The Brewers anticipate that left-hander Aaron Ashby will miss “a few months” as a result of irritation in his throwing shoulder, supervisor Craig Counsell informed reporters this afternoon (relayed by Adam McCalvy of MLB.com). The skipper stated Ashby has felt ache throughout his throwing session and must be shut down completely for a while (by way of Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel).
Milwaukee management had already steered final week the southpaw wouldn’t be prepared for Opening Day as a result of shoulder fatigue. The irritation and full shutdown represents a way more vital growth than the Brewers had beforehand indicated. It’s not a whole shock however irritating information for the highly-touted younger pitcher.
Ashby additionally missed time final season, logging injured record stints as a result of irritation in each his elbow and shoulder. The latter problem value him a month between late August and September, lingered into the offseason, and continues to pose an issue. His return timeline nonetheless appears to lack a lot certainty, although it seems as if he may very well be out of motion for an prolonged chunk of the season’s first half.
The 24-year-old is a former high prospect. He’s solely managed a 4.47 ERA in 139 profession large league innings up to now, although he’s proven an enviable mixture of bat-missing and ground-ball propensities. Ashby struck out 26.5% of batters confronted in his 107 1/3 frames final season. He paired that with a large 56.7% grounder share. Rays ace Shane McClanahan was the one different pitcher (minimal 100 innings) to strike out not less than 1 / 4 of opponents whereas maintaining the ball on the bottom over half the time a batter does make contact. That highlights why evaluators have been optimistic about Ashby’s upside.
Milwaukee clearly values Ashby as a long-term contributor. The Brew Crew signed him to a $20.5MM assure final summer time, including a pair of membership choices to increase their window of management by two seasons. He solely appeared in eight video games after signing that deal earlier than accidents intervened. There’s clearly loads of time for Ashby to get wholesome and turn into the caliber of pitcher Milwaukee has envisioned, although that’ll be on maintain as they attempt to type out his shoulder points.
Even in his absence, the Brewers have a powerful beginning workers. The trio of Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta can rival every other membership’s high three. Eric Lauer is a strong back-of-the-rotation arm, whereas Milwaukee reunited with Wade Miley on a one-year free agent deal. Floor-ball specialist Adrian Houser is available because the #6 choice and would determine to start out the season in lengthy aid if the remainder of the group stays wholesome. There was some hypothesis the Brewers might put Houser on the commerce block instantly after they signed Miley. Ashby’s longer-term well being uncertainty appears to decrease that chance.
