Garrett Mitchell, the Milwaukee Brewers’ top prospect, suffered a shoulder dislocation during a spring training game on March 8, 2021. The injury update is not looking good, as he could miss the entire season.
The 22-year-old center fielder was taken for an MRI, which revealed the extent of his injury. The Brewers have not yet disclosed the exact nature of the shoulder injury, but such an injury can take anywhere from six weeks to six months or more to fully heal.
Mitchell, who was drafted by the Brewers in the first round (20th overall) in the 2020 MLB draft, was expected to be a key piece of their future plans. He played collegiately at UCLA and was lauded for his speed and defensive ability in center field. He was also considered to have a high ceiling offensively.
Before the injury, Mitchell was impressive during spring training, hitting .308 over 13 at-bats while also displaying his speed and range in the outfield. He was one of the Brewers’ top performers in camp, and his injury is a significant blow to their plans for the upcoming season.
The Brewers will likely have to turn to veteran Lorenzo Cain or Jackie Bradley Jr. to fill the hole left by Mitchell’s absence. Cain, who missed most of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, has been productive in the past but is coming off a down year. Bradley Jr. was signed as a free agent this offseason after spending the first eight years of his career with the Boston Red Sox.
There are also concerns that Mitchell’s development could be set back by missing the entire season. He has never played a professional game due to the COVID-19 pandemic canceling minor league baseball in 2020. He will now have to wait until at least 2022 to make his professional debut.
Injuries are a part of baseball, but the loss of Mitchell for the entire season is a significant setback for the Brewers. They were hoping to see him progress in the minor leagues this year and potentially bring him up to the big leagues sometime in 2022. However, the Brewers will now have to be patient with Mitchell’s recovery and development, and hope that he can come back stronger and healthier next season.
