Notes: Ryan Braun could return as early as Tuesday
PITTSBURGH - Possessing a more definitive diagnosis of what's been ailing his right arm, Ryan Braun rejoined the Milwaukee Brewers before Saturday night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
Braun hasn't started since Sunday and has been limited to just one pinch-hit at-bat as a result of the issue, which an MRI determined is a strained forearm.
"I got an MRI yesterday and it showed a slight strain of my flexor muscles in my forearm, which was good news," said Braun, who traveled back to Milwaukee on Friday for the diagnosis. "I think that’s probably best-case scenario. The way they described it is it’s pretty benign. Dr. (William) Raasch said he thinks there’s probably a 75-80% chance I’ll be able to play by Tuesday. Monday’s an off-day.
"I’m optimistic and encouraged by that diagnosis and I’ll just continue to get treatment and do most of the things we’ve been doing and hopefully be back in there shortly."
A throwing session Thursday in St. Louis didn't go well for Braun, precipitating the trip to Milwaukee. Hernán Pérez played left field in Braun's place Friday and Nick Franklin was in the lineup in left Saturday.
"I tried to throw a couple days ago and it was still pretty sore, which is why we decided to go get the MRI," Braun said. "Throwing is more the issue than hitting, so I’ll be available to hit over the next couple days. But, obviously, to get back in there and play defensively I need to be able to throw.
"I don’t know exactly what the plan is, but I’ll try to throw at some point before Tuesday with the intention and hope I’m able to get back in there on Tuesday."
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The Brewers have resisted placing Braun on the disabled list, and a Tuesday return would be optimal with a three-game interleague series beginning against the Boston Red Sox at Miller Park. He remains available off the bench as a pinch-hitting option, manager Craig Counsell said.
"We think he’s on the right track," Counsell said. "I think he feels good about the report he got. If it’s the right spot, we’ll use him."
Getting going: Keon Broxton didn't deny he's breathing a little easier these days when he looks up at the scoreboard and sees his batting average.
The centerfielder was hitting .119 as recently as April 19 before finally getting it going at the plate. He got his average back up over .200 after a four-hit night in St. Louis on Thursday, and after doubling Friday he was sitting at .235.
"That's always in the back of your mind, if you're under that Mendoza line," said Broxton, who's hitting .359 since April 19. "You're always scratching and clawing and trying to get over it. (Thursday) was a step in the right direction, and now it's like, 'Keep going, keep going, keep going.'
"It's motivation to get to what to I feel is a respectable average. In the month of April, I didn't do too much with the bat. So I'm just trying to pick it up and help the team."
Broxton is no stranger to slow starts, having bounced between the Brewers and Class AAA Colorado Springs last season before finally tweaking his setup at the plate and putting together a solid final two months.
He suffered a nasal fracture after being hit in the helmet by a pitch in the first week of this season and is now experiencing the fruits of the extra labor he's been putting in before games with hitting coach Darnell Coles.
"I think everyone can see in my at-bats how I've progressed," Broxton said. "It's only getting better. Once my timing's down, everything works perfectly together."
Welcome back: There were less than 1,000 fans still in the stands when Jared Hughes took the mound in the sixth inning Friday for the Brewers, thanks to a 2-hour 27-minute rain delay.
Still, there was an audible ovation for the right-hander. Hughes was drafted by the Pirates in 2006 and appeared in 313 games in the majors for them from 2011-'16 before being released at the end of spring training.
The Pirates also went above and beyond in recognizing Hughes in his return, playing a video montage of some of his highlights on the videoboard while he warmed up – something that isn't seen very often, if at all, anywhere for visiting players.
"I peeked a little bit, but I didn't want to get too emotional," said Hughes, who threw a scoreless inning. "I wanted to stay locked in. But they're going to send it to me. It was a really classy move.
"It's a classy group and I definitely appreciated it a lot. It means a lot that they recognized me like that."
Hughes made his own classy move before the game by reconnecting with the Pittsburgh Kids Foundation, a charity group he was affiliated with during his time with the Pirates.
There is a strong ex-Pittsburgh contingent in the visiting clubhouse at PNC Park this weekend. In addition to Hughes, fellow relievers Neftali Feliz and Rob Scahill also played for the Pirates, as did Broxton.
Coles, bullpen coach Lee Tunnell and new bullpen catcher Robinzon Diaz played in the majors for Pittsburgh, longtime Brewers bullpen catcher Marcus Hanel was drafted by the Pirates and first-base/infield coach Carlos Subero played for the Pirates in the minor leagues.