Brewers outfielder doesn’t miss a beat in first Triple-A game of rehab assignment

After nearly two months on the shelf, Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell wasted no time reminding the team of what they’ve been missing.

In his first game with Triple-A Nashville as part of his rehab assignment, Mitchell went 1-for-3, reached base twice, and scored twice before his planned exit in the seventh inning. It’s an encouraging sign for the Brewers, who’ve been piecing together their roster while battling injuries throughout the season.

Mitchell is working his way back from a left oblique strain, an injury he sustained during a swing in late April. He was placed on the injured list on April 26 and began his rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on June 14. It only took one game at the rookie level for him to show he was ready for a bigger test. Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Mitchell’s performance was strong enough to warrant an immediate promotion to Triple-A Nashville.

Brewers set to rebalance outfield with Mitchell's imminent return

The timing couldn’t be any better for the Brew Crew. While they remain competitive in the NL Central, they’ve done so without a fully healthy outfield. Mitchell’s return won’t just add a dynamic left-handed bat with speed — it will also bring forth much-needed clarity defensively. Once Mitchell is back to full strength, the plan is to deploy him as the team’s everyday center fielder, allowing their young star Jackson Chourio to move back to left field — a position where he’s significantly more effective.

Chourio, who has held down center field in Mitchell’s absence, has flashed his talent in moments, but graded below average defensively at the position. He’s a premium athlete, but asking him to anchor center field every day has been a tall order.

If Mitchell continues trending in the right direction, he could be back in Milwaukee by the end of June. His presence will play an important role for the club. This is a player who’s yet to play a full season in the majors, but most recently posted a 126 OPS+ over 69 games last season. He gives the Brewers lineup another layer of speed and aggression. And for a team already playing well, Mitchell could be the reinforcement that helps take them to the next gear.