Injuries & Moves: Brewers, Mets make swap for pitchers

July 21st, 2024

LATEST NEWS

July 21: Brewers acquire LHP from the Mets in exchange for RHP TJ Shook
Jay, 30, was the sixth player taken in the 2015 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins. The former University of Illinois standout spent parts of five seasons in the Twins’ system and also has pitched in the Reds’ and Mets’ organizations. He made his Major League debut this season with the Mets. He allowed four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings over three outings before he was designated for assignment on Wednesday. Jay was assigned to Triple-A Nashville, where he’ll most likely continue to work in a relief role.

Shook, 26, signed with the Brewers as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and reached as high as Double-A. He made 80 appearances and started 57 games over four years in the Brewers’ system.

July 21: LHP Jared Koenig (left forearm tendinitis) activated off of 15-day IL; RHP designated for assignment
Koenig completed his rehab with a scoreless inning for Triple-A Nashville on July 19. He was one of the Brewers' most versatile and valuable pitchers in the first three months of the season, going 7-1 with a 1.66 ERA in 29 games (38 innings) before abruptly landing on the injured list on June 29 with left forearm tendinitis.

“He’s been great for us,” manager Pat Murphy said. “He’s been an unsung hero for us in a lot of ways, so we’re excited to have him back.”

In a corresponding move, Kuhnel was designated for assignment.

July 20: RHP Devin Williams (back stress fractures) rehab assignment shifted to Triple-A Nashville
Williams' rehab assignment was shifted from Single-A Wisconsin to the Brewers’ top Minor League affiliate on Saturday.

He began his rehab in the Minor Leagues with one inning for High-A Wisconsin on July 14, striking out the side on 14 pitches (nine strikes).

10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

C (left calf strain)
Expected return: After the All-Star break
Sánchez was scratched from a June 25 start against the Rangers and placed on the IL the next day when an MRI scan revealed what GM Matt Arnold called a low-grade strain. Manager Pat Murphy later revealed that the Brewers expected Sánchez to be sidelined as long as 12 weeks, though by a July 10 update, he was way ahead of that schedule. Sánchez was a staple of the lineup versus left-handers, so it would be a bonus if the Brewers could get him back soon after the All-Star break. (Last updated: July 10)

RHP (right forearm tendonitis)
Expected return: TBD
Paredes has been excellent since a call-up from Triple-A Nashville, posting a 1.08 ERA in 14 appearances. But he walked a pair of batters and surrendered a hit while recording only one out during a July 2 appearance at Coors Field before landing on the IL the next day, making him the latest in a series of Brewers pitchers sidelined by elbow or forearm issues. (Last updated: July 3)

60-DAY INJURED LIST

RHP (back stress fractures)
Expected return: Late July
The Brewers' closer, who won the Trevor Hoffman Award as the best closer in the National League with 36 saves and a 1.53 ERA last season, took another significant step in his comeback when he threw live batting practice to Brewers hitters Jake Bauers and Andruw Monasterio on July 9. A series of Minor League rehabilitation outings is next for Williams, who began that assignment with one inning for High-A Wisconsin on July 14, striking out the side on 14 pitches (nine strikes). He had the rehab moved to Triple-A Nashville on July 20.

Asked about the schedule beyond that, manager Pat Murphy responded by asking how many outings a closer typically makes in Spring Training. The consensus answer was six to eight.

"I think we're going to get him back sooner than that. Exciting," Murphy said on July 14. "What do I expect to see? Health, attack the zone. Get out there and have the experience of being out there in a competitive game. I think every outing will be a buildup, another challenge." (Last updated: July 20)

INF Oliver Dunn (back strain)
Expected return:
TBD
Dunn was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to June 19, on June 26, then transferred to the 60-day IL on July 15. In 41 games with the big league club this season, he's slashed .221/.282/.316 with seven RBIs and six walks. (Last updated: July 15)

LHP (left knee sprain)
Expected return: Mid-July
Hall, who'd been struggling to establish himself as a starter before he tweaked his left knee fielding a bunt on April 20, was supposed to make one final rehab start for Triple-A Nashville on July 9 before the Brewers considered bringing him back to the Majors. But he left that outing in the third inning after being struck on the pitching forearm by a comebacker. The early diagnosis was a contusion, and subsequent X-rays confirmed there was no fracture. Hall was to be shut down for 3-10 days, per manager Pat Murphy, while regaining strength in that arm. (Last updated: July 10)

RHP (low back strain)
Expected return: Late July at the earliest
Ross was placed on the IL on May 21 after he exited his May 20 start having thrown just one inning (15 pitches). The Brewers had hoped he would be ready to return from the IL during the team's June 17-23 trip against the Angels and Padres, but he had a setback and was shifted to the 60-day IL on June 26. Ross began a rehabilitation assignment on July 6 with High-A Wisconsin and was transferred to Triple-A Nashville on July 10. (Last updated: July 10)

RHP (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Bukauskas began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Nashville on June 13 and reported feeling fine after pitching his one scheduled inning, but he woke up the next morning in significant discomfort and returned to Milwaukee for an MRI scan on June 15. That scan came back clean, manager Pat Murphy said on June 17, a bit of good news that means Bukauskas will be able to resume throwing once his discomfort subsides. As of a July 4 update, Bukauskas was still not on the mound. (Last updated: July 4)

LHP (left flexor strain; No. 5 on Brewers Top Prospects list)
Expected return: 2025
After electing to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on the advice of two of the top orthopedic surgeons in the country, Gasser had his procedure -- a standard UCL repair without the brace -- on June 24 and is expected to miss 12-14 months, according to Brewers manager Pat Murphy. It's an unfortunate blow for the 25-year-old left-hander, who was 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA in five Brewers starts beginning with his May 10 Major League debut against the Cardinals.

"I feel bad for the kid," Murphy said. "Think about all the fresh faces we've had up here this year, and nobody had the first five starts like he did. That hurts." (Last updated: June 25)

LHP (torn UCL)
Expected return: 2025
Miley will miss the remainder of 2024 due to UCL surgery, which typically requires a 10- to 12-month rehab. The surgery was completed on May 7 in Cincinnati, with Dr. Timothy Kremchek operating. Miley underwent testing April 23 on his left elbow to try to diagnose inflammation that he said felt different from the usual bone spurs-related pain he has tried to manage for the past three to four years, and the results initially came back inconclusive on April 24.

Miley flew to Cincinnati that day to have an in-person meeting with doctors and undergo an arthrogram to assess the integrity of the ligaments in the region, which confirmed the structural damage. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 30. (Last updated: May 7)

RHP (right shoulder)
Expected return: Late 2024 or 2025
Woodruff underwent shoulder surgery on his throwing arm in October 2023 and was non-tendered by the Brewers the following month. He signed a two-year deal with the club on Feb. 21, when he was placed on the 60-day IL, and will rehab in Milwaukee throughout the season after beginning a throwing program in mid-February. (Last updated: Feb. 21)