The Milwaukee Brewers received a major boost to their lineup just in time for their series opener in St. Louis on May 4, activating both first baseman Andrew Vaughn and outfielder Jackson Chourio from the injured list. For a team that has struggled to generate power—ranking second-to-last in the majors with just 22 home runs and managing only four over their previous 17 games—the return of these two bats couldn't come at a better time.

Vaughn's activation was always expected, but Chourio's status became a late question mark after he fouled a ball off his foot and ankle during his final rehab appearance with Triple-A Nashville on May 2. He left that game early, but X-rays came back negative. Before being officially activated, Chourio was spotted running through agility drills in the outfield at Busch Stadium with Brewers training staff, putting any lingering concerns to rest.

Vaughn fractured the hamate bone in his left hand on Opening Day and underwent surgery, with an initial recovery estimate of four to six weeks. After three rehab games in Nashville where he logged 12 plate appearances, he's back right on schedule.

For Chourio, avoiding a serious injury was a huge relief after an already frustrating start to the season. The 22-year-old suffered a hairline fracture in his left hand during a World Baseball Classic exhibition on March 4—an injury initially reported as a bruise. It wasn't until the eve of Opening Day that further imaging revealed structural damage in his middle finger. The Brewers originally set his return timeline at two to four weeks, so his May 4 activation comes just shy of a six-week absence.

To make room on the roster, the Brewers optioned outfielder Blake Perkins to Nashville and designated Greg Jones for assignment. With Vaughn and Chourio now in the fold, Milwaukee's offense finally has the firepower it's been desperately missing.