2:15pm: The Brewers estimate Yelich to be out until mid-to-late May, so about four to six weeks, per Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
11:49am: The Brewers on Tuesday placed outfielder/designated hitter Christian Yelich on the 10-day injured list due to a left groin strain, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Milwaukee selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Greg Jones from Triple-A Nashville to take Yelich’s spot on the 40-man roster. Left-handed reliever Rob Zastryzny has been moved from the 10-day IL to the 60-day IL to open a 40-man roster spot for Jones.
Yelich was out to a strong start, having slashed .314/.375/.451 with a homer, a triple, two doubles and three steals through his first 56 plate appearances. The 34-year-old left Sunday’s game with what the team first described as a possible hamstring injury, however, before eventually being diagnosed with the groin strain. There’s no immediate timetable for his potential return, though to this point there’s no indication that Yelich is expected to be faced with a particularly long absence.
Today’s IL placement marks the third time in the past couple weeks that Milwaukee has lost a core lineup piece due to injury. Yelich joins outfielder Jackson Chourio and first baseman Andrew Vaughn on the injured list. Both have hand fractures — Chourio a hairline fracture after being hit by a pitch and Vaughn a hamate fracture that required surgery. On the pitching side of things, the Brewers are most notably without starter Quinn Priester (thoracic outlet symptoms) and reliever Jared Koenig (elbow sprain).
Yelich’s move to the injured list should open some playing time for a series of bench options and platoon bats to rotate through the designated hitter slot in the lineup. Backup catcher Gary Sánchez could see some looks there, as could switch-hitting infielder Luis Rengifo (at least on days where David Hamilton plays third base). Outfielders Brandon Lockridge, Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick and Blake Perkins are options for both outfield and DH work.
Jones, 28, was a first-round pick by the Rays in 2018 and briefly ranked on the back end of MLB.com’s ranking of the sport’s top-100 prospects back in 2022. He’s never pieced things together at the Triple-A level, however, and is 1-for-7 in a tiny sample of eight major league plate appearances. The fleet-footed Jones offers top-of-the-scale speed. He went 46-for-49 in stolen base attempts in just 89 minor league games as recently as 2024.
However, Jones has also battled various injuries and struggled to produce at an average level even in Triple-A. His .262/.344/.438 batting line in parts of four Triple-A seasons looks solid relative to the average major league batting line but is sub-par in Triple-A — particularly in the Pacific Coast League, where he spent that ’24 season. He’s shown an especially concerning lack of contact skills and pitch recognition, punching out in 36.3% of his Triple-A plate appearances against a solid but unspectacular 8.6% walk rate. That said, Jones is currently hitting .317/.462/.390 in 52 plate appearances with Nashville. He’s stolen seven bags in nine tries.
Though he was drafted as a shortstop, Jones has played far more outfield in recent seasons. Scouting reports were always a bit skeptical of his ability to stick at short, and his blazing speed lends itself well to center field range. Jones has experience in all three outfield spots and has picked up 16 games at second base over the course of his pro career as well. He’s a left-handed bat who can bounce around the diamond and provide a some speed off the bench while backing up at several spots.
Zastryzny was rehabbing from a shoulder issue during spring training when he suffered a separate intercostal strain. At the time of that setback, the Brewers indicated he’d be out until at least late April. Today’s move to the 60-day IL doesn’t reset his IL clock but does mean he’ll be sidelined for at least the majority of May now as well.
The journeyman Zastryzny has pitched 29 1/3 innings with the Brewers over the past two seasons and logged a sparkling 2.12 earned run average despite more pedestrian strikeout and walk rates of 20.5% and 9%, respectively. Even with Zastryzny and the aforementioned Koenig sidelined, Milwaukee has three lefties in the bullpen: Angel Zerpa, Aaron Ashby and DL Hall.
I bet what he Yelich after that wasn’t anything Christian.
English Dude English!!
Better than a hammy?
I miss the olden days, like 3 weeks ago, when Greg Jones was 3rd-4th in line for this spot. Tyler Black and Badoo being hurt makes this Yeli IL stint all the more difficult to deal with.
More playing time for Mitchell (good?) and Perkins (not good?)
I love how Perkins plays, and seems like such a good dude, im rooting for him, but he hasn’t looked the same since coming back from that injury last year.
I love him in the field. At the plate, I’d rather have Greg Jones at this point.
Tyler Black being hurt doesn’t change anything.
Sure it does, him and Badoo were 1 & 2(or 2&1) in line to cover for Bauers and Yelich.
Zips 3 year projections have Jones at a .569 ops this year, with Black at .704. Not sure how any but maybe the Jones family could conclude Greg Jones and Tyler Black are equal options in replacing Yeli
Who? I only know Mike Jones.
Still Tippin’
Dude has Ben Sheets Syndrome
Greg Jones is a switch hitter.
I knew he played for a Chicago team last year. But wasn’t sure which one. Now I do, thanks
Turang nailed a pair of dingers in the Brewers loss on Sunday. He looks like the answer at 2B for the Yankees.
Yankees:
-Jazz Chisolm
-Spencer Jones
-Ben Hess
-Trent Sellers
–for–
Brewers:
Brice Turang
Yanquiel Fernandez hitting well in AAA, a lefty bat that makes it somewhat easier to part with Jones. Brewers would be adding a big time bat in Jones and a big arm in Ben Hess and get Jazz back to stay competitive in ’26.
Acquiring Turang might require more in return but its a good start.
Why would the brewers even entertain a trade offer for turang??? He has like 3 more years of team control! lol Do your homework !!
It depends on the return.
If the Brewers can add prospects like Hess and Jones and get Jazz in return, they remain competitive in ’26 and have Ortiz, Pratt, Hamilton, Jett Williams and Jesus Made for the infield in ’27.
No reason Made can’t make the jump next season, he is hitting .359 in AA.
Yankees have the players to make it interesting. I like Jones and Hess. My trade above was way light after thinking more about it.
Dodgers also could offer a big return for Turang. The Yankees and Dodgers both potentially looking to upgrade at 2B.
No, that’s outright delusion. You belong in the White House with the rest of the nut cases.
Yelich is pretty much the Antonio Davis of MLB.
What do the brewers have against Tyler Black. He needs to come up, bat first everyday as DH! Excellent speed, good power for doubles, and good average. End of Story! better than 2 0r 3 guys currently on the Roster!
It would help if Tyler Black wasn’t also currently on the IL for this to happen.