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Brewers’ John Axford Out For Season With Elbow Injury

By Anthony Franco | August 4, 2021 at 8:11pm CDT

Brewers reliever John Axford will miss the rest of the season after suffering significant structural damage in his throwing elbow, manager Craig Counsell told reporters (including Adam McCalvy of MLB.com). The veteran righty is weighing his options for treatment, Counsell said.

It’s a disappointing blow for a pitcher who just made his return to the big leagues on Monday after a three-year absence. The 38-year-old recorded one out against the Pirates, allowing a pair of runs on two hits and a walk in what’ll be his lone appearance of the year. Before that, he’d pitched very well with the Blue Jays’ Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo, where he tossed 10 2/3 innings of one-run ball with fourteen strikeouts and three walks.

It remains to be seen whether Axford will make a renewed comeback push. At the very least, he can take pride in the remarkable successful effort he made in recent months to get back to the majors with Milwaukee, even if that stint unfortunately ended far quicker than expected. Presumably, the Brewers will place Axford on the 60-day injured list when the need for a new 40-man roster spot arises.

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Milwaukee Brewers John Axford

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View Comments (46)
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46 Comments

  1. danielcalderon

    4 years ago

    The Brewers are really regretting giving up that 1 dollar

    21
    Reply
    • Dorothy_Mantooth

      4 years ago

      I wish all pitchers got paid $1 per out. A lot more people could afford to go to a game if that was the case.

      You have to feel badly for this guy. He worked so hard to get back to the majors at age 38 just to see it all end after one batter. Hopefully he can be healthy enough to give it one more try next season and go out on his own terms.

      5
      Reply
      • rct

        4 years ago

        ‘I wish all pitchers got paid $1 per out. A lot more people could afford to go to a game if that was the case.’

        Nah, that’s backwards. Owners charge whatever they think they can get and player salaries adjust accordingly. Player salaries do not drive ticket prices. Demand for tickets does. If the owners could charge $1,000 a ticket and pay minimum salary to everyone on their roster, they would.

        14
        Reply
      • downsr30

        4 years ago

        Well, then we wouldn’t be watching the best athletes in the world, because they would find another way of living if they were paid like that.. They are paid this much because we choose to watch them. Don’t want them to get paid that much? Stop watching.

        4
        Reply
      • Dustyslambchops23

        4 years ago

        It’s hilarious to think that baseball is too expensive because of the players.

        6
        Reply
        • josebatflip

          4 years ago

          I know! Dorothy knows nothing about baseball or economics.

          1
          Reply
        • sportznut1000

          4 years ago

          We must have different opinions of what the word “hilarious” means

          Reply
    • toddkirchenberg

      4 years ago

      They only gave up a dollar to get him. They still have to pay him league minimum for the year.

      Reply
  2. tigersfan1320

    4 years ago

    Well the blue jays got a dollar for him, so I guess they got the better deal

    11
    Reply
    • iains 2

      4 years ago

      That drink from McDonalds was well worth it

      Reply
    • Ully

      4 years ago

      Loonie

      2
      Reply
      • rct

        4 years ago

        I believe it was a US dollar, so a Loonie and change. Even better.

        4
        Reply
  3. WtfMate

    4 years ago

    Well that was short lived… Wish him well

    2
    Reply
  4. Murphy NFLD

    4 years ago

    It’s pretty said all the same. He finally comes back and gets a chance with not only with a big league club but a team In Contention, but that team is the team he came up with and played lights out for in the past. I believe he even had a saves record with the crew for some years

    2
    Reply
    • brewsingblue82

      4 years ago

      He has the single season saves record for the Crew. 46. Still holds it

      2
      Reply
  5. Trevor Y

    4 years ago

    Receiving the paycheck of a major leaguer the rest of the year, well done making it back

    15
    Reply
  6. FredMcGriff for the HOF

    4 years ago

    I was hoping he’d do good. That tough. Axford had a great handlebar mustache at one time. Not many guys can grow those.

    3
    Reply
  7. Monkey’s Uncle

    4 years ago

    That really sucks. I respect how hard he obviously worked to make it back. I wish him nothing but the best no matter how he decides to proceed.

    10
    Reply
  8. OmniMike 2

    4 years ago

    To be in that stadium when the Ax Man came running out would have been surreal. The fans LOVED it, even if the results were less than to be desired. Dude was even applauded as he left the field!

    I wish him well in his recovery.

    5
    Reply
  9. A'sfaninUK

    4 years ago

    Did he blow out his arm during warming up for his first appearance in MLB since 2018? Wow. Thats terrible. Devastating. Especially if he needs TJ, its probably a wrap for him. He was kicking butt at AAA this year, he looked “back”.

    Reply
  10. bucketbrew35

    4 years ago

    Don’t give up John! This truly sucks. Get well soon.

    2
    Reply
  11. bigguccisosa300

    4 years ago

    Rough blow

    Reply
  12. Jean Matrac

    4 years ago

    Sucks. Wish the best for him.

    1
    Reply
  13. phenomenalajs

    4 years ago

    Nick Tropeano’s available.

    Reply
  14. johns-11

    4 years ago

    Ouch. That didn’t end well nor really even start.

    Reply
  15. hiflew

    4 years ago

    I guess the Brewers got what they paid for. Maybe they should stay away from the dollar bin and start looking in the $5 bin for the next pitcher.

    3
    Reply
  16. schwender

    4 years ago

    > “Presumably, the Brewers will place Axford on the 60-day injured list when the need for a new 40-man roster spot arises.“

    They could also just send him back to AAA as a COVID replacement pitcher without putting him through waivers, though I’m not sure if one is better than the other. Putting him on the 60 day IL may mean having to DFA him to get him off of it.

    Reply
    • Dustyslambchops23

      4 years ago

      Why would they need to do that

      Reply
    • explodet

      4 years ago

      You can’t demote an injured player.

      4
      Reply
  17. titanic struggle

    4 years ago

    Best of luck to you John…enjoy life with your family…

    4
    Reply
  18. fisher40

    4 years ago

    That will probably be the last time you see him playing. Brewers more than likely not bringing him back. He’ll be in the minors next year if he chooses to return

    Reply
  19. chicagofan1978

    4 years ago

    Good lord

    Reply
  20. Rsox

    4 years ago

    Good for Axford. He got to come back for one last hurrah but its probably Baseball’s way of telling him it’s over

    3
    Reply
  21. greatgame 2

    4 years ago

    R.I.P.

    Reply
  22. explodet

    4 years ago

    Collecting that big league IL paycheque for the rest of the year. Johnny knows what’s up.

    1
    Reply
    • WtfMate

      4 years ago

      Paycheck…

      Reply
  23. Mario93

    4 years ago

    How a pro player gets traded for a dollar is just as ridiculous as getting injured for the season the next day.

    Reply
    • YankeesBleacherCreature

      4 years ago

      One of the them didn’t happen by chance. Players are often given away for free (waiver claim).

      Reply
  24. JobuKnows

    4 years ago

    Witnessing one of the greatest closers in franchise history trot from the bullpen to the mound while “New Noise” electrified the crowd to Trevor Hoffman/Hells Bells-esque dB levels was a top moment in Am Fam Field history; an unforgettable experience for 23k+ fans on the night of Aug. 2, 2021. Or forgettable 22 pitches later that resulted in 2 ER, a painful walk back to the dugout, and a rollercoaster of emotions that hardly lived up to the $1 paid to acquire the veteran righty. Nevertheless, comeback player of the year goes to the Axe Man and his legendary handlebar mustache at this point (open for debate)

    1
    Reply
  25. alanofla

    4 years ago

    John Axford is not a joke. He is a human being. He worked hard to get back only to have it be very short-lived. When he was on the Dodgers, he also didn’t last long because he got hurt. Some people are just more prone to injury. Does anybody really think he is getting hurt on purpose?

    Please don’t hide behind how much money he may have earned, or is still being paid. He made enough to retire on years ago. He obviously kept trying to come back because he loves baseball.

    Many people think the political divide is the biggest problem we face, but it has become clearer each day that many people no longer have any empathy or sympathy inside of them. This lack of basic human decency leads to the rest of it.

    If you have never heard the old saying, “there but for the grace of God go I,” perhaps you should look into it.

    2
    Reply
  26. implant

    4 years ago

    Dude has a film an tv degree from ND. In 2014 he correctly called 14 out of the 15 Academy Awards winners. Next year he was 18 for 18. Also has a son who nearly died when he got bit by a rattlesnake years back during spring training. I wish him well

    1
    Reply
  27. rossf

    4 years ago

    These 2 months of MLB service time he’ll get will just barely push him over the 9 year mark. That gives a lot of incentive to try and make it back again. If he can make an opening day roster and then blow his arm out again, he can become fully vested.

    Reply
  28. enricopallazzo

    4 years ago

    Bummer. Great story about his comeback and at least he managed to get one out in his outing and the Brewers still won, but hate to see it end this way. At least he walked off with much of the crowd cheering if that’s the last he pitches.

    Reply
  29. Ron Tingley

    4 years ago

    Hasn’t had a decent year since 2016.. long road back. Bummer, this guy always rocked decent facial moss too

    Reply
    • Luckybrew

      4 years ago

      I’m sure he is still going to draw his 1 million dollars contract for facing 5 batters even if it’s prorated hope they had insurance to cover this.

      Reply
  30. chiefin_wahoos

    4 years ago

    helluva bartender tho

    Reply

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