Brewers catcher Stephen Vogt and closer Corey Knebel are both on their way back to the big club.
The pair just started rehab assignments with the AA Biloxi Shuckers.
Corey Knebel will make his Shuckers debut tomorrow. https://t.co/9IYV7btE5H
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) May 3, 2018
In his first game, Vogt sent a home run out to right field. Knebel is expected to make his debut tomorrow night.
Vogt initially hurt his shoulder during Februarywhen he felt something "funky" in his shoulder.
But despite the Brewers plethora of catchers--Jett Bandy, Manny Pina and Jacob Nottingham have all gotten time behind the dish in 2018--the club has remained optimistic about Vogt's prospects when he returns.
The 33-year-old has always carried a power-packed batt. Last year, he hit .254--his highest since his 2015 all-star season--and added 8 home runs and 20 RBI over 122 at-bats.
The problem has been his glove, and more specifically, his arm. He's known as a base-stealers best friend in the squat, and he's spent most of his career as a DH/Catcher combination in Oakland.
Luckily, his lumber contrasts well with Manny Pina's soggy piece of pine he carries up to bat--which is currently netting him a .185 average. Pina has a defensive cannon, and the two can play off each others weaknesses.
Knebel's return is highly anticipated by Brewers fans.
The closer, who set an MLB record with 45 consecutive games with a strikeout and set the Brewers single-season strikeout record with 126 in 2017, took a hard tumble on the mound back in April.
After delivering a ninth-inning pitch to Cubs infielder Tommy La Stella, Knebel crumbled like a piece of tin foil and Brewer fans feared the worst--a torn collateral ligament in his knee that could potentially end the season and swirl the bullpen into disarray.
Luckily, the MRI only showed a strained hamstring. He would still be out a minimum six weeks, per the initial report. And even better for Brewer fans, his departure, along with the continued dominance of MLB's best reliever, Josh Hader, has led the Crew to a big league best bullpen WAR.
With the Brewers dealing with a plethora of injuries throughout the season, the Brewers are anticipating a fully healthy roster again.
So far this season, Christian Yelich, Ryan Braun, Lorenzo Cain, Boone Logan, Eric Thames, Jimmy Nelson, Knebel and Vogt have all missed stretches of time. However, the Brewers still lead the NL central.
