Milwaukee Brewers reliever Bobby Wahl is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his lower right leg. When will Wahl return to the field?
Brewers bullpen candidate Bobby Wahl has a right lower leg injury. It’s serious enough to require an MRI, Craig Counsell said.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) March 1, 2019
The exact injury to Bobby Wahl is still unknown. He exited his appearance on Friday after recording the second out in the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners. He threw a pitch to Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger, who hit a sac fly to deep center. Wahl started limping almost as soon as he finished his delivery. He did walk off the field under his own power, but was followed closely by a trainer. The injury didn’t look serious when it first occurred, but it will require an MRI. How will this impact Wahl’s chase for a bullpen role with the Milwaukee Brewers?
How has Wahl looked in Spring Training?
Wahl has made two appearances in relief this Spring, and owns a 16.20 ERA. He’s been tagged for three runs on two hits and two walks. He’s managed to strike out two batters so far.
How does the injury impact Wahl’s Spring?
If Wahl has to miss any time with an injury, he’s almost assured of starting the season in Triple-A, or on the disabled list and staying in extended Spring Training. The Milwaukee Brewers have several pitchers in contention for the final spots in the bullpen, and any time away from the field could hurt Wahl’s chances. Anything more than a week away from the field will keep Wahl on the outside of the bullpen competition, even though Spring Training just started.
The fact that he’s heading for an MRI isn’t encouraging, but it’s likely just to rule out the worst case scenarios.
Wahl was expected to contend for a bullpen spot during the Spring, but this injury could derail his bid for the Major League roster. Tyler Williams, Junior Guerra, Jay Jackson, Adrian Houser, and Matt Albers have all thrown well this Spring, and are vying for the final few roles in the Milwaukee Brewers bullpen.
Update
According to reports, Bobby Wahl has a torn ACL. He’s going to get a second opinion but his 2019 season appears to be over.
It’s sad to see Wahl heading for an MRI, but it’s just a test. The Milwaukee Brewers are likely playing it safe with Wahl at this point. However, he does need to get back on the mound to stay in contention for a bullpen role. Let’s hope that it’s not serious, and Wahl can get back into the competition.