Injury Update: Andrew Vaughn to Undergo Surgery

Hamate fractures were a concern during spring training, and now they’re impacting players early in the regular season.

Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn is facing an injury that will require surgery, sidelining him for about four to six weeks. He shared this news with reporters on Saturday.

Vaughn, who was slated as a cleanup hitter on Opening Day, managed to hit an RBI single in the sixth inning against the White Sox before being replaced as a pinch runner just two batters later.

At 27, Vaughn mentioned feeling an issue in his hand when he got jammed during his first at-bat. However, the pain intensified later, leaving him uneasy. “I woke up in the middle of the night, and I thought, ‘Something is wrong,'” he recounted.

Vaughn is expected to play a crucial role in the Brewers’ lineup this season after his trade from the White Sox last July. Prior to the trade, he had a challenging start, batting just .189. Since joining Milwaukee, though, he turned things around, boasting a .308 average with nine home runs and 46 RBIs over 64 games.

To fill Vaughn’s spot, the Brewers have called up catching prospect Jefferson Cuello. MLB.com reports that Jake Bowers, who filled in as a first baseman in 40 games last season, might take on Vaughn’s responsibilities temporarily.

This kind of injury has become all too familiar this season. In spring training, players like Francisco Lindor from the Mets and Corbin Carroll from the Diamondbacks also dealt with hamate bone injuries. Fortunately, Lindor and Carroll were ready for Opening Day, while Jackson Holiday from the Orioles started the season in Triple-A Norfolk.