MILWAUKEE — Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell was hoping an MRI scan of his injured left shoulder would reveal good news, as he’s been feeling for the past few days. .
Mitchell was injured in a dive to third base in overtime against Seattle on Tuesday, sustaining significant damage to the labrum of his non-pitching shoulder and likely facing surgery that could end his season. , he will get a second opinion from Dr. Neil Ellatrasch in Los Angeles on Monday.
“How I felt, what I discovered, [they are] It’s two different things,” Mitchell said. “I don’t feel that bad, but from what I’ve heard, it’s definitely not good. At this point, I’m still not exactly sure what I’m feeling, but I’m just trying to stay positive.”
Brewers manager Craig Counsell said the surgery “will definitely jeopardize the rest of the season,” but Mitchell said he’s not going to play during the postseason push, or in the postseason itself if the team gets that far. The 24-year-old started the season as Milwaukee’s fourth prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, before hitting a home run in two wins over the Mets. Graduated from prospect status in a day. Mitchell was batting .259/.307/.466 in 62 plate appearances.
It was a fluke play that knocked him out. Mitchell started his 10th inning of Tuesday’s Brewers-Mariners game as runner on second base and hit a triple on bouncer to first base. His Ty France in Seattle made his throw snapping to his 3rd place and Mitchell evaded the tag while hopping over the bag with his left arm outstretched and lunged to safety with his right arm.
In the process, he felt his left shoulder pop briefly out of its socket. I felt the sensation again when I threw home in the bottom of the inning. At that point he left the game.
“Obviously a freak accident,” Mitchell said. “There was nothing I could have done to change what had happened. If I had to do that play 100 times, I would do it exactly the same. The number of times I had to jump in the bag was the end of my career.” I’m not going to change what I did because there are too many to count.
Asked what he had in store for the future, Counsell said, “I have to go through rehab and improve myself and get through a tough summer when these things happen so he can be normal. and you’ll be ready to go.
Brewers No. 3 and rookie Joey Weamer made his second back-to-back start in center field on Friday and can carry most of the load there for the foreseeable future. Blake Perkins, who was called up Wednesday when Mitchell was placed on the 10-day injured list, is also seen as a positive outfielder with more than he can do at center.
Future options include Tyrone Taylor, who has been sidelined since early spring training with a right elbow injury, but is in the first week of games in extended spring training. will advance to Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday.
“This is the start of spring training for him and he has an injury, so we’re going to let him play and he’ll come here and play and a form of play that will allow him to have at-bats under his belt. should be put in order,” said Counsel. “I don’t have specific numbers, but he’s not going to play two games in Nashville.”
Another option in the minor leagues is Brewers prospect Sal Frerick, who jammed his left thumb while skating the same night Mitchell went down. Triple-A Nashville placed Frerick in a seven-day IL, where he was tested in Milwaukee on Thursday and had an MRI scan. .
Frelick’s results are still pending as of Friday afternoon.
“Joey plays all three positions. He spends a lot of time in center field,” Mitchell said. “He’ll be fine. The organization, all the fans, everyone should be excited and happy for him. He’ll do a good job.”
