Brewers’ star outfielder taking next step towards return from injured list

Despite dropping three straight games to the Chicago Cubs, the Milwaukee Brewers are still sitting pretty, six games above the North Siders for first place in the NL Central. They're all but assured to be the first team in baseball to reach 80 wins, and regardless of how today's game finishes, they'll have at least a five-game lead in the NL Central with 34 games left to play.

Still, there's no benefit to getting complacent. The Brewers have an obvious hole in the middle of their lineup in the form of Jackson Chourio, who has been out since the beginning of the month with a hamstring injury. While their bench bats had been filling in admirably for Chourio up to the Cubs series, recent games have exposed the Brewers’ need for Chourio in the middle of their order. Luckily, there's good news to report on that front, as the star outfielder will be starting his rehab assignment on Friday, August 22.

Jackson Chourio to begin rehab assignment, could return to Brewers before end of August

By the time Chourio steps into the batter's box for Triple-A Nashville, he'll have missed a little more than three weeks of game action. As such, he should be expected to get at least a few games in the Sounds' lineup. However, if the 21-year-old looks spry and the big league club continues to stumble, he won't be there for long.

The Brewers obviously miss his bat in the lineup, as Chourio was slashing .276/.311/.474 in 106 games prior to his injury. His 17 home runs and 18 stolen bases put him well on pace to join the 20-20 club for the second consecutive season , while his 116 wRC+ ranks fifth on the team among players with at least 100 plate appearances (his 2.8 fWAR ranks fourth).

He's been a versatile glove in the outfield as well, playing at least 17 games at each of left, center, and right field, including a team-leading 75 games in center. He's been worth four Outs Above Average (OAA) in his 926 1/3 innings in the outfield, showcasing his continued all-around contributions to the Brewers' cause.

Now, there's a balancing act to be had here. Chourio's injury never sounded all too serious, though there's a reason the team was cautious with its 21-year-old superstar. Hamstring strains are a notoriously fickle injury for athletes, and there's no benefit to rushing Chourio back before he's ready, only to risk underperformance or a re-aggravation of the injury.

The Brewers have managed to get by without him thanks to an impressive combination of Blake Perkins, Brandon Lockridge, and Isaac Collins, though it's clear that Milwaukee will be in better position once its young face of the franchise returns to action.

As such, Brewers fans should watch his first few rehab appearances in Nashville with equal amounts of caution and optimism. If all goes according to plan, Chourio should be back with the team in time for the final month of the season.