Injuries & Moves: Williams activated from 60-day IL; Mears added to roster

Injuries & Moves: Williams activated from 60-day IL; Mears added to roster

July 28th, 2024

LATEST NEWS

July 28: RHP reinstated from 60-day injured list; RHP added to active roster; RHP designated for assignment; RHP optioned to Triple-A Nashville; RHP 's rehab assignment transferred to Triple-A Nashville
The Brewers have eagerly awaited the return of the reigning NL Reliever of the Year Williams, who went down in Spring Training with stress fractures in his back. They may opt to use him cautiously at first, considering Williams did not pitch back-to-back days during a Minor League rehab assignment that spanned four scoreless, mostly dominant appearances for High-A Wisconsin and Triple-A Nashville. Read more >>

July 27: Acquired RHP from the Rockies for RHPs and
Mears' 5.56 ERA doesn't jump off the page in a good way, but he was not only pitching for the Rockies, but tipping pitches for much of this season. Mears told reporters about the latter issue after arriving in Milwaukee on Sunday, and said he was eager to pitch for a contender after beginning his Major League career with Pirates and Rockies teams that were outside the postseason hunt. Read more >>

July 27: LHP placed on 15-day IL, LHP recalled from Triple-A Nashville
Hudson was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Saturday, after the Brewers placed him on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain prior to their game vs. the Marlins. Milwaukee will learn more about the severity of the injury from the testing, but Hudson’s absence is a tough loss no matter how long he is sidelined. The lefty has a 1.60 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP in 50 2/3 innings over 35 appearances this season.

The Brewers acquired Jay in a trade with the Mets on July 21, then optioned him to Nashville. The 27-year-old has had a unique journey in baseball since the Twins selected him sixth overall in the 2015 MLB Draft -- including a stint in independent ball with the Joliet Slammers in the Frontier League (2020-21).

Jay allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings over three appearances with New York after making his Major League debut on April 11.

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10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

LHP (left oblique strain)
Expected return: TBD
The Brewers placed Hudson on the IL on July 27 and sent him for an MRI scan, hoping to learn more about the severity of his oblique injury. Hudson said the tests revealed promising news of only a low-grade strain, but his absence is a tough loss for Milwaukee’s bullpen. He has posted a 1.60 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP in 50 2/3 innings this season and his 35 appearances entering July 27 were tied for fourth most on the team.

"It wasn't stopping me from throwing pitches, but we wanted to get ahead of it," said Hudson, whose velocity was down in his last outing against the Cubs. "I didn't think it was anything too crazy, but I didn't want to be [dealing with it] come playoff time. [Rest] is the silver lining. That's what everyone keeps telling me, and it's what I'm going with." (Last updated: July 28)

LHP (left elbow tendinitis)
Expected return: TBD
Zastryzny was a pleasant surprise after earning a call-up to the Brewers, providing hitless work over his first eight appearances before allowing a run on four hits as an "opener" against the Cubs on July 24. Two days later, he landed on the IL, retroactive to July 25. He said he didn't have to go for any medical imaging, meaning the injury is considered to be on the mild side. (Last updated: July 28)

OF (low back inflammation)
Expected return: Late August at the earliest
Yelich was clearly compromised during a 1-for-20 funk before landing on the IL on July 24. He saw a spine specialist on July 25 to discuss options, which run the gamut from rest and treatment to season-ending surgery for the 32-year-old All-Star, and decided to try rehab first. A source told MLB.com that there's optimism his comeback this time could actually come more quickly than earlier this season, when Yelich spent about a month on the IL, but there are no guarantees with a back injury.

"Obviously he’s going to need surgery, so anything he does between now and then is a bonus," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. "He wants to play very badly." (Last updated: July 26) More >>

RHP (right forearm tendinitis)
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. Paredes landed 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 (low back strain)
Expected return: Likely July 30 vs. Braves
Ross was placed on the IL on May 21 after he exited his May 20 start having thrown just one inning. The Brewers had hoped he would be ready to return from the IL in June, but he had a setback and was shifted to the 60-day IL on June 26. Ross began a rehab assignment on July 6 with High-A Wisconsin, and was transferred to Triple-A Nashville on July 10. His most recent Minor League start was July 24, and after navigating a bullpen session in Milwaukee on July 27, his next start is likely to come against the Braves at American Family Field. (Last updated: July 28)

RHP (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Bukauskas began one 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 went back on the shelf. He restarted another Minor League rehab assignment on July 24 in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League and was transferred to Nashville on July 28. (Last updated: July 28)

LHP (left knee sprain)
Expected return: TBD
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. However, Hall was struck on the pitching forearm by a comebacker and had to exit that outing, pausing his comeback once again. Hall resumed pitching on July 21 in Triple-A. (Last updated: July 26)

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 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)

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