Brewers Outfielder Catches Horrible Break, Will Begin 2024 Season On Injured List

The injury bug bites again, and it's unfortunately a familiar victim. Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell is going to miss the start of the 2024 season with a hand injury suffered in a spring training game.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy broke the news to reporters after Monday's Cactus League contest.

Mitchell missed most of the 2023 season due to a shoulder injury suffered on the basepaths and the Brewers have been seeking and needing a fully healthy season from Mitchell in 2024. Mitchell got jammed on a swing which led to this hand injury.

How long will Garrett Mitchell be out with his injury?

Mitchell is seeing a hand specialist to determine what the timeline will be for a return to play. But a broken bone in his hand likely means he'll be out for at least a couple of weeks. He'll need some time with no swinging and then building back up strength in his hand and getting at-bats in to feel comfortable.

Hand injuries are notoriously tricky for hitters. They can seem small, but any sort of discomfort or issue with the hand historically leads to struggles swinging the bat. While the fracture may heal, it takes time for the player to get back to where they were before. After Sal Frelick broke his thumb last year, he was out for six weeks and even after he returned to play, it was several more weeks before he was productive at the plate again and earned the promotion.

Once Mitchell is cleared to play, he'll most likely head out on a rehab assignment to get some at-bats under his belt before the Brewers activate him on the major league roster.

What does Mitchell's injury mean for the roster?

The Opening Day roster just had a spot open up. Murphy was non-committal about who would get that spot. It's believed that Eric Haase's roster spot was in limbo and he could now get the nod following Mitchell's injury.

Outfielder Blake Perkins has been told he will make the team as the Crew's fourth outfielder. Infielder Andruw Monasterio has also been told he'll make the Opening Day roster. Joey Ortiz is on the roster and the infield looks stacked.

The Brewers may have to save the Sal Frelick third base experiment for later on in the season. With Mitchell out and Joey Wiemer optioned to Triple-A already, Frelick is the best bet to get regular at-bats as the third starting outfielder behind Christian Yelich and Jackson Chourio.

This new is a brutal blow for both Mitchell and the Brewers. A healthy Mitchell is a sparkplug for this team and he'll now be unavailable for a yet to be determined period of time. They're already missing Devin Williams, Brandon Woodruff, and Wade Miley from the pitching staff as well.