In the fourth inning of a recent game against the Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins suffered a Grade 2 sprain of his left thumb and subsequently exited the contest. The injury occurred during a ground out play when shortstop Joey Ortiz’s throw to first pulled Hoskins away from the bag, leading to the sprain as he tagged out Marlins first baseman Eric Wagaman.
Although initial X-rays returned negative and offered a glimmer of hope that Hoskins could avoid the injured list, subsequent MRI results revealed the severity of the sprain, necessitating a stay on the 10-day IL. This unfortunate timing means Hoskins will miss the remainder of the first half of the season, coinciding with the upcoming All-Star Break.
In light of this injury, the Brewers have proactively called up Andrew Vaughn to fill the void left by Hoskins. Vaughn, 27, previously struggled at the plate with a .189 batting average and five home runs over 48 games with the Chicago White Sox this season. However, he brings notable potential to the Brewers’ lineup. His expected batting average of .258 indicates he has been unluckily underperforming. Last season, he demonstrated the ability to bounce back from a slow start, significantly improving his OPS in June.
Since joining the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate, the Nashville Sounds, on June 13, Vaughn has found better form, boasting a .259/.338/.500 slash line with seven extra-base hits in just 16 games. With Hoskins sidelined, Vaughn is projected to receive substantial playing time, providing an opportunity for him to contribute positively to the Brewers’ offense, which has been inconsistent as of late.
As the team navigates this challenging period, fans can remain hopeful that both Vaughn will rise to the occasion and that Hoskins will make a strong recovery, ready to return stronger than ever.