Brewers activate Wisconsin native DFA outfielder Sparkplug to make room on roster

Garrett Mitchell’s long-awaited 2024 debut has finally arrived. Mitchell was expected to be the Brewers’ starting center fielder at the start of the season, but an unfortunate finger fracture suffered during batting practice late in spring training kept him sidelined for the first three months.

After a maximum-length rehab assignment where he hit .314/.410/.588 with four homers and four stolen bases in 51 AB, Mitchell was activated from the 60-day injured list and will be in the lineup Monday night at Colorado.

Manager Pat Murphy told reporters after the game Sunday that Tyler Black would be designated to make room on the 26-man roster for Mitchell. However, because Mitchell was returning from a 60-day IL, he also needed a spot on the 40-man roster. The Brewers decided that Owen Miller, a native of Fredonia, Wis., would be designated to make room.

Miller played just 14 major league games with the Brewers this season, batting .185 in 27 ABs. For the Nashville Sounds in Triple-A, Miller hit .259 with a .726 OPS.

While Mitchell’s three-month absence was a bit longer than the Brewers initially anticipated, his return is welcome news. When healthy, Mitchell is a spark plug. Since his debut in late 2022, Mitchell, 25, has a career batting average of .278/.343/.452. But that’s only come in 47 games during that span.

Mitchell suffered a shoulder injury in mid-April of last year that wiped out most of the remainder of his season. He was activated for the final week of the regular season. Then he missed the first three months of this year with a broken bone in his hand.

It does create some congestion in the outfield, though, which was expected at the start of the season. Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick and Blake Perkins have been the Brewers’ regular outfielders this year and all are playing very well and deserve regular playing time. Manager Pat Murphy doesn’t envision anyone losing playing time with Mitchell back, though.

“I think everybody’s going to continue to play a lot. I don’t think it’s going to hurt a lot of people’s playing time,” Murphy said of Mitchell’s return to the lineup.

With Tyler Black being re-elected and Owen Miller being designated for assignment, that’s two infielders moving out to make room for an outfielder. Andruw Monasterio is the only reserve infielder who can play second base, third base or shortstop. Jake Bauers is only at first base or the outfield.

The Brewers are getting closer to full strength in their position player group with Mitchell’s return. His ability to hit for incredible average and power should only improve an already strong Brewers lineup.