MILWAUKEE – Brewers left fielder Brandon Lockridge was carted off the field during Friday night’s 6-0 win over the Yankees after his right knee crashed into concrete at the base of the wall at American Family Field while he chased a fly ball in the fourth inning.
Initial X-rays were negative, but Lockridge suffered a deep laceration down to the bone. “It’s going to be a while,” manager Pat Murphy said.
Lockridge will have to wait for swelling to subside before he can undergo an MRI exam and other testing, suggesting that the Brewers will make a roster move to add another outfielder prior to Saturday’s game.
“It was hard seeing a guy like that down in pain,” Brewers right fielder Sal Frelick said. “That’s the kind of player he is. That’s the kind of teammate he is. Just playing with his butt on fire. He didn’t even take the wall into account there; he was just trying to get an out.”
Lockridge was attempting to make a sliding catch of Cody Bellinger’s foul ball when his knee connected with the wall. Lockridge received immediate attention from head athletic trainer Brad Epstein and was helped to his feet, but he appeared unable to put any weight on his right leg.
It was an abrupt end to what had already been a productive night for the 29-year-old outfielder. Lockridge’s second-inning single produced the first of four Brewers runs in the frame.
“My first thought is hoping the best for the dude,” starter Jacob Misiorowski said. “It’s always scary to see a teammate go down like that.”
The Brewers have outfielder Blake Perkins on the 40-man roster and eligible to be recalled, even though he was just optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Monday. The rule stipulating an optioned player must stay down at least 10 days is waived if he’s replacing an injured player.
Also at Nashville is Brewers No. 11 prospect Luis Lara, who is off to a career-best start this season. Lara, 21, has a .937 OPS and already has hit a career-high seven home runs. He has also stolen 12 bases. But he is not on the 40-man roster.
Meanwhile, Frelick said, the Brewers will hope for the best for Lockridge.
“All the credit in the world to him for going after that ball,” Frelick said. “You understand the wall is there; it’s not like you’re ignoring it. But if you have a chance to make a play, it negates the thought of hitting the wall.
“That’s what happened there. He knew he had a shot at it. That’s the culture here. That’s what’s expected. We want the pitchers to be fully confident in throwing strikes because we’re going to go after balls like that. We just hope he’s OK.”