams in total runs scored.
skinsfandfw
Orioles should trade one of their glut of OFers to MKE for some pitching. Hays and Santander would be my first two choices in that order. Hays would being more in return.
Then we call back up Stowers and give him a chance to show what he’s made of before Cowser and or Kjerstad get the call up later this season.
Make it happen, Elias.
MrSeptember
It was a bad idea the 1st time
skinsfandfw
Haha, I’m not sure why it double posted
Motor City Beach Bum
They should just bail on him and send him to the Tigers 😉 That’s too bad. I think he’s a keeper. Sal Frelick is next man up for you guys? He seems solid too. Milwaukee has enviable OF depth.
Crew2011
Agreed. Should have pulled him. No need to sign anyone new. Just need to hold down the fort until Sal Frelick recovers. At this point, probably the best hitter of the Brewer rookie outfield options anyway. Hope we don’t hand the starting position back to Tyrone Taylor, He’s had his chance.
King Floch
Drafted him on both of my fantasy teams and he was off to a really solid start, RIP
bronxmac77
“He’s struck out in a worrisome 40% of his plate appearances but has still managed to be productive…”
Good grief.
ewitkows
Bring up Jackson
avenger65
This year baseball is going to be a game of attrition.
hiflew
Every year baseball is a game of attrition. People always act like there are more injuries the current year than ever before, but it’s almost always about the same number. It just doesn’t seem that way when your player or team get hit hard.
stevewpants
Shades of Jimmy Nelson.
SODOMOJO
Man huge bummer! This happened like 20 feet in front of me we were 3nd row right next to the dugout. It was an awkward bang bang play, we were surprised to see him stay in the game as he was clearly in a lot of pain. Geno Suarez took a fastball straight to the elbow and stayed in the game as well. Really sucks to see the kid go down on a play like that! He can fly around the bases