Brewers to open season without closer Williams
The Milwaukee Brewers will open the season without All-Star closer Devin Williams, who won’t throw for six weeks and could miss at least three months while recovering from two stress fractures in his back.
Williams pitched through back soreness at the end of last season, when the Brewers were NL Central champions. The right-hander was feeling discomfort again this spring, and after an initial MRI in Arizona, was examined Wednesday by Dr. Robert Watkins in California. Watkins, a leading spine specialist, diagnosed the fractures.
“My understanding is it’s going to be six weeks of no throw just to shut him down, and then Devin will determine the pace beyond that,” Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said Thursday. “We just want to be extra cautious with him, and make sure he gets the good treatment that he needs.”
Williams told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in a story posted online Thursday that there was a difference in the initial diagnosis and what Watkins saw when the pitcher went for a second opinion.
After the MRI by the team, new Brewers manager Pat Murphy indicated there was no reason for concern, telling reporters Sunday, “Felt like he could move forward with it and just treat it. … Give him some time off.”
In his response to the Journal Sentinel, Williams said that was not a mischaracterization by Murphy.
Arnold agreed, and said the team and Williams both wanted to get the second opinion.
The 29-year-old righthander was 8-3 with a 1.53 ERA and 36 saves in 40 chances last year. Over his past two All-Star seasons, Williams had 183 strikeouts in 119 1/3 innings. He is 26-10 with a 1.89 ERA and 54 saves over 219 career appearances since his debut late in 2019. He was the National League Rookie of the Year in 2020.
n BRAVES: Adam Duvall is returning for another stint with the Atlanta Braves, who signed the slugging outfielder on Thursday to a $3 million deal for the 2024 season.
The 35-year-old Duvall is expected to platoon in left field with newcomer Jarred
Kelenic, who has struggled in spring training after being acquired from the Seattle Mariners. Kelenic had just three hits in 34 at-bats through Wednesday, with three RBIs, one stolen base and nine strikeouts.
Duvall hit .247 with 21 homers and 58 RBIs last season with the Boston Red Sox. He played in just 92 games, missing two months after fracturing his left wrist attempting to make a diving catch.
This will be Duvall’s third stint with the Braves. He is best known for playing a key role in the team’s run to the 2021 World Series title after being acquired from Miami in one of several deals ahead of the trade deadline that helped Atlanta rebuild its injury ravaged outfield.
n WHITE SOX: Hard-throwing Chicago White Sox right-hander Michael Kopech will pitch out of the bullpen instead of the starting rotation, another disappointing development in a career that hasn’t lived up to expectations.
The announcement about Kopech came one day after Chicago traded ace Dylan Cease to San Diego for reliever Steven Wilson and three prospects.
Acquired from Boston in the trade that sent Chris Sale to the Red Sox in 2016, Kopech had success in a primarily relief role in 2021 after missing two seasons because of Tommy John surgery and the COVID-19 pandemic. He had a 3.50 ERA in 44 appearances.