MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Brewers prospect Mauricio Dubon more than happy to post updates about progress from torn ACL

Tom Haudricourt
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Shortstop Mauricio Dubon, a top prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, came to the team from the Boston Red Sox in the Tyler Thorburg trade in 2016.

PHOENIX - If you spend much time on social media, you probably know how Mauricio Dubon is doing.

The Brewers' infield prospect is something of a Twitter darling, in particular over the last year as he provided updates, including videos, of his progress from a torn ACL in his left knee. Dubon is easy to spot in camp because he is fully healthy now, and therefore sporting a 24-hour smile.

“It’s just me, being me,” Dubon said of his fondness for reaching out on social media. “I was saying what I had on my mind. A lot of it was me replying to stuff. I do some Facebook, too, but that’s more for my family.

“A lot of the guys say that can’t believe what I put out there but it’s fun. I have a lot of fun with it.”

Dubon, 24, who was acquired in the Travis Shaw / Tyler Thornburg trade with Boston in December 2016, was off to a blazing start last season at Class AAA Colorado Springs, batting .343 through 27 games with an active 23-game hitting streak when he injured his knee trying to escape a rundown at Oklahoma City.

It was a devastating turn of events because Dubon almost certainly would have made his major-league debut at some point, thus becoming the first native-born Honduran to get there. Instead, he spent the rest of the year at the Brewers’ medical facility here, going through a rigorous rehab program while watching the daily construction on what is now known as American Family Fields of Phoenix.

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"I saw this thing come from zero to now,” Dubon said of the $65 million renovation. “Everything was going up so fast. It was crazy, from one day to another, what was happening.”

Dubon’s rehab went right on schedule, and he was cleared before the start of camp to do everything, including playing in games, by his surgeon, Los Angeles specialist Neal ElAttrache.

“He said, ‘You’re good to go,’ ” Dubon said. “I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. I was a little nervous going in. I’m dying to play.

“I worked my behind off to get here. Everything has paid off so far.”

Dubon quickly noted that he couldn’t have done it on his own. He insisted that kudos be given to the medical and training staff that guided him – Tim Gifford, Theresa Lau and Blair Bundy – as well as nutritionist Dezi Abeyta.

“They were great helping me,” Dubon said. “I call it my ‘good leg’ now. It’s even stronger. They laugh because they’ll film something and I’ll post it on Twitter. I was able to show people how my rehab was going.”

As tough as it was to miss most of the 2018 season, Dubon is more determined than ever to wear a Brewers uniform. He’ll open the season at Class AAA San Antonio to literally get his feet back on the ground and wait for his opportunity.

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“Things happen for a reason,” he said. “Accidents happen. You can’t prevent it.

“I know if I stay healthy (a promotion to the majors) is going to happen. I don’t feel pressure. It will be big back home if I come to the major leagues. It’s going to be crazy there.”