Vogt returns to Milwaukee after rehab setback
MILWAUKEE -- Catcher Stephen Vogt arrived in Milwaukee on Sunday for tests on his injured right shoulder after a setback on Saturday night at Double-A Biloxi.
Vogt, sidelined since mid-March by a shoulder strain, took himself out of Saturday's game in the sixth inning after airing one throw over second base and then bouncing another throw to third. Brewers general manager David Stearns said Vogt made a wise decision to remove himself and declined to speculate on the severity of the setback, pending medical results.
Vogt's visit with head team physician Dr. William Raasch is scheduled for Monday.
"It's a setback, there's no question," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said.
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"My rehab assignment was going really well," said Vogt, who arrived at Miller Park in the wake of the Brewers' 9-0 loss to the Pirates on Sunday. "I even mentioned to Kevan [Creighton, Biloxi's athletic trainer] on my way out to catch the sixth inning how good I felt. I threw down to second in between innings, felt great. Finally, for the first time, I felt I had turned a corner. I felt free and almost normal."
That changed quickly.
"Guy stole second, I didn't get a good grip and threw it into center field, but that one felt fine," Vogt said. "Next pitch, he went to third, and right when I went to throw it to third, I felt something pinch or whatever you want to call it. Ball just kind of rolled to third base. I knew right away something didn't go right."
Vogt said the pain was in a different part of his shoulder, on top of the joint instead of in the back.
"I'm in a lot of pain still today," he said. "I'm trying to be me and stay as positive as I can right now."
Vogt, a two-time American League All-Star for the A's acquired via waivers last June 25, worked with weighted balls over the winter to strengthen his arm after throwing out one of 28 baserunners with the Brewers. But he developed soreness after his first Spring Training game and began the season on the disabled list.
Despite his below-average arm, the Brewers do miss Vogt's left-handed bat, especially with first baseman Eric Thames on the DL recovering from thumb surgery. Brewers catchers are 25th of 30 Major League teams with 58 weighted runs created plus, though Manny Piña has homered twice in his last five starts.
Vogt hit eight home runs (12 overall) and slugged .508 in 129 Brewers plate appearances last season.
"He went into the offseason trying to improve his arm strength, trying to improve his throwing," Counsell said. "He put a lot of work into it, and unfortunately, he's had a couple of injuries with it. It's definitely frustrating."
Dubon injured
Under better circumstances, news that No. 10 Brewers prospect Mauricio Dubón was coming to Milwaukee would be welcomed by Brewers fans. But Dubon is coming to be examined by Raasch after straining his left knee in a rundown during Triple-A Colorado Springs' loss at Oklahoma City on Saturday, according to Brewers farm director Tom Flanagan.
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Dubon, 23, has been a top performer in Milwaukee's Minor League system this season, with a 23-game hitting streak pushing his OPS to .922 after 108 at-bats.
Triple-A next for Logan; Knebel also close
After testing his left triceps in five healthy rehab appearances for Biloxi, including back-to-back games Friday and Saturday, left-handed reliever Boone Logan will pitch at least once for Triple-A Colorado Springs before the Brewers make a decision about activating him from the DL, Counsell said.
Closer Corey Knebel, coming back from a hamstring injury, also was scheduled to pitch for a second straight day Sunday as his own rehab assignment continued.
"He's doing really well, too," Counsell said of Knebel. "All positive signs there. He's on track to join us at the end of the week at the latest."
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Logan's Triple-A outing is scheduled for Tuesday in Nashville.
"We'll evaluate after the next one," Counsell said. "He's getting close."
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Remembering Davey
The Brewers observed a moment of silence for former coach, broadcaster and front-office official Davey Nelson on Sunday, two weeks after Nelson passed away following a battle with liver cancer.
The team has more tributes planned around a four-game series against the Cardinals from June 21-24:
• Players and coaches will wear a "Nelly" patch on their jersey sleeves for each of the four games against the Cardinals.
• On June 23, the FOX Sports Wisconsin stage in Miller Park's right-field corner, home to the network's pre and postgame shows, will be renamed "Nelly's Corner." The Brewers will place a memorial plaque there.
• Proceeds from the Brewers Community Foundation 50-50 Raffle on June 23 will go toward Nelson's charity of choice, the Open Arms Home for Children in South Africa, which serves children impacted by AIDS. Fans can make donations in Nelson's memory at openarmshome.com.
"We have been reminded every day of the impact that Davey had on countless individuals, not just in baseball, and not only in our community, but across the globe," said Brewers COO Rick Schlesinger. "It's our honor to put in place these remembrances, and we will continue work that he did every day to help others."