Thames will get a second opinion
CHICAGO - Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Eric Thames will head to Phoenix on Friday to receive a second opinion on his injured left thumb.
Thames was examined in Milwaukee on Thursday by team physician William Raasch and in Phoenix will be seen by Donald Sheridan, a specialist who has performed surgery on a number of other major-league players who have suffered similar injuries.
Thames tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his thumb Tuesday night while diving for a ball in Kansas City. Surgery appears to be the most likely option, and it could take place as soon as Friday if the scheduling works out.
“This is a staggered protocol. When you have an injury, get multiple opinions,” general manager David Stearns said. “It’s still likely going to be a surgical outcome, and if it is we’re going to get it rolling pretty fast.
“Tomorrow is possible if it’s clear-cut.”
Assuming surgery is performed, Stearns said a timeline for Thames’s recovery is fluid.
“That we still don’t know,” he said. “Andrelton Simmons was back in 40-something days. Jed Lowrie was back in 95 days. It’s based on severity of the injury, the method that the surgeon uses – there are a couple different methods – and just how fast he heals.
“There’s a range of outcomes here.” After starting Jesús Aguilar at first base in Kansas City on Wednesday night, manager Craig Counsell went with Ryan Braun in the opener of the Brewers’ fourgame series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
It was the first action Braun had seen at the position since the second day of the season in San Diego.
Braun spent the majority of his time in spring training preparing to play first base as the right-handed option alongside Thames. But various injuries and the hot bat swung thus far by Aguilar had conspired to keep Braun in left up to this point.
“He hasn’t played there in a while,” Counsell acknowledged. “But this is why we’ve done this – in case things happen we have places we can go. I anticipate him and Jesús will kind of share time over there, and Brauny will still see some outfield time.
“Not part of the original plan with Eric not involved, but it makes us glad we did have (Braun) at first base during spring training. Because he is prepared to do this.”
How Counsell chooses who plays first base on a given day will be much less clear-cut than it had been previously with the left-handed-hitting Thames and the righties Braun and Aguilar creating obvious platoon options.
Braun entered Thursday a career .269 hitter against Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks, while Aguilar was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts against him.
“There’s no platoon advantage we’re trying to capture, so there’s less to look at,” Counsell said. “It’s more subjective. You’re looking at smaller things, I think. Then we’ll also do it trying to get guys a day of rest, historical matchups a little bit.
“Things like that.”