Tyrone Taylor is back with the Milwaukee Brewers following an oblique injury and is ready to help the team win the NL Central
Todd RosiakGetting back to the major leagues after a minor-league rehab assignment is always a good thing.
But Tyrone Taylor had another motivation to rejoin the Milwaukee Brewers as quickly as possible — so he can take part in the celebration whenever they are able to clinch the National League Central Division title.
“When I was away, I was watching every day because I was excited for them to do it, but I was really hoping I was going to make it back,” said Taylor after being reinstated from the injured list prior to Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field.
He also started in center field and batted eighth. Reliever Miguel Sánchez was optioned to Class AAA Nashville in the corresponding roster move.
“I’m glad that they held off a little bit. We are going to the playoffs no matter what now, so hopefully we take it one game at a time and get it here on this home stand.”
Taylor had developed into a valuable outfield swingman, able to play all three spots while hitting .245 with 10 homers and 37 RBI in 82 games before suffering a right oblique strain that sent him to the IL on Aug. 21.
He returned to action Sept. 10 and played five games in all for Nashville, collecting six hits and driving in a pair of runs.
“Luckily, we have a good training staff and good doctors here so they helped me feel confident in the rehab process,” Taylor said. “It honestly doesn’t feel like it was that long ago that I played a baseball game.
“To get that amount of at-bats down in Nashville was clutch and I feel ready to go.”
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This is Taylor’s fourth stint with the Brewers this season; after bouncing back and forth from Nashville a couple times early on he also missed 10 games with a right shoulder strain in June.
“Any injury is frustrating,” he said. “Unfortunately, I’ve had my fair share during 10 years of pro ball. But also fortunately, I know how to deal with that mentally. I was able to stay positive, and our athletic trainers and strength coaches and our doctors are very good.”
Taylor went 0 for 2 Tuesday before being replaced in a flurry of late-game moves.
Taylor’s return coincides with the continued absence of Lorenzo Cain, who was out of the lineup for the third straight game Tuesday after crashing into the wall to make a catch Saturday night.
The good news for the Brewers is that he may well be back starting in center Wednesday after he entered Tuesday's game in the seventh and played the final three innings.
"He looks good for playing (tomorrow)," manager Craig Counsell said afterward.
Jackie Bradley Jr. is also less than 100% as he deals with a case of plantar fasciitis, a tough injury for a player who relies on his speed and ability to move laterally.
He entered Tuesday's game as a pinch-runner and scored the Brewers' lone run in the eighth.
“Plantar fasciitis is, from what I understand and from what the trainers have said, it's not going to go away in a day or two days,” Counsell said. “You're just going to have to deal with it. When Jackie doesn't play, it's not necessarily getting better — it's more a day he doesn't have to deal with the pain."