Injuries & Moves: Latest on return dates for Adames, Urías, Miley, Lauer, Bush
LATEST NEWS
June 4: SS Willy Adames (concussion) to rehab with High-A Wisconsin, then Triple-A Nashville
After working out with High-A Wisconsin for two days, Adames was scheduled to be their designated hitter on Sunday in Appleton, Wis. -- his first game action since being struck in the head by a foul ball during the Brewers' May 26 loss to the Giants at American Family Field. Provided that goes well, he would then head to Jacksonville, Fla., to play two games for Triple-A Nashville before rejoining the Brewers as early as Thursday against the Orioles at American Family Field. That schedule is contingent on Adames experiencing no concussion symptoms.
June 4: Rehab assignments scheduled for LHP Eric Lauer (non-throwing shoulder), RHP Matt Bush (shoulder), LHP Wade Miley (anterior serratus)
Lauer is scheduled to start a rehab assignment on Tuesday with Triple-A Nashville at Jacksonville, Fla., as he works back from an IL stint for a non-throwing shoulder injury that doubled as a chance to hit the reset button after a shaky start. Bush is scheduled to travel to Jacksonville that same day to begin his own rehab assignment, and Miley's first game action is scheduled for June 11 with Double-A Biloxi at Mississippi. Miley believes he could return to the Brewers rotation after that one outing, but Lauer has several Minor League starts on the schedule.
"I think a lot of it's going to be predicated on the results I get," Lauer said. "Because, obviously, what we've seen this year hasn't been very result-y."
June 4: LHP Bennett Sousa recalled from Triple-A Nashville; RHP Jake Cousins optioned to Triple-A Nashville
Cousins was among several Brewers pitchers who struggled to find the strike zone in Saturday's win over the Reds, and he was optioned out in favor of a fresh arm in Sousa. It's already the fourth time Cousins has been optioned down this year, but only three of those count against the five-option limit because he was recalled early on one occasion to replace an injured player.
INJURY UPDATES
7-day IL
SS Willy Adames (concussion)
Expected return: Thursday at the earliest
Adames was struck in the head by a foul ball while leaning against the dugout rail during the second inning of the Brewers' 15-1 loss to the Giants on May 26 and was hospitalized overnight. He did not suffer any fractures, the club said, and he was back home resting a day later. Since then, he's made steady progress and worked out with High-A Wisconsin over the weekend. He's scheduled to serve as the Timber Rattlers' designated hitter on June 4 in Appleton, Wis., before heading to Jacksonville, Fla., to play two games for Triple-A Nashville. (Last updated: June 4)
10-day and 15-day IL
LHP Eric Lauer (right shoulder impingement)
Expected return: Late June
Lauer is scheduled to begin a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on June 6 at Jacksonville, Fla., the start of what could be a series of Minor League starts to prove he's back on track. Lauer didn't feel physically right while running up a 5.48 ERA in his first nine appearances (eight starts), eight starts of 2023, and eventually landed on the injured list with an impingement in his non-throwing shoulder that impacted his delivery. He spent the past several weeks strengthening that area and finding better upper body rhythm, which he says has produced a jump of 3-5 mph in recent bullpen sessions. Most of all, Lauer said, the extensive tests at the start of his IL stint gave him peace of mind that there were no significant worries in his pitching arm. (Last updated: June 4)
RHP Matt Bush (right shoulder)
Expected return: Mid June
Bush went very slowly at the start of his IL stint in late April, but he resumed throwing on May 16 and has made significant progress over the past two weeks. He's slated to travel to Jacksonville, Fla., to join Triple-A Nashville for a rehab appearance beginning around June 8, which would position him to rejoin the Major League team sometime in the middle of the month. (Last updated: June 4)
1B Darin Ruf (right knee)
Expected return: TBD
Ruf suffered a laceration to his right knee during Milwaukee's June 2 win over the Reds that was so severe it exposed tendons and ligaments. He was stitched up and landed on the injured list the following day, and will be examined by Brewers doctors at the start of the next homestand to determine a timeline for his absence. (Last updated: June 3)
OF Tyrone Taylor (right elbow)
Expected return: TBD
Taylor's sprained elbow dates to last September. He underwent a platelet rich plasma injection during Spring Training in an effort to avoid surgery, and while the discomfort never completely went away, he improved to the point that he was playable. But the pain has increased in recent weeks, especially when Taylor swings, and it progressed to the point that it affected his play.
"He's tried to push through it," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said, "but got to the point where that's not helping him, it's not helping us, and he recognizes that. Frankly, he's got a choice to make here on how he wants to proceed. He'll have to consult with our doctors, and then I'm sure he may get an outside recommendation and go from there." (Last updated: June 3)
LHP Wade Miley (anterior serratus)
Expected return: Possibly June 16-18 series vs. Pirates
Miley threw off the mound on June 1 in Toronto and is aiming for a four-week return to pitching for the Brewers rather than the original six-to-eight-week prognosis. The left-hander was diagnosed with a strain in his anterior serratus -- a back muscle located roughly at the bottom of the rib cage. Miley spent about four months on the IL with elbow and shoulder injuries while pitching for the Cubs in 2022, but the anterior serratus strain diagnosis is rare for a baseball player, especially a thrower, which may contribute to a quicker return than originally expected.
Tentatively, Miley could throw a two-inning bullpen session on June 4 in Cincinnati, then a three-inning bullpen on the next homestand before making a rehab start for Double-A Biloxi at Mississippi on June 11. That would line him up to rejoin the Brewers in Minneapolis during their June 13-14 series before pitching at home against the Pirates. All of that, of course, is dependent on Miley continuing to make positive progress.
"I feel better now than I did before," Miley said. "I'm thankful that they allowed me to go off of how I felt rather than going to get images every five days. We had a long talk that once I started throwing and feeling good, I could progress at the rate I wanted to progress at. Right now, we're moving ahead." (Last updated: June 2)
OF Jesse Winker (cervical strain)
Expected return: TBD
The Brewers are being diligent with Winker, who underwent spinal surgery in the offseason, placing him on the IL after he was diagnosed with a cervical strain in late May. Manager Craig Counsell said on May 30 that the team will be cautious with the Winker's recovery "for at least a little while." (Last updated: May 30)
RHP J.B. Bukauskas (cervical strain)
Expected return: TBD
Bukauskas landed on the IL before throwing his first Brewers pitch. His injury is more commonly called whiplash in layman's terms. (Last updated: May 20)
60-day IL
INF Luis Urías (left hamstring)
Expected return: Tuesday
Urías felt his hamstring give out while running out a grounder on Opening Day, and an MRI exam revealed what manager Craig Counsell called a “solid” strain that has required a rather extensive Minor League rehab assignment. Now, Urías is slated to rejoin the Major League team for the start of a homestand against the Orioles and A's, giving the Brewers another good option on the infield as they try to generate more offense. (Last updated: June 4)
RHP Brandon Woodruff (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: After the All-Star break
The 30-year-old said he felt shoulder tightness after his April 7 start against St. Louis, and an April 12 MRI exam yielded a more serious diagnosis than initially expected: Woodruff has a sub-scapular muscle strain that requires a long rehab.
A follow-up MRI exam on April 26 showed encouraging progress, so Woodruff resumed activities that both he and the Brewers hope will lead to a return to the Major League rotation by the end of June. He had to take a four- to five-day break from throwing in mid-May, but he was back to throwing as of May 24 and said, "I can say that mind and body, I'm in a good place." The Brewers are not targeting the All-Star break for his return to the rotation. (Last updated: May 28)
LHP Aaron Ashby (left shoulder)
Expected return: September at the earliest
Ashby will begin rehabbing over the next six weeks after undergoing successful surgery on his left shoulder on April 7. The Brewers plan to reevaluate him after that period, at which time the left-hander will begin a six-week throwing program at the team's Spring Training facility.
As of a May 17 update, Ashby had been cleared to begin playing catch on May 22. (Last updated: May 17)
CF Garrett Mitchell (left shoulder subluxation)
Expected return: Late September at the earliest
Mitchell's left shoulder popped out of the joint during the Brewers' game against the Mariners on April 18, and an MRI revealed significant damage to his labrum -- enough to necessitate surgery on May 2 that could sideline him for the remainder of the season.
Mitchell was originally hurt on a slide into third base in the top of the 10th inning, then he played center field in the bottom of the inning but had to leave the game when the shoulder again slipped out of joint on a throw home. Mitchell was placed on the injured list on April 19 and had a second opinion before opting for surgery. He was moved to the 60-day IL on April 30. (Last updated: May 4) More >>
LHP Justin Wilson (left elbow)
Expected return: July
Wilson signed with the Brewers in the midst of his comeback from Tommy John surgery and is targeting the second half to pitch in the Majors for Milwaukee. He was progressing nicely in his flat-ground throwing program as of the week of March 12.
The lefty was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 1. (Last updated: April 1)
RHP Jason Alexander (right rotator cuff)
Expected return: June
Alexander made 18 appearances including 11 starts for the Brewers last season and was part of their pitching depth going into 2023. But he's sidelined after reporting shoulder discomfort as he began throwing in January.
The Brewers transferred him to the 60-day injured list on Feb. 18 to free a 40-man roster spot. (Last updated: Feb. 18)