April 25: The initial wave of imaging on Miley was inconclusive, manager Pat Murphy tells the team’s beat (X link via Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel). He’s headed for further testing — an arthrogram, specifically — to determine if there’s any ligament damage in his elbow.
April 22: The Brewers announced a series of transactions today, most notably placing left-hander Wade Miley on the 15-day injured list due to left elbow inflammation, retroactive to April 19. Right-hander Tobias Myers was recalled in a corresponding move. Also, first baseman Jake Bauers was reinstated from the bereavement list with infielder Andruw Monasterio optioned to Triple-A Nashville.
At this point, it’s unclear if the Brewers expect the injury to be serious, but there’s always some level of concern when a pitcher’s throwing elbow is involved. Per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the left-hander is going to get some imaging done tomorrow and Miley says he is trying to fight back the negative thoughts in his head. “I don’t want to be concerned,” he says at the end of the clip in the link from Hogg. “Obviously, the ugly thought probably ends it for me, so I’m trying not to take myself there right now. I don’t know if I’d be willing to go through something like that and I’m hoping it’s nothing to that extent. But like I said, without imaging, we won’t know.”
Miley, 37, has had plenty of injury scares in recent years, only twice getting to 125 innings since 2017. In 2022, he missed time both due to elbow inflammation and a shoulder strain in his throwing arm, logging just 37 innings. He got up to 120 1/3 frames last year but also missed time due to a lat strain and some elbow discomfort. Here in 2024, he started the season on the IL due to a shoulder impingement, came back to make two starts and is now heading to the IL again.
The “ugly thought” he alluded to presumably refers to Tommy John surgery, which generally requires something in the range of 14-18 months to recover from. At this point in the calendar, that would wipe out the rest of Miley’s 2024 season and much of the 2025 campaign as well. If he were to go through all that, he would be nearing his 39th birthday by the time he got back to a mound. Based on his comments, it sounds like it’s not a road he wants to go down or even think about right now.
The club will surely provide more information when they have it, but it will be a challenging situation for them regardless due to some other injuries in their rotation. Brandon Woodruff had shoulder surgery last year and won’t be an option until late in 2024 season, if at all. Jakob Junis has been on the IL for a couple of weeks due to a shoulder impingement while DL Hall was placed on the IL just yesterday due to a left knee sprain.
That leaves Milwaukee with a rotation consisting of Freddy Peralta, Colin Rea and Joe Ross for the time being. The recent IL placements of Hall and Miley mean they will have to scramble to fill a couple of spots. Reaching into the minors leagues will also have injury complications as Robert Gasser, one of the club’s top prospects, hasn’t yet pitched in Triple-A due to a bone spur in his left elbow.
Myers, 25, was added to the club’s roster last week but was optioned the next day without getting into a game and is still looking to make his major league debut. He has been pitching multi-inning stints in the minors and could perhaps take on some bulk work for the Brewers. Bryse Wilson has past starting experience and has been throwing multi-inning stints in the big leagues this year, so he’s another option. Aaron Ashby and Janson Junk are also on the 40-man roster and could be recalled to provide some length.
The Brewers are currently 14-6 and sitting atop the National League Central, but the ongoing rotation issues will make it a challenge to hang onto that spot. The team and Miley will obviously be hoping that tomorrow’s imaging doesn’t find anything concerning and that the lefty can rejoin the club after a brief respite.
just_thinkin
Ouch. MIL down two SP just like that in back to back days.
Captain K-Mid
MIL technically down 4 SPs in just the first month…Baseball is a loooong season
Acoss1331
Another pitcher with elbow inflammation. Hopefully it’s just inflammation with a short stint on the IL…
ib6ub9
Trevor Bauer
Susannah
The article says Jake Bauers.
B-rocker
There’s at least one misogynist pig on every board.
MattyD 2
Sensitive a bit?
B-rocker
By definition
wtfCheeseheadChuck
He’s been proven innocent, there are enough real “pigs” out there to “hate” on u don’t need to be slandering someone who’s “accuser” has been charged with fraud, slandering a victim, what does that make u..
earmbrister
… is pond scum
UWPSUPERFAN77
Rather finish in last place then sign that cancer!
Poolhalljunkies
Who are people that suck Alex?
paddyo furnichuh
*Ken*
DBH1969
If this keeps up, there will be robots pitching by the all star game.
Susannah
There are always plenty of pitchers and pitching. The key question is are they effective?
UWPSUPERFAN77
TO AB:Like but no AI in baseball!
DrunkAngrySuperman
We should’ve embraced 2020 Super Baseball a lot sooner, baseball’s always needed robot players and landmines in the outfield.
stevewpants
Love that reference, I played Super Baseball 2020 on Sega, timing the super jump to rob homers was great!
earmbrister
Heckuva pitcher. It’s a shame that recently he can’t stay on the field in even numbered years.
wtfCheeseheadChuck
He’s one of the guys that gives everyone who can barely touch 90mph hope, very honed at his craft, with how he works he’s a guy who could be effective into his mid 40’s…. If healthy however last year after coming back from injury he was sitting low 90’s and touched 95 several times and I believe maxed at 96, I was wondering where that came from and also wondering if it cost him his elbow because he was then hurt for the playoffs and now this…..
Mrski
If you sneeze near a quarterback is a penalty but it’s ok to push pitchers to make the game faster. How many are now either hurt or heading to Tommy John?
ohmy
This has NOTHING to do with the pitch clock.. Get real.
eddiemurraysafro
Why does he look depressed?
Monkey’s Uncle
Elbow inflammation?
BaseballBrewTown
He does not look depressed. He looks constipated.
DockEllisDee
Sad Miley emoticon
Monkey’s Uncle
These days it seems like elbow inflammation might as well equal anything from “rest for a week” to “immediate amputation”.
UWPSUPERFAN77
In all seriousness, for a change, we are in trouble. May need to trade for a decent ML ready pitcher. The question is WHO?
Old York
MLB is going to be tapping into the little league teams for pitchers by August.
BaseballBrewTown
Milwaukee’s pitching staff really could use a hand. I wonder if Jim Abbott is still in pitching condition?
Mojo37
Maybe Brewers can trade for Corbin Burnes
BaseballBrewTown
I wish the Brewers could get a guy like Corbin Burnes. If they did, they would never let him slip away. You can take that to the bank.
JimOToole
Filling two holes in the rotation would chew up the bullpen. Ashby and Junk aren’t looking good in Triple A, so instead of watching their great April turn into Mayday!, the Brewers need to go shopping. The best bet appears to be Paul Blackburn, 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA in 25 innings for Oakland. He is on a one-year, $3.45M contract and probably wouldn’t mind leaving town ahead of the A’s.
kripes-brewers
An option worthy of further study. Not a typical Brewers-like move however.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
There are many teams who salivate over Blackburn. Get in line with your best prospects.
Cheeseman Forever
If this is the end of Wade Miley’s career (as his comments to the Milwaukee beat reporter suggested), I hope the team keeps him on as an extra pitching coach — he has been like an extra mentor to his young colleagues and he has a future in coaching or managing.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
This brings up a question…if Tommy John Surgery is needed; but Miley chooses to just quit baseball…does he still require the Tommy John just to live a normal, non-baseball life? Or are there different options for someone who doesn’t intend to pitch any longer???
Jeremy320
PT and rehab. No need for TJ.
Stormintazz
Thanks Doc
Stormintazz
Depends how bad it is. I had TJ surgery in December. I was to the point of not being able to lift a coffee pot to get coffee with that arm. At this age it becomes quality of life. Pain was constant before surgery.
wtfCheeseheadChuck
hope u have made a full recovery
Stormintazz
Yes feels great. Thanks
Bobcastelliniscat
Appreciated Wade Miley when he pitched here in Cincinnati. I hope Tommy John surgery isn’t indicated.
This one belongs to the Reds
Well said, and agree wholeheartedly.
Wheeler Dealer
I think he’s done this time
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Wade Miley is definitely a pitcher and not just a thrower like some of the guys with 99 mph heaters. Hope he is back soon.
stevewpants
And the winner for Best Charlie Brown inspired mlbtr picture is Wade Miley…
MafiaBass
Is that a real photo? Looks like AI to me.
pbfog
This pic was taken after the injury and before the hospital.
AlBundysFanClubPresident
I wonder if the Crew PTB’s have had any second thoughts yet about trading starting pitchers before the season…
wtfCheeseheadChuck
He’s one of the guys that gives everyone who can barely touch 90mph hope, very honed at his craft, with how he works he’s a guy who could be effective into his mid 40’s…. If healthy however last year after coming back from injury he was sitting low 90’s and touched 95 several times and I believe maxed at 96, I was wondering where that came from and also wondering if it cost him his elbow because he was then hurt for the playoffs and now this…..
wtfCheeseheadChuck
The Crew are going to need both of Gasser/Myers to be effective in the 3.90-4.40 era range at 5+IP per turn or trade for someone who can, also going to need a guy like Misiorowski to step up second half and get big strikeouts out of the pen, they will also of course need to acquire atleast one preferably two relievers before the deadline as they commonly do when in contention, even when they traded Hader they still added arms, Uribe has been a stud again, struck out the side 100+mph sinkers/sliders for strikes against the pirates, haven’t watched the crew/Yankees series yet, gotta catch-up but just hoping they can make necessary additions without trading guys like Black/Quero (hopefully Queros been untouchable regardless but doubt they’ll trade him when injured) the talent is there, looking forward to Mitchell/Yelich getting back so Joey Weimer can get another season at AAA without the pressure, think he’ll be a bit of a late bloomer from a consistency standpoint but if the crew can continue to be patient (like they should’ve been with Hiura/Magic Man Orlando Arica) that will finally pay off, really stoke with the team/direction and the new regime of Arnold/Murph is looking like an instant success