The Brewers have placed left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortez on the 15-day injury list due to a flexor strain in his throwing elbow, marking the second such injury in eight months. Grant Wolfram has been called up from Triple-A to fill his spot on the active roster. This injury comes after Cortez had recently been cleared to pitch, and he plans to seek a second opinion.
Cortez is now one of seven starting pitchers on the Brewers’ extensive injury list, which has reached critical levels early in the season. Other injured pitchers include Tobias Myers, Aaron Ashby, and Brandon Woodruff, with several dealing with oblique and hamstring issues. Currently, Freddie Peralta is the only healthy member of the expected rotation, while Tyler Alexander and others make up a makeshift lineup. The Brewers had signed veteran Jose Quintana for depth, but he is still in Triple-A.
Cortez was acquired in a significant offseason trade with the Yankees, intended to bolster the Brewers’ rotation and provide financial flexibility as both he and Devin Williams will be free agents soon. However, this latest injury could disrupt those plans, especially if recovery takes a similar length of time as his previous injury. Wolfram’s promotion is notable as it marks his major league debut; he has been with the Texas farm system before signing with Milwaukee. He had a mixed performance in Triple-A, with a 6.00 ERA in his initial outings.
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