Opening Day arrives on a bitter word for the Brewers, who introduced this morning that star outfielder Jackson Chourio has been positioned on the 10-day injured listing on account of a fracture in his left hand. Outfielder Blake Perkins is up from Triple-A Nashville to take his spot on the lively roster. The early estimate for his return to sport motion is 2 to 4 weeks, per Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, who provides {that a} current MRI detected a hairline fracture on the base of his third metacarpal. It’s believed that the harm dates again to a March 4 exhibition forward of the World Baseball Traditional.
Chourio went for imaging on the time he was plunked by that pitch, however preliminary testing resulted in a analysis of a contusion. He performed, presumably via a very good little bit of discomfort, for Venezuela in the course of the WBC and for Milwaukee following the event and wound up delivering a strong spring line throughout Cactus League play (.267/.333/.400).
Milwaukee has 5 off-days within the subsequent month, so it’s doable Chourio solely winds up sidelined for round 10% of the staff’s 162 video games. Even a short-term absence from one of many roster’s most proficient gamers stings, nonetheless, notably in what most count on to be a tightly contested division.
Although Chourio is barely 22 years outdated, he’s already getting into his third large league season. He’s a .272/.317/.463 hitter (115 wRC+) via his first 279 main league video games and has coupled that above-average manufacturing with plus baserunning and high quality outfield protection. Chourio is healthier fitted to nook work than heart discipline, however he’s succesful in all three spots and performed primarily heart final season. A wholesome Garrett Mitchell might push him to the corners with extra often this season, however for now his focus will shift to rehabbing his ailing hand.
With Chourio out, the Brewers’ outfield combine now contains Perkins, Mitchell, Sal Frelick, Jake Bauers and Brandon Lockridge. Frelick, one of many sport’s high defensive gamers, can be locked into proper discipline every day. Mitchell ought to deal with heart in opposition to right-handed pitching on the very least, and the switch-hitting Perkins is significantly better from the precise facet of the dish, making him a pure platoon pairing in heart. The left-handed Bauers and righty-swinging Lockridge create a viable platoon in left discipline.
Extra to return.
