Milwaukee Brewers' outfielder Sal Frelick is facing a setback after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his left hamstring. The injury occurred during the final game before the All-Star break, in a game against the Washington Nationals.
Frelick sustained the injury on Sunday while making a sliding catch in foul territory in the top of the third inning. Prior to the injury, he went 1-for-2 with a stolen base and an RBI. After the game, Brewers manager Pat Murphy expressed his disappointment, noting Frelick's importance to the team.
Following the game, Frelick underwent an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. A Grade 1 strain is considered the least severe, but the Brewers are taking a cautious approach. The team will monitor Frelick's progress over the next few days before deciding whether to place him on the 10-day injured list. As of Wednesday afternoon, the decision had not yet been made. If Frelick is placed on the injured list, Blake Perkins is a potential candidate to be called up from Triple-A Nashville.
Prior to the injury, Frelick was having a terrific first half of the season. The 25-year-old has been a versatile player for the Brewers, playing Gold Glove Award-caliber defense at right field, center field, first base, and third base. He is currently leading the Brewers with a .294 average and is second on the team with a .354 on-base percentage. In 93 games played, Frelick has also contributed seven home runs, 39 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, 11 doubles, three triples, and 46 runs scored. Frelick's move to the leadoff spot in mid-June coincided with a Brewers' surge.
In other news, right-handed pitcher Elvin Rodriguez has been claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles from the Brewers. The Orioles announced the move on Wednesday, and Rodriguez has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. The Brewers had designated Rodriguez for assignment the previous week. To make room for Rodriguez on the 40-man roster, the Orioles now have 39 players listed.
Rodriguez, 27, signed a split major league contract with Milwaukee in the offseason. He spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons pitching in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, where he performed well enough to earn a 40-man roster spot upon his return to North America. However, he struggled during his time with the Brewers organization. In six major league games with the Brewers, including two starts, Rodriguez allowed 18 runs on 23 hits and seven walks in 18 2/3 innings. Seven of those hits were home runs.
Rodriguez has had more success in Triple-A, posting a respectable 4.25 ERA in 29 2/3 innings. His strikeout rate in Nashville is 20.3%, which is similar to his major league rate. He also has a tidy 4.9% walk rate in Triple-A. However, home runs have been an issue there as well, as he has given up seven home runs in those 29 2/3 innings.
Rodriguez throws his four-seam fastball around 94 mph and complements it with a cutter, slider, curveball, and changeup. Before joining the Brewers, Rodriguez made his MLB debut with the Detroit Tigers in 2022 and pitched briefly with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023. In his 51 2/3 big league innings, he has allowed more than a run per inning. However, he has a good track record in Triple-A and had a sparkling 1.80 ERA in 45 innings in Japan. Rodriguez has worked as both a starter and reliever but has primarily been used in stints of one to two innings recently. The Orioles will look to tap into his potential as a flexible bullpen piece.
