Brewers injury news: Cooper Pratt's progress, Sal Frelick rehab assignment, JoJo Romero's timeline

It's not uncommon for Major League Baseball teams to see a string of injuries this time of year. Often referred to as the "dog days" of the MLB season, the time after the trade deadline and before the momentum of the final stretch picks up in September tends to come with an increased amount of fatigue and therefore is often associated with underperformance and a spike in injuries.

The first-place Milwaukee Brewers, who are in the midst of a stretch of 17 games in 17 days, which includes two trips to the West Coast without an off day, are not immune to this late-summer phenomenon. An injury to rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt, and Joey Ortiz's lingering neck/upper back soreness has left the Brewers scrambling for infield options in recent days. Since Pratt landed on the IL on Sunday morning, the Brewers have added former Pittsburgh Pirates utility man Ji Hwan Bae to their roster, Andrew Vaughn has started two games at third base, and Brice Turang made his first start at shortstop since 2023.

To make matters worse, Turang is now dealing with an injury as well. As reported by MLB.com Brewers' beat reported Adam McCalvy after last night's loss in San Diego, Turang has a sprained thumb, which, as noted by manager Pat Murphy, is really poor timing.

Thankfully, Pratt's stint on the injured list likely won't be much longer than the minimum 10 days. The Brewers' latest injury report included encouraging news regarding the rookie shortstop, as well as two other currently injured players who are expected back before the end of the month.

Cooper Pratt "making solid progress" in recovery from hamstring injury

Pratt felt his hamstring injury pop up during Saturday's game against the Minnesota Twins, but the 21-year-old stayed in for the entirety of the contest. An MRI after the game revealed what Pratt and the Brewers were fearing most: a hamstring strain that was serious enough to warrant a stint on the IL. Pratt was placed on the IL shortly before Sunday's series finale, meaning he can return to the lineup as early as the Brewers' game against the Seattle Mariners on August 19.

While expecting the true minimum stay on the injured list may be aggressive, Pratt's hamstring strain is not thought to be severe, and it's likely he's back in the lineup sooner rather than later. According to Brewers' beat writer Curt Hogg, manager Pat Murphy said during his pregame press conference on Tuesday night that Pratt is "making solid progress."

In addition to Hogg's encouraging report, the Brewers reported that Pratt is expected back in "late August," suggesting that the rookie's injury is by no means a long-term concern. It's good news for both Pratt, who was putting together an encouraging rookie season before landing on the injured list, and the Brewers, who need their everyday shortstop.

In 44 games, Pratt is slashing .272/.352/.368 good for a 102 wRC+ that suggests he's been better than a league-average hitter through his first two months in the majors. Additionally, Pratt's defense has been as advertised, with the 21-year-old shortstop already racking up an impressive five Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), which ranks third behind Brice Turang and David Hamilton on the Brewers' roster.

Sal Frelick nearing return after logging third start of rehab assignment in Triple-A

Also residing on the Brewers' injured list is outfielder Sal Frelick, who was removed from the first game of the second half (on July 17) due to a right shoulder strain. Frelick, who played through an oblique injury earlier in the year, felt his shoulder injury when making a throw from the right field corner, and after receiving imaging on his shoulder after the game, the Brewers made the decision to place the 26-year-old outfielder on the injured list.

Fans were initially hoping for a short stint on the IL for Frelick, but it quickly became clear that the young outfielder would be on the shelf for far longer than the minimum 10 days. Over the weekend, Frelick began a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, and has logged three starts since. While Frelick has picked up two hits and a walk in those three games, he still has one major obstacle to clear before rejoining the big-league club: playing the field.

In each of Frelick's three starts in Triple-A over the last few days, the Gold Glove-winning right fielder has served as the Sounds' DH, suggesting his shoulder is not quite ready for him to play the field. That said, according to the Brewers, Frelick is expected to be reinstated from the IL in "mid-August," meaning once he does start playing the field again, it won't be long before he's back in the big leagues. With a crowded outfield picture, the Brewers will have a tough decision regarding who they will send down to make room for Frelick's return. Based on recent playing time, Brandon Lockridge's roster spot may be in danger.

JoJo Romero to start rehab assignment next week with mid- to late-August return in mind

For the second consecutive season, the Brewers acquired an injured reliever at the trade deadline. After trading for Shelby Miller, who was out with a flexor strain at the time and ultimately went down with a season-ending elbow injury in September, last year, the Brewers acquired St. Louis Cardinals' reliever JoJo Romero at this year's deadline. Romero has been on the injured list since undergoing an emergency appendectomy on July 16.

A midseason appendectomy is certainly not common, so the timeline on a return isn't necessarily established. However, in Romero's case, it is expected to be about a month-long absence. According to the team, Romero has already thrown two successful bullpen sessions and is expected to start a rehab assignment next week. That schedule puts Romero on track to return before the end of the month, and if all goes well, he could be back sometime in the next two weeks.

Before his midseason procedure, Romero posted a 3.35 ERA in 44 appearances out of the Cardinals' bullpen. He is expected to offer some relief to Aaron Ashby as another high-leverage left-handed option for Pat Murphy. Alongside Ashby, Abner Uribe, Trevor Megill, Chad Patrick, and fellow deadline acquisition Antonio Senzatela, Romero will join one of the stronger bullpen groups in baseball for the final stretch of the season.

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