The Milwaukee Brewers activated outfielder Jackson Chourio and first baseman Andrew Vaughn from the injured list on Monday afternoon. The moves come ahead of their three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. In corresponding transactions, the team optioned Blake Perkins to Triple-A Nashville and designated Greg Jones for assignment.
Both players had been sidelined by left hand fractures. Vaughn suffered a fractured hamate in the Brewers’ Opening Day win against the White Sox and underwent surgery on March 30. He completed a brief rehab assignment with Nashville, going 2-for-11 with a walk in three games before rejoining the major league roster. Chourio, who missed the entire season so far due to a fracture originally sustained in the World Baseball Classic, had a short Triple-A stint cut short by a foul ball off his ankle, but X-rays were negative and he was cleared to play after running drills Monday under medical supervision. Brewers manager Pat Murphy highlighted the impact of their absences on the team's offense, which ranked next-to-last in the majors with 22 home runs entering the series and had endured a seven-game homer drought from April 19-26—the franchise's longest since 1999. “On an individual basis and as a team basis, it was really hard putting together lineups for that night knowing that we’re deficient in certain areas,” Murphy said. Vaughn, who led the Brewers with a .493 slugging percentage last season after a trade from the White Sox, and Chourio, fresh off back-to-back 20-20 campaigns, are expected to bolster the lineup. “Injuries suck. I mean, they are part of the game, unfortunately. With this group, the ‘next man up’ thing has been huge,” Vaughn said. Chourio added via translator, “Definitely [ready]. When we were back in Milwaukee I was able to get a lot of ABs off the Trajekt machine there... My body felt great. I definitely feel like I’m ready now.” Murphy noted the boost: “Hopefully this gives us a little boost and people can see light at the end of the tunnel.” The Brewers also returned right-hander Quinn Priester from rehab due to shoulder soreness; he remains on the IL with thoracic outlet syndrome. Designated hitter Christian Yelich, sidelined by a strained left groin, took batting practice on the field Monday.