The Milwaukee Brewers are getting a much-needed boost to their lineup as they welcome back Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn from the injured list. Both players have been sidelined with fractured bones in their left hands, but they're now ready to rejoin the team just in time for a crucial three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Chourio, who hasn't played a single game for Milwaukee this season, brings an exciting blend of speed and power. The 22-year-old has already made a name for himself by collecting at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in each of his first two major league seasons. His return couldn't come at a better time for a Brewers offense that has struggled mightily to produce power.
Vaughn, on the other hand, appeared in only one game before landing on the IL. The 28-year-old was injured during an at-bat in Milwaukee's season-opening win over the Chicago White Sox, suffering a fractured hamate bone. Last season, after being acquired from the White Sox, Vaughn showed his potential with nine home runs and an impressive .869 OPS in 64 games for the Brewers.
The timing of these returns is critical. Milwaukee entered Monday's action with just 22 home runs all season—only the San Francisco Giants had fewer. Their .354 slugging percentage ranked ahead of only the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets. The power outage was compounded by the absence of 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich, who has been sidelined since April 12 with an adductor strain.
Chourio's journey back to the lineup has been particularly eventful. He was hit by a pitch from Washington's Clayton Beeter while playing for Venezuela's World Baseball Classic team in a March exhibition game. After feeling discomfort during a check swing in late March, an MRI revealed a small hairline fracture at the base of the third metacarpal—an injury that had gone undetected in initial testing. Despite fouling a ball off his left ankle during a recent rehab appearance with Triple-A Nashville, Chourio's return to the big leagues remains on track.
To make room on the roster, the Brewers optioned outfielder Blake Perkins to Triple-A Nashville and designated outfielder Greg Jones for assignment. With Chourio and Vaughn back in the fold, Milwaukee's lineup finally has the punch it's been missing.