The Brewers announced that outfielder Hunter Renfroe has been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to June 23, with a left calf strain. Infielder/outfielder Pablo Reyes was recalled to take his place on the active roster.
Losing Renfroe’s bat is a notable blow to the Brewers’ lineup, as he’s been arguably the club’s best hitter this season. Acquired in an offseason trade with the Red Sox, Renfroe is hitting .247/.300/.490. His wRC+ of 116 is the highest among Milwaukee hitters with at least 200 plate appearances.
The club hasn’t provided any updates about the severity of the issue or an expected timeline, but it’s perhaps worth pointing out that calf strains are notoriously tricky to deal with. For example, Mike Trout landed on the IL with a calf strain in May of last year. Although he was expected to return in 6-8 weeks, it ended up wiping out the remainder of his season. Of course, every injury is different and it’s entirely possible that Renfroe is dealing with a much milder issue than the one Trout faced last year.
The Brewers are 41-33, tied with the Cardinals for the NL Central lead. However, they are a pitching-heavy team that doesn’t have an elite offense. The entire team’s batting line on the season is .232/.311/.401. That amounts to a wRC+ of 99, just a hair below league average. With one of their most-productive hitters now sidelined for an undetermined amount of time, that’s likely to go in the wrong direction.
This also further depletes an outfield mix that already subtracted Lorenzo Cain in recent weeks. With Renfroe sitting out the past few days, the club has slotted Christian Yelich, Andrew McCutchen, Tyrone Taylor and Jonathan Davis through the outfield positions and designated hitter role. All four of that group have a wRC+ between 83 and 101, fitting the team’s theme of mediocre offensive output.
Even before this injury, the outfield stood out as an area where the Brewers could look to improve at the trade deadline. If this injury should linger and keep Renfroe out of action through the August 2 cutoff, it should only enhance Milwaukee’s resolve to make an addition of some kind on the grass.
Reyes so good why do they even call him up
Dang Pablo why you so mad ?
Why does Reyes keep getting the call? We are looking for offense and this call up does nothing to improve that. Why not Turang?
Turang don’t play of
Compare the Cardinal young plyers with the brewer young player on the Roaster. Like High A against a good AAA team!
I suppose tomorrow’s report will include both Corbin Burnes and his bobblehead going on the IL with receding hairline or botched mullet cut.
Well, seems as though with the recent OF injuries for TB, LA, Phil, & now the Crew, Andrew Benintendi could be had or even Micheal A. Taylor with both being quite productive & the price I would imagine not being overly burdensome in the sense that neither should cost a Top100 prospect for example.
Benny should yield maybe 3 prospects at most in a teams Top30 starting somewhere around 10th & MAT could probably be had for 2 Top30 prospects starting somewhere at best in the middle of the pack.
In other words, the Crown Jewels should probably be safe for either outfielder who both are having really respectable seasons on multiple sides of the diamond & who won’t cost an arm & a leg…
Thank you Johnny Superscout
It’s an opinion
I think Lorenzo Cain is available???
Nah he retired bro
Braun is bored in Malibu I think.
Married with Kids, leave him alone. Let him retire to the Hall of very good. Mccutchen is getting his money, along with Cain!
Free Joey Wiemer
You Know the brewers never take a chance on young talent until they think they are ready! He is better than either Mr. .171 playing center or Pablo!
Ethan Small for Andrew Benintendi.
YES! YES! YES!
Lost cause
Need help now! Both Turang and Ethan Small have value. I would trade one for any average power OF available. We are wasting our soon, to be fortified, pitching staff with a couple of Negative ball player as hitters!
So, they should trade a valuable prospect (maybe 2) for Benintendi, who based on his numbers this season is not even an average power hitter?
And then let him walk after the season…