Brewers right-hander Jimmy Nelson last took a major league mound Sept. 8, 2017, when he suffered a partially torn labrum that derailed a breakout season. Almost 20 months later, it appears Nelson is nearing a return to the majors. The 29-year-old, who has been pitching in extended spring training, will begin a rehab assignment Sunday at the Triple-A level, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. In another piece of encouraging news for the Brewers’ struggling rotation, righty Freddy Peralta could rejoin the team after his Double-A rehab start Saturday, manager Craig Counsell said. Peralta went to the IL on April 16 with a shoulder issue. The 24-year-old has only managed a 7.13 ERA/5.82 FIP with a 21.1 percent groundball rate in four starts this season, though he also logged 11.21 K/9 against 3.57 BB/9 during that 17 2/3-inning span.
Here’s more from around the majors…
- The Cubs shut down injured reliever Brandon Morrow a week ago, but he’s nonetheless optimistic he’ll pitch this year, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. Biceps and elbow problems have prevented Morrow from taking the hill since last July, adding to the unfortunate array of injuries the 34-year-old has dealt with during his career. “Every injury I’ve come back the same or better,” Morrow told Rogers. “Frustrating it’s going to be a little longer but just needs a little more time to heal.” Morrow will have a Synvisc injection Monday to “lubricate and help to protect the area around my elbow,” though Rogers notes it’s not a permanent solution. In the event Morrow doesn’t come back this season, it’s possible he has thrown his last pitch with the Cubs. They’ll have a chance to buy him out for $3MM in lieu of a $12MM vesting option over the winter. In the meantime, their bullpen has clearly missed a healthy Morrow this season, having posted a 4.84 ERA with 5.63 BB/9.
- Rays second baseman Joey Wendle’s fractured right wrist will shelve him for at least six to eight weeks, according to manager Kevin Cash (via Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times). This season has been an injury-riddled nightmare for Wendle, who previously missed three weeks on account of a left hamstring strain. Wendle hasn’t gotten to properly follow up last year’s impressive rookie showing as a result. The first-place Rays have held their own without him, though, thanks in part to second base replacement Brandon Lowe.
- Longtime major league center fielder Mike Cameron has accepted a coaching job in the Mariners organization, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. The 46-year-old Cameron will work with Mariners outfielders on defense and baserunning, largely at the minor league level. Cameron excelled in those two areas during his MLB career, which spanned from 1995-2011 and included a tremendous four-year run in Seattle from 2000-03. He was a key cog on the ’01 Mariners, who won 116 regular-season games and still stand as the franchise’s most recent playoff team.
Maybe Cameron can give Mallex a few tips on running down fly balls on the warning track.
Ahhh yes, that “tremendous” 4 year run Mike Cameron had for 2000-2003…I’ll just leave that right there
3.6, 5.5, 5.5, 5.3 WAR from 2000-2003.
Not to mention the shoes he had to fill in CF! Try being the CF that comes into Safeco ‘the house that Griffey built’ to replace Ken Griffey Jr
Yeah I don’t see the problem with tremendous unless you only look at batting average. Was a 25-30 guy in back to back seasons with a ton of walks and great defense in CF
Btw award voters in the late 90’s were so terrible. Can’t believe that Nomar and Jeter got more MVP votes than Griffey in ’98
It was Griffey’s defense that hurt him back in the late 90’s. His days as an above average CF were over by 98.
Also, back in those days you pretty much had to be on a playoff team to get the MVP award and iirc the Mariners were a sub .500 team in 1998. I am pretty sure (long time ago) 98 was the year A-Rod was robbed of the MVP for that reason and also why Sosa beat out McGwire.
You mean the time he was an integral part of a 116 win team? Yes your snide comment sure backfired, time for you to call it a day round here lol
Cameron was a very solid major league starter for many years, including that span with the Mariners. Good power, very good speed, great defense.
You’re a total idiot
Yeah you look like an idiot.
God I can’t get Over how dumb you are for making that comment. I hope baseball is your throwback sport because you’re disconnected fool.
Morrow, not the best free agent pickup for the cubbies. .
I know they one a world series. But a lot of the free agent pickups have been awful !.
One ring to rule them all I guess. . . Those never go out of style. 100 years to get there.
If he’s a dominant closer the rest of the year it won’t end up being that bad of a deal. Not a good deal but not one to live up to the amount of whining people do about it. It’s still a big if though that he comes back strong the rest of the year, with his injury history
Of course Morrow was not on the team when the won the series, and it was a bad siginging for a team with championship aspirations needing a reliable closer. ; Morrow’s own words highlight the problem: “Every injury I’ve come back the same or better,” Morrow told Rogers” Two problems are obvious: (1) EVERY injury – the guy in his 30’s had a long injury history before he was signed and (2) he’s come back better for how long? A team looking to win a championship needs somebody durable as closer. Morrow was NEVER that guy. EVER. Of course it’s possible to sign a guy with a good track as a closer and injury-free who gets hurt, but the Morrow signing is a case where a team gunning for championships would have signed him as at best a secondary piece who you hope stays healthy while you get the hammer from the more durable ranks. So maybe he comes back in July, makes 10 appearances and breaks down again, Just awesome, Theo and Jed. .
The cubs are by far the best team in baseball. They dominate offensively and their pitching is lights out. The 2019 cubs will go down as the greatest season ever. They don’t need morrow.
lmao
I know. Right
Idiot
You are if you doubt the cubs. Best team ever. The only thing better than the cubs nothing. The cubs are the best. You darvish will win the cy young. They have the lowest payroll in baseball. The cubs network will rival cbs within a year. Wrigley field isn’t a dump
You have an IQ just above freezing on the Fahrenheit Scale. I wish you luck.
No. I’m a cubs fan
Epstein can build a winner from scratch but sustaining that winner? not so much
Brandon Morrow….At this point who really cares anymore? It was not a wise move to sign Morrow in the first place looking at his lengthy injury history. The good news is that he is in his final year of guaranteed money. A 2 million dollar buyout or a team option for 2020. Hopefully the Cubs write him a check and say good luck, farewell.
Maybe the Cubs should trade Russell, Schwarber and borrow for a closer and a mid reliever..no matter what they need to move on from Russell. He’s still a very good player. Easily top 1p SS/ 2B. change of scenery is needed
Russell and happy for Alex Colome, who says no?
Happ
What do we need with Happ or Russell?
Underachieving, overhyped scraps from Theo’s dinner plate.
What do we need a closer making 7 million dollars for only to finish last, you get many years of Happ and Russel for 1 year of Colome
Russell Happ and morrow doe Alex colome and one other.
Never mind. Dude is on the white Sox. they can pick him up with a waiver trade in August.
I think Chicago did well not to add anymore big contracts this off-season. Results like this with recent big signings indicates why. Good news is Heyward might be coming around.
Hey cubs fan, how’s your “95 win” team doing so far? How’s that “great” bullpen the rotation working out? I know what you’re all thinking… the cubs are playing better of late, showing signs of turning everything around. You’d better temper your expectations, because the cubs are due for another major injury somewhere. Be it the bullpen, a position player or starting pitcher. Thanks to the lack of talent in depth, it’s going to hurt. Imagine Strop tweaking something on a comebacker, or Baez with a groin injury. My point being the cubs roster is thin. An overhaul is due.
Notice how everyone is ignoring you, you moron?
K.
Hopefully its not with the Cubs after they package him with Schwarber Russell and happ for a Closer a mid relief pitcher and a low level prospect with some upside.
Those 4 to the Rays for Jose Alvarado and Charlie Morton