TORONTO – The Milwaukee Brewers took a huge step toward fielding a full and healthy roster on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 30 when they reinstated Jackson Chourio from the 15-day injured list.
The 21-year-old outfielder, sidelined since straining his right hamstring on July 29, was back in center field and batting second in the second of the Brewers’ big three-game interleague series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
“I feel good,” Chourio said not long before singling and then hitting a dramatic go-ahead home run in the ninth inning of a 4-1 victory. “I feel healthy, which is what’s most important.”
To make room for Chourio on the 26-man roster, outfielder Brandon Lockridge was optioned to Class AAA Nashville.
“We’re not at full strength yet with (Joey) Ortiz still out,” said manager Pat Murphy. “But Jackson just makes you smile. He’s just such a great talent and a great kid, but he’s got a long way to go. We’ve gotten great production out of (Blake) Perkins and (Brandon) Lockridge; that combination has done a lot for us in this last month.
“But anytime you can get Jack Jack back, it’s great.”
Chourio was hitting .276 with 17 home runs and 67 runs batted in with an OPS of .786 and 18 stolen bases in 106 games before pulling up lame while legging out a triple against the Chicago Cubs.
Originally diagnosed as a cramp, it became apparently quickly that Chourio would be sidelined for some time with the injury, which was the first of any significance in the second-year player’s career.
“It’s the first time in my career that I’ve gone through something like that,” said Chourio. “It’s definitely not something that I enjoyed, being a way from the team. Coming back, it’s hard to support the team from afar is difficult, but you do the best you can.”
With Lockridge and Blake Perkins taking over in center field with Chourio sidelined, Milwaukee still managed to go 20-9 in his absence, including winning a team-record 14 games in a row from Aug. 1-16.
“We have a very special group here,” Chourio said. “Guys did a great job of stepping up in the moment whenever they were needed.”
Chourio struggled in a five-game rehab stint with Class AAA Nashville, going 1 for 19 with eight strikeouts.
“I think what’s most important is the situations,” he said. “Running the bases, plays in the outfield – just everything the game brings. And I felt great in all those situations. When it comes to hitting, it had been a long time since I’d seen pitches and I was just making sure I was recognizing them and seeing the ball.
“I think that’s what was most important and I think I achieved that.”
Murphy indicated that Chourio will occasionally be spotted days off to ensure his hamstring is fully healed and the player is confident in playing full-bore without worrying about potentially reinjuring himself.
“I think there will be days he goes to left when Perk plays center,” said Murphy. “We’re not going to blow him out here early. He’s never been injured before. For the first time in his life, he’s been through it. So now mentally, he has to face the challenge of at-bats in the big leagues facing a guy like the guy today (Kevin Gausman).
“Hopefully he’ll be back at full strength soon and the injury is an afterthought and he’ll be helping us.”
Added Chourio: “I feel 100 percent ready to go. I’m going to go out there and play my game strong and have fun out there.”
Chourio almost made his first at-bat back a memorable one as he sent a 407-foot shot to straightaway center field, but Myles Straw made a leaping grab at the wall to bring back a likely home run.
Chourio singled in his second at-bat and flew out in his third before taking Jeff Hoffman out to right for a 2-1 Brewers lead in the ninth.
Lockridge, 28, hit .261 with six runs batted in and an OPS of .677 in 20 games after being acquired from the San Diego Padres in the Nestor Cortes trade.
“I love this kid,” Murphy said. “I said this about Perk two years ago. I feel kind of the same way about Lockridge. He fits. An incredible human and teammate. Eager, hungry. What a pickup. I really like who he is and what he brings to the table.
“It won’t be the last time he’s here.”
Ortiz (hamstring), meanwhile, is expected to return to action on Monday, Sept. 1 when the Brewers open a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies at American Family Field.
The return of first baseman Rhys Hoskins (thumb), who’s been out since July 6, is in the offing as well.
More roster moves
In addition to the Chourio-Lockridge swap, the Brewers also reinstated left-hander Robert Gasser from the 60-day IL and optioned him to Nashville.
To clear space for him on the 40-man, infielder Oliver Dunn was designated for assignment.
Gasser made nine rehab appearances on his way back from Tommy John surgery performed in late June of last year, including going 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA, a WHIP of 1.39 and 21 strikeouts in 18 ⅔ innings over five appearances for Nashville.
Gasser’s final rehab outing on Aug. 29 saw him throw 78 pitches.
As for what awaits Gasser in the major leagues potentially – rosters expand to 28 players on Sept. 1, with each team able to add an additional pitcher and position player – Murphy indicated decisions are still being made.
“It’s a fine line, because we don’t know what we need, necessarily,” Murphy said. “And, he’s coming off Tommy John. It’s hard to take Tommy John guys and put them on, ‘OK, be available whenever,’ when they’re used to that schedule to get them to where they are.
“So, my thought is to keep him stretched out.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers welcome a healthy and happy Jackson Chourio back for the stretch run
Reporting by Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
