Injuries & Moves: Junis (shoulder) resumes playing catch

April 26th, 2024

LATEST NEWS

April 26: LHP to undergo season-ending elbow surgery
Further testing of Miley’s sore left elbow revealed an unfortunate diagnosis: The 37-year-old has a torn UCL and needs Tommy John surgery which will end his season. Miley acknowledged that a long-term injury at this stage of his career could mean the end, but said he would like to rehab with an eye toward pitching in 2025.

April 24: LHP makes season debut after dealing with bone spurs
Gasser, the Brewers’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, made his 2024 debut for Triple-A Nashville, which is a huge sign of hope for a club with injury complications up and down the rotation. The left-hander dealt with bone spurs in his pitching elbow and was out of game action for about a month. In his start vs. Louisville on Wednesday, Gasser went four innings and allowed a run. Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Gasser's velocity was up to 95 mph, a good indicator that he's feeling healthy, and that he "should be here soon."

"I would think we'd want to see him go out there [at Triple-A] again, but nothing is out of the question if he's 100% healthy," Murphy said. "Why not?"

10-day and 15-day IL

LHP (torn UCL)
Expected return: 2025
Miley will miss the remainder of 2024 due to UCL surgery, which typically requires a 10-12 month rehab. He 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. (Last updated: April 26) More >>

RHP (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Bukauskas' injury occurred where his triceps connects to his shoulder region, he said, which is why he originally believed it to be a lat injury similar to others he has endured in his pitching career. The more testing gets done, the more the Brewers fear they’ll have to move Bukauskas to the 60-day IL for a longer rehabilitation, manager Pat Murphy said on April 26. (Last updated: April 26)

RHP (right shoulder impingement)
Expected return: TBD
Junis seemed to be “on track” in his throwing progress as he rehabbed a shoulder injury, per manager Pat Murphy, but he was stretchered off of the field on April 22 when he was struck in the neck by a batting practice ball. He was alert and responsive when he was sent to a local hospital for observation, and by April 26 Junis was able to resume playing catch. Given his early-season shoulder issue, the Brewers may elect to bring him back as a reliever rather than stretching him out to start, which would mean a shorter build-up once Junis is able to get back on a mound. (Last updated: April 26)

LHP (left knee sprain)
Expected return: TBD
Hall, who'd been struggling to establish himself as a starter in the early going, tweaked his left knee fielding a bunt in a long second inning of Milwaukee's April 20 win over the Cardinals, in which Hall didn't make it through the fourth inning and his average fastball slipped below 92 mph for the first time. Brewers manager Pat Murphy said on April 24 that Hall has begun his rehab and strengthening program, but it's unclear when Hall will begin throwing. He will not need surgery. (Last updated: April 24)

OF (low back strain)
Expected return: May
It's a familiar ailment for Yelich, who has battled back issues since his mid-20s with the Marlins. The latest bout came amid a torrid start to the season, knocking him out of the Brewers' April 12 series opener in Baltimore. Yelich has begun running, but he has yet to swing a bat. (Last updated: April 24)

OF (fractured left index finger)
Expected return
: Early June
Mitchell suffered his injury while taking batting practice the weekend before Opening Day. He had X-rays taken and was also scheduled to get a second opinion from Phoenix hand specialist Dr. Don Sheridan, then had follow-up X-rays on April 3 that showed no signs of the fractured bone shifting. That means it is healing as desired.

The 25-year-old was in line to be Milwaukee's starting center fielder and leadoff hitter in 2024 and could still slot into those roles upon his return. Mitchell said his aim is to be back in the Brewers' lineup at around the six-week mark, which would be in the first half of May. In an April 10 update, GM Matt Arnold said he hoped to see Mitchell back by June 1, and on April 14 the Brewers transferred Mitchell to the 60-day IL in a paper move consistent with that timeline. (Last updated: April 14)

RHP Taylor Clarke (right knee meniscus tear)
Expected return: Late May
Clarke underwent surgery to repair the torn meniscus in his knee and is facing an extended absence, per manager Pat Murphy.

The reliever was initially expected to miss six-to-eight weeks with the injury he sustained while doing normal workday activities in the last week of Spring Training.

Clarke started and pitched three scoreless innings in his last Spring Training appearance on March 17, lowering his spring ERA to 2.57. In an April 10 update, GM Matt Arnold said Clarke remained in line for a late-May return to action. (Last updated: April 10)

RHP (back stress fracture)
Expected return: June
The Brewers closer was diagnosed with two stress fractures in his back after seeing Los Angeles-based orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. Robert Watkins on March 13.

Williams will be shut down for six weeks, Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said March 14, after which “Devin will determine the pace beyond that."

“My thoughts are with Devin right now,” manager Pat Murphy said. “It’s just really unfortunate. He’s a leader in there. It sucks for him.”

Williams, who won the Trevor Hoffman Award as the best closer in the NL with 36 saves and a 1.53 ERA last season, gave up four runs, four walks and two hits in two appearances over 1 1/3 innings this spring. (Last updated: March 28)

60-day IL

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)