4:38pm: Frelick’s MRI revealed a bone bruise, according to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy. Per McCalvy, the Brewers are “optimistic” that Frelick avoided structural damage and will not make a roster move yet in case he recovers more quickly than expected. With that being said, it seems as though the Brewers currently expect the outfielder to miss at least the beginning of the playoffs.
10:14am: Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick will undergo an MRI today after he left Friday’s game with a left hip injury. While chasing a foul ball in the third inning of Milwaukee’s 8-4 win over the Mets, Frelick slammed into the wall down the right field line, specifically landing within a cutout area of the otherwise padded wall. Frelick was in a lot of discomfort as he gingerly left the field.
X-rays on Frelick’s hip “were inconclusive,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy told reporters (including Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) following the game. An MRI has been scheduled for this morning to determine the extent of Frelick’s injury, or what his status could be as the Brewers prepare for the start of the NL wild card series on Tuesday.
The 15th overall pick of the 2021 draft, Frelick made his MLB debut last season and moved into an everyday role this year, primarily as the Brewers’ regular right fielder. Frelick has also logged 184 innings in left field and 168 innings in center, but his 776 innings in right field have cemented him as one of the better defensive outfielders in all of baseball. No matter the metric, Frelick’s work in right field has been lauded by Defensive Runs Saved (+16), UZR/150 (16.6) and Outs Above Average (+6).
This excellent glovework has kept Frelick in the lineup despite a lack of production at the plate. While Frelick makes a lot of contact, he is near the bottom of the league in hard contact and barrel rate, and he has only an 86 wRC+ from a slash line of .259/.320/.335 over 524 plate appearances. Stealing 18 bases in 21 attempts has boosted Frelick’s offensive value to some extent, and naturally it isn’t unusual for a second-year player to struggle in his first extended look at big league pitching.
Milwaukee claimed the NL Central title even without one major force in their outfield, as Christian Yelich underwent season-ending back surgery in August. Star rookie Jackson Chourio has settled into a groove as the everyday left fielder, so if Frelick is unavailable for the NLWCS, the likeliest scenario would see Chourio in left field, Blake Perkins in center, and Garrett Mitchell in right. Jake Bauers and utilitymen Andruw Monasterio and Isaac Collins provide some further depth, plus the likes of Brewer Hicklen or Vinny Capra could be called up from the minors.
Not Good!
Frelick has been meh below average at the bat (for a RF) so far in his career at MLB level – I had expect more from him at this point. His defense surely will be missed in playoffs for Brewers.
Datashark;
The Brewers are doing the Whitey Herzog thing of playing
3 CF’s in the OF.
They’re getting what they want out of those players….
and they’re going to win their division by 9-10 games.
Best of luck with your rotisserie league team.
He’s actually a CF, sort of forced to play RF due to a) the logjam of CF’ers, b) injuries (Yelich mainly), and the arrival of Chourio.
The offense is still not what we fans or the team had hoped, but in all fairness, not everyone can be above average at everything.
I expected more from him as the 15th overall pick from an offensive standpoint. Defensively though he could garner a GG. Hopefully next year he can turn a corner with his bat and perhaps be a .300 hitter and an on base machine? Time will tell he might be traded in the offseason
Perkins deserves a GG more than Frelick this season. Problem is Murphy prefers playing Frelick & Mitchell over Perkins. I agree that Frelick is the one to move if trading any MKE OF. However, based on Brewers recent history, they’ll probably make the mistake of getting rid of Perkins this winter.
“It’s not about the talent, it’s about the people.”- Pat Murphy
I’m not especially familiar with Sal Frelick, but it always sucks when a young player gets hurt right before the biggest games of his baseball life.
He’s also been a major pita to the Cubs. He’s a below average player that always seems to only bee clutch vs the Cubs. He’s a punching judy type of player. He’ll get those lazy 55mph exit velo wind howling in bloop singles and turn it into a double at Wrigley.
Thanks for the background information.
That sucks.
I’d love to see Bob Uecker celebrate a title.
I first read “self diagnosed” at first . LOL.
I stopped watching the games as the teams making the playoffs became clear.
I get that players today dive all over the place and run into walls.
But when your team starts the playoffs in less than a week, that’s
sort of dumb.
Oh no not a bone bruise. Rub some dirt on the sore area. Or smoke some weed. You be fine Sally.
Being sarcastic before anyone actually takes this seriously.
Not a difference maker but he sure can be a major pita.
Why was a random window in the right field wall?
Right?? Bet it is plugged from now on.
This might help answer your question. Look at the quality of the actual seats for the high end tix closest to the field Miller Park seats versus some other MLB parks.
He’s a Boston college Eagle!! He’ll rub dirt on it and be back in no time!!!!