Injuries & Moves: Clarke reinstated, optioned to Triple-A for ramp up
LATEST NEWS
May 15: RHP Taylor Clarke reinstated from 15-day IL and optioned to Triple-A Nashville
The 31-year-old made a second rehab start for Nashville on Wednesday and then was reinstated from the IL to continue to ramp up his pitch count. Clarke, acquired in an offseason trade with the Royals, underwent surgery to repair the torn meniscus in his right knee after being injured while doing normal workday activities in the last week of Spring Training
May 15: INF Oliver Dunn optioned to Triple-A Nashville; OF Chris Roller promoted from Triple-A Nashville
Dunn graduated from the Brewers' Top 30 prospect status on Sunday but was unable to sustain a hot start to his rookie season, logging a .611 OPS before getting sent down in favor of more outfield coverage in Roller. The 27-year-old outfielder came to the Brewers last August in a cash trade with the Guardians and was added to Milwaukee's 40-man roster last fall.
May 14: 1B Rhys Hoskins (right hamstring strain) placed on 10-day IL; 1B Owen Miller recalled from Triple-A Nashville
The Brewers officially placed Hoskins on the 10-day IL before the team’s game on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The right-handed slugger left Monday’s 8-6 loss early after tweaking his right hamstring rounding first base on a single in the second inning. He's expected to miss two to four weeks.
Said Hoskins: "It’s the first hamstring issue I’ve ever really had but I’ve been around enough guys with hamstring issues to know they’re pretty fickle and each one is just so, so different, so I think all in all, the 2-4 weeks is much better than it could have been."
Hoskins will travel with the Brewers on their long, upcoming road trip. In a corresponding move, Miller will take Hoskins’ spot on the active roster. He has just one hit in 12 plate appearances with the Brewers this season. More >>
10-day and 15-day IL
LHP DL Hall (left knee sprain)
Expected return: Late May or early June
Hall, who'd been struggling to establish himself as a starter before he tweaked his left knee fielding a bunt in a long second inning of Milwaukee's April 20 win over the Cardinals, has been making steady progress since the calendar flipped to May.
After a series of bullpen sessions, he graduated to a simulated game on May 14, throwing a pair of “innings” totaling 34-35 pitches and seeing his fastball back up to 95 mph, according to observer Wade Miley. The next step could be a Minor League rehab assignment as soon as Sunday at High-A Wisconsin. The Brewers intend to build Hall’s pitch count back up so he can rejoin the rotation. (Last updated: May 15)
1B Rhys Hoskins (right hamstring strain)
Expected return: Late May or June
Hoskins was placed on the 10-day IL on May 14 with a right hamstring strain. He exited the May 13 game against the Pirates early after tweaking his hamstring rounding first base on a single in the second inning. The slugger is expected to miss two to four weeks, according to manager Pat Murphy. (Last updated: May 14)
OF Joey Wiemer (left knee discomfort)
Expected return: Late May
Wiemer injured his left knee when he slipped in left field on May 3 against the Cubs and woke up the next morning feeling worse, so the Brewers sent Wiemer for an MRI scan. The result, according to Wiemer, was “the best news possible” -- a strained popliteus muscle.
That’s a stabilizing muscle within the knee. Manager Pat Murphy said the Brewers are hopeful for a two-to-three week recovery, putting Wiemer's return in the neighborhood of May 18-25. (Last updated: May 5)
60-day IL
RHP Devin Williams (back stress fracture)
Expected return: Around the All-Star break
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. As of a May 10 update, Williams was within a couple of weeks of resuming throwing, manager Pat Murphy said, which would be the first step toward getting back on a mound. 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: May 10)
RHP J.B. Bukauskas (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 Brewers transferred Bukauskas to the 60-day injured list on May 10. (Last updated: May 10)
RHP Jakob Junis (head, right shoulder)
Expected return: June
Junis' comeback from a right shoulder injury in early April was interrupted when he was stretchered off of the field on April 22 after being struck in the neck by a batting practice ball. He was alert and responsive when he was sent to a local hospital for observation. By April 26, Junis was able to resume playing catch, and as of a May 9 check-in, he was making significant progress and was hopeful about getting back on a mound before the end of the Brewers' current homestand. Junis would not be eligible for reinstatement until June 2, at the earliest. (Last updated: May 9)
LHP Wade Miley (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)
OF Garrett Mitchell (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 Brandon Woodruff (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)