On Thursday, the Milwaukee Brewers announced that Jackson Chourio had been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hand fracture, with Blake Perkins recalled from Triple-A Nashville to take his spot on the active roster.
The injury traced back to a March 4 exhibition game for Venezuela ahead of the World Baseball Classic. Since the injury, Chourio has been able to manage some pain and stiffness as he played through the WBC and returned to camp with the Brewers for Spring Training.
A recent MRI revealed a hairline fracture in the hand, with manager Pat Murphy confirming that Chourio had still been dealing with pain while swinging the bat, noting that the fracture had started to heal. Putting Chourio on the injured list to start the season is unfortunate, but it gives the 22-year-old a chance to let the injury fully heal and be primed for a strong return with the Brewers.
With Chourio now out of commission for a while, Murphy turned to a veteran option to soak up outfield reps. Appearing on MLB Network Thursday morning, Murphy made his intentions clear, saying that he wanted to see veteran Christian Yelich spend some time in the outfield (h/t Jon Morosi of MLB Network).
It is a notable development. Yelich had a .263 batting average with 29 home runs, 103 RBI, and 151 hits in 150 games in 2025, but the bulk of his starts came as the team’s designated hitter. Sliding him back into a regular outfield role, even temporarily, carries some risk for a player the Brewers have carefully managed in recent years. Only time will tell if more defensive reps could affect his offensive numbers.
Sal Frelick has locked up right field, while Garret Mitchell figures to handle center field against right-handed pitching, with Perkins slotting into a natural platoon role. Yelich, filling in at left field, keeps the framework intact without forcing the Brewers into making a major roster overhaul.
The bigger picture is what Chourio’s absence means for Milwaukee’s outlook. He is the youngest player ever to record multiple 20/20 seasons and has been one of the most complete young outfielders in the game. The Brewers enter the season having to deal with big departures of Freddy Peralta and Caleb Durbin through trades, and losing Chourio even briefly adds further strain to a roster expected to compete in what should be a tight NL Central race.
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A two-to-four-week timetable on Chourio’s recovery offers some optimism. If the fracture heals on schedule, he could be back before the end of April, and the stretch becomes a footnote. For now, Yelich stepping back to the outfield is the plan, and Murphy sounds confident he’s up for it.
