3 most likely moves to support Garrett Mitchell's return from the injured list

In a season where the Milwaukee Brewers have had to withstand so many injuries, any time there is news of a player soon returning from the IL it's an exciting moment. Brewers fans are getting close to another one of those moments right now.

Outfielder Garrett Mitchell has been out since before the season began with a hand injury that placed him on the injured list. He has been on a rehab assignment for a while now, though, and is just a few days from reaching the maximum length of that assignment.

That means the Brewers will have to make a decision on Mitchell soon. Being on the 60-day IL, someone will have to lose a 40-man roster spot for him to return as it's at max capacity. But fans might be more concerned with how the active roster will be affected by his impending return. Here are the three most likely scenarios in that regard.

Scenario #1: OF Garrett Mitchell is reinstated from the injured list, INF Tyler Black is optioned to Triple-A

In the group that includes potential All-Star starter Christian Yelich, rookie Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, and Blake Perkins, it doesn't feel like the Brewers have a desire to move any of them down to the minors (those that have the option, anyway). So it feels as though Milwaukee might run heavy on outfielders if and when Mitchell returns.

So the team might instead opt to replace an infielder on the roster. Tyler Black, the team's No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has looked more comfortable in his second stint in the majors this season. But if the roster math is working against anyone it might be him.

Black has played most of his games at first base this year and the Brewers already have two healthy options there in Rhys Hoskins and Jake Bauers. They also have multiple options at DH, the one other position he's played in 2024. So it could be that one recent Milwaukee draft pick replaces another on the active roster.

Scenario #2: OF Garrett Mitchell is reinstated from the injured list, INF Andruw Monasterio is optioned to Triple-A

Sticking to the infield, the Brewers could opt to open a roster spot for Mitchell by sending away the player with the lowest offensive performance. Right now, that would be utility infielder Andruw Monasterio.

A surprise contributor in 2023, Monasterio has struggled in limited opportunities here in 2024. He has played in only 22 games but is slashing just .163/.280/.256 and has only two extra base hits, a double and a homer.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy values Monasterio so much because of his defensive versatility and sending him down would make the depth at middle infield pretty thin. The Crew would have some options to potentially shift around, though, and plus, sometimes all the versatility in the world can't make up for a light bat.

Scenario #3: OF Garrett Mitchell is reinstated from the injured list and subsequently optioned to Triple-A

The return of Mitchell would bring with it an infusion of energy and speed, someone who can really contribute to Murphy's aggressive philosophy on the basepaths, and as good of defense in the outfield as they currently have on the roster (spare maybe the very defensively talented Perkins).

But the Brewers also have a group of outfielders that's serving them well and an offensive roster overall that's as productive as any team in the league. If they decide that there's no obvious person to replace, they may just have Mitchell bide his time in the minors until his services are needed, which isn't wouldn't be ideal but would be understandable.

These aren't necessarily the only options the Brewers have when it comes to Mitchell and there could be another way to make the roster math work. But one way or another, the team is going to have to make some sort of decision on Mitchell and they don't have many days left to do it.