Milwaukee Brewers: Why did Travis Shaw exit early on Sunday?

Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Travis Shaw exited during hit at bat in the third inning on Sunday. Why did Shaw need to leave the game, and when will he return?

Travis Shaw aggravated an injury to his right wrist during his second plate appearance on Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Shaw actually hurt his wrist last Sunday, and needed two days off this week to rest it. The Milwaukee Brewers training staff clearly thought that rest was enough.

What happened in the third inning?

After fouling off a Luke Weaver offering in the third, Shaw appeared to grimace and dropped his bat. Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell and head trainer Dan Wright came out the dugout. After a brief consultation, Shaw was lifted for Brad Miller, and Hernan Perez slid over to third base.

What was the initial injury last Sunday?

It was listed as a ‘tweak’ and he missed two games. He was healthy enough to go 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored on June 22nd.

What’s the plan moving forward?

It’s unclear, but a DL stint isn’t out of the question.

Given that this appears to be a nagging injury, the Milwaukee Brewers may want to err on the side of caution heading into the All-Star break. It’s better for Shaw to miss a week or two now, than miss a month in the late summer.

If Shaw needs a DL stint, don’t look for the Milwaukee Brewers to call up another infielder. They currently have eight players listed as infielders, and only three outfielders on the active roster right now. Adding Keon Broxton or Brett Phillips for a few weeks may make more sense than another outfielder.

Next: Should the Brewers add an outfielder before the deadline?

Perez would get the majority of the playing time at third base if Shaw can’t go. Eric Sogard and Miller could also fill in if necessary.

Losing Shaw would have an impact on the offense, but the Milwaukee Brewers have managed to keep rolling with several key injuries this year. They can overcome a short term injury to Shaw, too. Losing a player like Shaw will suck for the short term, but it’s far from the end of the world.