The Milwaukee Brewers recently placed Nestor Cortes on the 15-day injured list due to a flexor strain in his throwing elbow. To fill his spot, they called up Grant Wolfram from Triple-A. This marks the second time in just eight months that Cortes has faced a flexor strain injury, as he dealt with a similar issue last September while pitching for the Yankees. Even so, he managed to return for the World Series, where he had a rough outing against Freddie Freeman.
Before his last start against the Reds, Cortes felt some discomfort in his elbow. In that game, he managed six shutout innings. Brewers assistant GM Matt Kleine said he doesn’t believe the injury will have long-term effects. Cortes himself expressed a low level of concern about the injury, but he plans to seek a second opinion to be safe.
Cortes is now one of seven starting pitchers on the Brewers’ injured list. Other pitchers, including Tobias Myers and Aaron Ashby, also suffered injuries during Spring Training. Brandon Woodruff is still recovering from shoulder surgery, while DL Hall is on a 60-day IL.
Currently, Freddy Peralta is the only pitcher available from the Brewers’ projected rotation. This situation has left the team scrambling, with pitchers like Tyler Alexander and Elvin Rodriguez stepping into key roles. The Brewers did sign veteran Jose Quintana for added depth, but he is still working to build up after a late start this season.
Cortes joined the Brewers through a significant offseason trade with the Yankees, where he was swapped alongside Caleb Durbin for star closer Devin Williams. This trade was meant to bolster the Brewers’ pitching while providing them with long-term options. But with Cortes’s injury, this plan could be disrupted.
As for Wolfram, this promotion could lead to his Major League debut soon. The 28-year-old has spent his career in the Texas Rangers system before signing with Milwaukee. Last season, he posted a solid 3.34 ERA, though his early appearances in Triple-A for the Brewers haven’t gone as well.
Injuries like Cortes’s have become increasingly common in baseball. Recent studies indicate that nearly 50% of all MLB pitchers spend time on the injured list in a given season. The Brewers face a tough challenge ahead as they navigate this issue with a thin pitching staff. Keeping fans engaged during injury spells relies on players like Wolfram stepping up successfully.
For more insights on pitcher injuries and their impact, check out this MLB report.
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