UPDATE: Milwaukee Brewers’ shortstop Joey Ortiz has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a strained left hamstring, a significant blow for the NL Central leaders. This announcement came just after the Brewers secured a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.
Ortiz exited the game in the fifth inning after sustaining the injury while grounding out. Manager Pat Murphy reported that Ortiz’s injury is classified as a low-grade strain, which suggests his absence may not be lengthy. Ortiz, 27, has been a key player, hitting .233 with seven homers, 43 RBIs, and 11 steals over 125 games.
In August alone, Ortiz has shown impressive form, batting .343 with an .830 OPS. “I felt like I was finally kind of getting a groove going, especially offensively,” Ortiz expressed. “Things happen. It’s baseball. It’s going to happen. I’ve just got to do what I can to get back.”
While Ortiz is sidelined, Andruw Monasterio will step in as the Brewers’ primary shortstop. Monasterio, 28, has recorded a .254 batting average with two homers and 11 RBIs in 43 games.
In a related move, the Brewers have reinstated Jake Bauers from the injured list. The 29-year-old first baseman/outfielder had been recovering from a left shoulder impingement and last played on July 18. Bauers is hitting .197 with five homers and 18 RBIs this season, having struggled with 2-for-23 in July before his injury.
Bauers commented on his recovery, stating, “Since April, May, I’ve been dealing with it.” The team hopes his return will bolster their lineup as they prepare for the final stretch of the season.
Meanwhile, Jackson Chourio, 21, is on a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Nashville after straining his right hamstring while running out a triple against the Cubs on July 29. Murphy mentioned that Chourio needs to be fully comfortable playing back-to-back games before returning to the major league roster.
Chourio has been impressive this season, boasting a .276 average with 17 homers, 67 RBIs, and 18 steals in 106 games. The Brewers will closely monitor his progress as they aim to maintain their lead in the division.
The Brewers are set to navigate Ortiz’s absence while hoping for quick recoveries for both Bauers and Chourio. As the season progresses, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how these changes impact the team’s performance.
