With the recent announcement of Robert Gasser going on the 10-Day IL, the Milwaukee Brewers have taken another hit and the injury bug continues to run rampant among the team.
The Milwaukee Brewers Pitching Injury Disaster
Before the season even kicked off, the Milwaukee Brewers had a handful of players already on the injured list, one of those being ace Brandon Woodruff who was ruled out for the entire season with his injury he sustained last season, and with the team trading Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles, their starting rotation wasn’t looking too promising.
The crew announced on Wednesday prior to their loss against the Phillies that red-hot Robert Gasser would be placed on the 15-day IL with a left flexor strain. In corresponding moves, they optioned Janson Junk to Triple-A Nashville and called up Aaron Ashby and Tobias Myers.
Gasser has posted a 2-0 record with a 2.57 ERA in just five starts since he made his major league debut last month, and has been a crucial player in the Brewers’ starting rotation. He was showing a lot of promise until he experienced some tightness after his five innings of work in a 4-3 victory against the Chicago Cubs.
Aaron Ashby returned after spending the entire 2023 season on the bench as he was recovering from a shoulder injury. He made seven minor league appearances as well, and in his only outing with the Brewers this year, Ashby gave up eight runs (four earned), in 3 innings of work in a 10-8 loss against the Cincinnati Reds. He was 1-3 with a 6.80 ERA in 10 appearances for the Nashville Sounds this season, but has only allowed two runs in his past two starts.
Who’s Currently On the Injured List?
Short Term
Joe Ross was placed on the IL on May 20 with a lower back strain. In his last start against Miami, he had to leave in the first inning. Prior to his injury, Ross was posting a 4.50 ERA with nine starts and a 2-4 record. His timetable to return remains unknown.
Brought over in the deal that sent Corbin Burnes to Baltimore, DL Hall seemed to struggle to find his footing right out of the gate. With a knee injury that he aggravated, he was placed on the 15-Day back in April. He was scheduled for a rehab appearance and a follow-up on June 5 to see when and if he can resume pitching. But, like Ross, his timetable remains unclear. Hall was posting a 7.71 ERA in four starts and a 0-1 record.
Brewers fans could see the return of Jakob Junis soon. While there was the idea of him throwing in the home opener for the crew, he has yet to see the mound in 2024. Acquired in the offseason, Junis went straight to the injured list with a shoulder injury and endured a scary incident when a fly ball went off his neck during batting practice in Pittsburgh on April 22. He was scheduled to make a rehab appearance on June 4.
Long Term
J.B. Bukauskas was the first player to get his big-league call up this season, but was quickly shuffled to the injured list with a right lat strain. The hope is that he’s ready to go for the second half of the season as he’s eligible to return starting June 13.
Devin Williams’ stress fractures were a huge blow to the Brewers relief pitching squad. The former NL Reliever of the year is expected to miss at least the first half of the season due to the stress fractures in his back. He’s projected to have a late July return, but back fractures are so pesky, there’s no telling in how accurate that return will be.
Wade Miley was a good asset for the crew in 2023 and was brought back on a 1-year deal. Placed on the injured list in April, Miley requires Tommy John surgery for a torn UCL in his throwing elbow. He will remain on the injured list for the remainder of the season with the hopes of returning for Spring Training next year.
Non-Pitching Injury
Garrett Mitchell was on track to be the Brewers’ starting center fielder in 2024. That was until he sustained a hand injury during Spring Training. This left hand fracture still has yet to have any promising updates, but the timetable of his return is a huge question mark as they wait for him to begin a rehab assignment.
