Brewers News: 1B/DH Rowdy Tellez Returns from Stint on the Injured List

Even after the Milwaukee Brewers made a couple moves to address the problem at the trade deadline, their recent series loss, a sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers in which they scored just three runs in as many games, proved that they will still take an injection of offense wherever they can get it.

Well it just so happens that some offensive assistance may have just arrived. On Saturday, the Brewers announced that first baseman Rowdy Tellez was being reinstated from the injured list and added to the starting lineup for the second game of a three-game set against the Texas Rangers.

Tellez had been on the injured list for exactly one month with inflammation in his right forearm. He potentially could have returned to the team earlier if not for a fluke accident that he suffered shagging fly balls in the outfield that ended up extending his absence.

On Saturday, the Milwaukee Brewers reinstated 1B/DH Rowdy Tellez from the injured list.

Though the Brewers have had an offense that has ranked in the bottom third of the league in runs per game for a while now, it was actually one of the better offenses early on in the 2023 season. Tellez was a big part of the reason why.

Through May 22nd, Tellez was hitting .256 with a .897 OPS and had four doubles, 12 homers, and 26 RBI in 43 games. He was providing some of the best offensive production on the team and was looking like a possible first time All-Star.

Shortly after that, however, Tellez would start to slump badly. In 36 games following that day, he would hit just .165 with a .410 OPS with just four extra base hits and 29 strikeouts compared to only six walks. He has also been stuck on 12 home runs ever since he hit his last one on May 22nd.

If the forearm inflammation was the primary cause of Tellez's struggles, the Brewers will certainly take a healthy and productive Rowdy back in the lineup. First baseman Carlos Santana has hit five homers for Milwaukee since being acquired at the trade deadline but is hitting just .162 with a .560 OPS in a Brewers uniform. Meanwhile, designated hitter Jesse Winker has both struggled mightly in 2023 and is currently on the injured list, leaving the team without a prototypical DH.

To make room on the roster for Tellez, the Brewers optioned infielder Abraham Toro back to Triple-A Nashville. He made one appearance in his third stint with Milwaukee this season, drawing a walk in a pinch hit appearance in the Dodgers series.

A healthy Tellez would be a great addition to the Brewers lineup and could only help Milwaukee in their quest to get back into the playoffs this season.