The Milwaukee Brewers may have just lost their star closer to a serious leg injury.
Corey Knebel collapsed on the mound after throwing a 95-mph fastball in the ninth inning. Knebel appeared to grab his left hamstring as he rolled around on the ground in serious pain.
https://twitter.com/kg_holler/status/982089706094583809
Corey Knebel the all star closer is down and in major pain as it looks like an extended trip to the DL and a big blow to @lbohnert14 pic.twitter.com/BIHoXMLy0Q
— GC Fantasy Baseball (@GCFBL) April 6, 2018
Knebel was unable to put any weight on his left leg and was carried off the field.
After the game, manager Craig Counsell said that it’s a hamstring injury, and Knebel will get an MRI. He’s going on the 10-day disabled list regardless of what the MRI reveals.
#Brewers manager Craig Counsell says Corey Knebel is headed to the DL with a hamstring injury, and will have an MRI on Friday pic.twitter.com/Ywmlti2Har
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) April 6, 2018
It’s especially awful when you consider that it happened with the Brewers trailing by several runs (he entered with the score 6-0) in the ninth inning. There was no reason for Knebel to be in this game.
Knebel, 26, had a breakout 2017 season in which he had a 1.78 ERA, 39 saves, a 40.8% strikeout percentage, and a 3.7 WAR. He averaged 97-mph on his fastball and showed off one of the nastiest curveballs in baseball.
So, if this is a several-week injury, it’s a big loss for the Brewers. And if it’s an injury that will cause him to miss multiple months, it’s a devastating blow to a Milwaukee squad that was expected to be one of the top Wild Card contenders in the National League. The Brewers are already without ace Jimmy Nelson for potentially the entire first half of the season as he recovers from a torn labrum.
23-year-old nasty left-hander Josh Hader may be Knebel’s replacement at closer, but he’s very valuable in his current role that frequently includes him throwing multiple innings.
