Brewers Rule 5 draftee Connor Thomas will undergo elbow surgery a couple weeks from now, the team informed reporters (including MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy). The procedure will at least remove loose bodies and it’s possible he’ll require a full Tommy John UCL reconstruction.
Milwaukee also announced that outfielder Garrett Mitchell is targeting the beginning of Spring Training for his return from shoulder surgery. As of last week, the Brewers were holding out hope that Mitchell could make a late-season return. It now seems they’re resigned to him missing the rest of the season.
Thomas, a 27-year-old reliever, was selected out of the St. Louis organization. He broke camp but only made two appearances, giving up 12 runs across 5 1/3 innings. He went down in early April with what was initially announced as elbow arthritis. He went on a rehab stint at the team’s Arizona complex in May but had a setback that threatens his season.
Assuming this indeed ends his year, Thomas will spend the remainder of the season on the 60-day injured list. He’d need to be reinstated onto the 40-man roster during the offseason. It’s likelier that Milwaukee would place him on waivers, especially if he requires a ligament repair that’d cost him most of the ’26 campaign. Thomas has not spent 90 days on the active roster, so his Rule 5 restrictions would remain in place into 2026. If Milwaukee waives him during the offseason, they’d need to offer him back to the Cardinals assuming he goes unclaimed.
Mitchell, a former first-round pick, has battled myriad injuries during his career. He has yet to reach 70 games in any of his three-plus MLB seasons. This is the second left shoulder surgery of his career; he underwent a repair on a subluxation in 2023. Mitchell missed the first couple months last year after breaking a bone in his hand during Spring Training. He’d been out since late April this season with a left oblique strain before suffering the even more serious shoulder injury. Mitchell is an elite runner and an excellent defender but has yet to demonstrate the durability required to cement himself as Milwaukee’s everyday center fielder.
27 year old rookie with an ERA over 20 will probably miss the next season as well. He’ll be 29 I’m 2027 and still would require to be carried on the roster for R5 reasons. Might just want to send him back to STL now.
Mitchell accrued 2 bWAR last season in just 69 games. That’s pretty impressive, but at least he’ll be ready for 2026.
He’s also struck out 35% of the time throughout his injury riddled career… I wouldn’t hold out much hope they he’s in the brewers long term plans.. he’s made of glass and hasn’t shown much
Ouch, that’s way too high. Needs to reign in his strikeouts…
Thank you for the information!
Well, at least Mitchell does not have to worry about suffering another injury until March 2026.
Absolutely infuriating that Shane Smith was let go to give up this guy who blew out his elbow immediatley. One of Arnold’s rare failures.