Brewers Reinstate Jackson Chourio From 10-Day Injured List, Designate Oliver Dunn

The Brewers made a quartet of transactions prior to today’s game with the Blue Jays, including the headline news that Jackson Chourio has been activated from the 10-day injured list.  Outfielder Brandon Lockridge was optioned to Triple-A to create room for Chourio on the 26-man roster.  Milwaukee also activated Robert Gasser from the 60-day IL and optioned the southpaw to Triple-A, and to create room for Gasser on the 40-man roster, infielder Oliver Dunn was designated for assignment.

Chourio last played on July 29, when he strained his right hamstring while running the bases after a triple.  The injury cut short what had been a scorching stretch for Chourio, who had a 1.065 OPS over the 93 plate appearances prior to his IL stint.  That hot streak brought Chourio’s season-long slash line up to .276/.311/.474 over 472 PA — almost identical to the numbers he posted in 573 PA during his 2024 season.  The outfielder has also hit 17 homers and stolen 18 bases, approaching his 2024 totals of 21 home runs and 22 steals.

It is a testament to Milwaukee’s depth that the Brewers haven’t missed a beat in Chourio’s absence, as the club has gone 20-9 without a key piece of their starting outfield.  The Brew Crew now have the good problem of too many outfield options for too few spots, as Blake Perkins will be shuffled into fourth outfielder duty with Chourio and occasionally Sal Frelick taking over as the primary center fielders.  Isaac Collins has established himself as a regular left fielder, leaving Chourio and Frelick in center and right in some capacity, and Perkins providing excellent glovework off the bench.

This surplus bodes well for the Brewers’ chances of making a World Series run, and Gasser might also factor into late-season plans.  The former top prospect posted a 2.57 ERA over his first 28 MLB innings (and five starts) in 2024 before a Tommy John surgery quickly ended Gasser’s rookie campaign.  He has already pitched in nine minor league games as part of his recovery process, including five outings with Triple-A Nashville.

The reinstatement from the 60-day IL relates to the end of Gasser’s allotted 30-day rehab window, and he’ll continue to get ramped up in Nashville while waiting for a probable call-up in September.  Though Gasser has worked as a starter almost exclusively throughout his career, it seems likelier that the Brewers would use him as a reliever if he is included on a postseason roster.  His stuff could play up well in a bullpen role and make him a secret weapon for Milwaukee’s relief corps for the playoffs, though it would be a pressurized environment for a 26-year-old has little big league experience, and is just coming back from a major surgery.

Dunn had his own 2024 rookie season ended early by a 60-day IL stint due to a back injury.  Seen as a potential contender to win regular work as the Brewers’ third baseman heading into 2025, Dunn hasn’t hit much in his limited time in the majors, batting .206/.261/.290 over 145 plate appearances.  Milwaukee optioned Dunn to Triple-A back in April, and now today’s DFA might end the infielder’s time in the organization altogether.

Teams interested in adding infield depth could consider a waiver claim, plus Dunn has a minor league option year remaining, which bolsters his roster flexibility.  He brings some defensive versatility as a regular second and third baseman, plus some time as a shortstop and left fielder.  The bat is Dunn’s big question mark, as he has hit only .205/.311/.338 in 459 career PA at the Triple-A level along with his uninspiring small sample size of big league at-bats.