Brewers manager gives injury updates on two pitchers, says where Chourio will play

The injury bug just won't leave the Crew alone, but at least some fun top prospect news was learned today as well.

Mar 16, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy gets ready for a game
Mar 16, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy gets ready for a game | Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

The period between spring training games and Opening Day is supposed to be good news for baseball fans. And yet, it feels like most of the news that has come out of Milwaukee Brewers camp has been of the bad variety.

In the last 48 hours, Brewers fans have been hit with the news that outfielder Garrett Mitchell would not only be starting the season on the IL but that the injury causing that will make him miss 6-8 weeks. On top of that, tomorrow's Opening Day matchup in New York against the Mets has been postponed to Friday.

That would be plenty enough bad news for some fanbases to deal with just a day before (what used to be) Opening Day. Instead, Brewers fans got to find out a little more on Wednesday and it once again falls into the category of injuries.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy informed the media that two big parts of the pitching depth would be shelved to start the 2024 season.

Via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Todd Rosiak, the first injury update was in regards to the starting pitching squad. Apparently left-hander Robert Gasser, the team's second best pitching prospect, has a bone spur in his pitching elbow that will keep him out for multiple weeks.

For a team whose No. 3-5 rotation spots are by no means set in stone until some of their pitchers determine otherwise, that's a big hit to the Brewers' depth at the position. Murphy had even previously stated that there was a good chance that we would see Gasser, who was already right at the doorstep of the majors, in April. That will definitely no longer be the case.

The other injury was regarding the relief battalion. Again via Rosiak, Murphy revealed that right-hander Taylor Clarke has a knee injury that will potentially require meniscus surgery. That type of injury will sideline the pitcher indefinitely.

Clarke, who the Brewers traded for in December, last pitched in a game back on the 17th. He didn't seem to be one of the pitchers on track to win one of the final bullpen spots at that time but still figured to factor into the picture this season.

On a lighter note, Murphy also stated where Chourio will be playing on Opening Day.

Even though Brewers fans have to wait to watch Milwaukee's first game of the season, they have the comfort of knowing that when first pitch finally comes around on Friday they will get to see top prospect Jackson Chourio roaming the outfield. Now they also know at exactly what position that will be.

Murphy said that Chourio will be playing right field in the team's season opener against the Mets. While the 20-year-old is more than capable of handling center, as he has done for most of his minor league career, the Brewers have even better defensive outfielders to man the position, which in Friday's case will be Sal Frelick.

The Brewers now have another day tow ait before being able to kick off their season. Pray that no other injuries get announced between now and then.

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