Opening Day brings tough news for the Milwaukee Brewers: star outfielder Jackson Chourio is headed to the 10-day injured list due to a fracture in his left hand. Blake Perkins, who played at Triple-A Nashville, will take his spot on the roster. According to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, doctors found a hairline fracture in Chourio’s hand, likely from a March 4 exhibition game before the World Baseball Classic.
Initially, he was diagnosed with a bruise, but he continued to play for Venezuela and then for the Brewers, putting up decent numbers in spring training (.267/.333/.400). Luckily, the Brewers have five off-days in the next month, which means Chourio might only miss about 10% of the season.
At just 22, Chourio is in his third season in the majors. He has a solid batting average of .272 and has shown his skills not just as a hitter, but also as a base runner and a defender. While he is versatile enough to play all three outfield positions, he is expected to shift to a corner outfield spot once Garrett Mitchell is fully healthy.
With Chourio out, the outfield lineup looks a bit different. Perkins joins Mitchell, Sal Frelick, Christian Yelich, Jake Bauers, and Brandon Lockridge. Frelick is locked into right field, while Mitchell is likely to cover center against right-handed pitchers. Perkins, a switch-hitter, will help balance the lineup in center. The other outfielders can form a platoon in left field to cover for Chourio’s absence.
This injury could strain the team’s depth. Currently, all outfielders on the 40-man roster are in the majors. The Brewers are even trying former top prospect Tyler Black in the outfield to add depth. If further injuries occur, top prospect Jett Williams may also be a candidate, even though he isn’t on the 40-man roster yet.
In today’s competitive baseball landscape, injuries like these can significantly impact a team’s performance. A study from the team at FanGraphs shows that teams without their key players tend to lose about 3-4 additional games over a season. As the Brewers aim for a tightly contested division title, every game counts. Ensuring their star players stay healthy will be crucial for their success.
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