Injuries continue to pile up for the Milwaukee Brewers.
On Saturday, the Brewers announced that outfielder Sal Frelick was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder strain. The club recalled fellow outfielder Blake Perkins from Triple-A Nashville in a corresponding move.
Frelick, 26, reportedly felt discomfort while throwing from right field in the top of the fourth inning during Friday’s 2-1 win at American Family Field. He did not come out to the on-deck circle when his turn came up in the bottom half of the inning, and rookie Luis Lara replaced him to begin the fifth.
While speaking with reporters (including the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Todd Rosiak) Saturday, Frelick said he has been battling shoulder soreness for around two months. The discomfort was limited to throwing until the last couple of weeks, when he started feeling it while swinging as well.
After batting .288/.351/.405 over 594 plate appearances last year, Frelick has slumped to a .236/.301/.330 slash line in 90 games this season. The 5-foot-9 lefty hitter did put together an .880 OPS in June before cooling off with a 4-for-31 skid during the Brewers’ long road trip before the All-Star break.
Frelick’s defensive metrics have also declined from his usual strong production while he has battled shoulder issues. The 2024 Gold Glove winner is credited with +1 Outs Above Average and fourth-percentile arm value this season, according to Statcast. Last year, he totaled +7 OAA and ranked in the 72nd percentile for arm value — a stat that measures how many runs an outfielder saves or costs their team by preventing or allowing runners to take extra bases.
A definitive return timetable has not yet been shared, but after Friday’s game, Brewers manager Pat Murphy said he suspects Frelick will not be able to play anytime soon. His absence opens the door for Lara, the club’s No. 4 prospect, to play every day in right field.
Since being called up on July 7, Lara has gone 5-for-17 (.294) at the plate with one double, two RBI and four walks. Before that, the 21-year-old switch hitter produced a .321/.432/.470 slash line with nine home runs, 10 doubles, three triples and 24 stolen bases in 78 Triple-A games. He has already flashed his elite speed and defensive ability during his limited MLB sample.
Perkins, 29, will likely serve in a bench role in his return to the big-leagues. The four-year veteran has appeared in 53 games with Milwaukee this season and is known for being a strong defender. He has struggled offensively, however, batting just .157/.250/.258 over 101 plate appearances in 2026.
Milwaukee entered Saturday with the second-best record in the majors at 60-37. While the club is currently in a comfortable position in the standings, it is missing three starting pitchers and now its right fielder. Any hint of an extended absence for Frelick could add outfield help to the Brewers’ list of needs ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
