Brewers expect to open playoffs without OF Sal Frelick as he recovers from hip injury

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers are preparing for the likelihood they will open the postseason without outfielder Sal Frelick after he injured his hip crashing into the right-field wall Friday against the New York Mets.

Although Frelick said an MRI revealed no ligament damage, he was walking with help from a crutch Saturday as he spoke to reporters. Frelick said he hurt his gluteus medius, a hip muscle that stabilizes the pelvis when someone is standing or walking.

“That’s what took the full brunt of the hip, which is good because it did its job,” Frelick said. “But it’s pretty crushed, so there’s a pretty bad contusion and that’s pretty much what’s not allowing me to walk. That’s the muscle that’s activated for holding yourself up.

“It’s kind of just how fast can we get that muscle back working and activated because it’s just kind of shut off right now from the impact.”

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said the team isn’t ruling out the possibility that Frelick could return at some point in the postseason. But Murphy added the fact that Frelick isn’t walking on his own makes it apparent the outfielder won’t be available anytime soon.

The NL Central champion Brewers will open the NL Wild Card Series on Tuesday in Milwaukee.

“It hurt my soul,” Murphy said of the injury.

Frelick got hurt while attempting to catch a drive from New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez that traveled into foul territory during the third inning of the Brewers’ 8-4 victory.

He crashed into the sidewall, and his left side made contact with the metal chain link inside a window in that wall that has no protective padding. Murphy said the window is there to allow the grounds crew to see what’s going on.

“Obviously I know there’s a wall there, and I’ve seen that window before just from shagging balls out there,” Frelick said. “But I never thought twice (about it).”

Frelick, 24, remained down for several minutes as Brewers medical staff went out to deep right field to check on him. He eventually walked slowly toward the dugout before being helped into the clubhouse.

He underwent an MRI on Saturday morning.

“We’re just trying to stay optimistic right now as a whole,” Frelick said. “Everyone, the doctors and the trainers, have said it's good news. It could have been way worse. The time frame is just kind of unknown. It’s how my body responds, and everyone kind of understands that.”

Frelick has been the Brewers’ regular right fielder and has played exceptional defense while batting .259 with a .320 on-base percentage, two homers, 32 RBIs and 18 steals in 145 games.

“This guy’s a huge part of our team, one of the best defenders on the team,” Murphy said. “We’re a team where defense is really important to us. He’s one of our key defensive players. Offensively he puts it in play and makes big things happen. He can cause havoc on the bases. It’s kind of our identity, and that’s taking a little piece out of our deal. It’s a big loss.”

Frelick’s injury means the Brewers likely will go with an outfield featuring Garrett Mitchell in right, Jackson Chourio in left and Blake Perkins in center for the start of the postseason.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Steve Megargee, The Associated Press