Baseball and injuries – inseparable, right? And when they happen before the games even count, that’s simply called a gut punch. Enters the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Brewers badly need a healthy camp because they didn’t make any major moves this off-season. Plus, the key departures!

Their depth is not screaming “wow.”

And in such a scenario, their luck has already taken a hit. Right-hander JB Bukauskas is injured!

Bukauskas’s career has been a roller coaster. He went from being a top-100 prospect to battling injuries year after year. And just when it seemed he was finding his rhythm and footing, he was once again being sidelined.

As per Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Todd Rosiak, JB Bukauskas is dealing with a “significant” lat injury.

Now this injury for him is frustrating, sure, but also unfortunate. He was once a highly regarded prospect, a 2017 first-round pick of the Houston Astros. After being traded to Arizona in 2019, injuries plagued him since. His debut in 2021 was marred due to an elbow strain, and then he missed nearly all of 2022 for a teres major strain.

In 2023, JB Bukauskas bounced between the Seattle Mariners and Brewers and managed just 12 league innings because of a whiplash and a tendon issue. And then, his lat strain nearly finished his 2024 season.

But Milwaukee took a chance on him because when he is good – he is actually too good to pass up. Look at his numbers—0.75 ERA with a 26.7% strikeout rate— simply electric. But now with recurring lat issues, his future is uncertain.

Presently, he is weighing in on whether he wants to undergo surgery or just rehab. If it’s surgery, then his season is over already. If rehab, he will be sidelined for months.

Either way, the Brewers will be in a tough spot. The bullpen is already thin and now might have another hole to fill.

But this isn’t the only injury taking away the Brewer’s sleep now!

Milwaukee Brewers lose key outfielder to injury

Spring training is all about getting ready for the season while dodging injuries. But so far, it has been tough for the Milwaukee Brewers. They not just have one, but two injured players!

Blake Perkins fractured his right shin during batting practice. Ouch! Perkins had fouled off a pitch off his leg during a live BP session and is now expected to be out until the mid-year, at least till May.

Brewers Manager Pat Murphy has confirmed the news too. Before the team’s Cactus League opener against the Cincinnati Reds, Pat Murphy said, “They’re estimating another three to four weeks to heal and a ramp-up of four to six weeks… So you’re probably looking at May.”

This is a huge blow for the Milwaukee Brewers, as Perkins is coming off a solid season. He hit .240 with six homers and 43 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in 121 games. He was also the National League Gold Glove finalist in center field. So he is not an easy player to replace.

Murphy even admitted that “Perk’s huge. He’s one of the most loved guys on the club… It’s going to hurt us.”

But Milwaukee is not wasting any time adjusting.

They had signed veteran outfielder Manuel Margot to a minor league deal. And now he can play a major role in the outfield while Perkins patches and heals up. Whether he can replicate Perkins’s skills and speed remains to be seen.

The Milwaukee Brewers kick off their regular season on March 27 against the reigning AL champion New York Yankees. How do you think they will fare without two key players?