The Milwaukee Brewers got Brian Fitzpatrick back from Triple-A Nashville on Friday night, then lost him almost as quickly. The rookie left-hander was recalled before the series opener against the Colorado Rockies, entered in relief, and later suffered a devastating elbow injury while warming up for the seventh inning.
The injury cut short what was supposed to be another chance for Fitzpatrick to help a bullpen that needed arms. Milwaukee had just brought him up after DL Hall went back on the injured list, and the timing made the setback immediate and costly.
Fitzpatrick had earned the opportunity the hard way. He spent parts of five seasons climbing from rookie ball to Triple-A before getting his first shot in the majors earlier this year, and he made the most of it during his first stint with the Brewers. Over roughly two weeks in the big-league bullpen, he posted a 1.59 ERA in 5.2 innings before a crowded pitching staff pushed him back to Nashville.
Friday night started better than it ended. Fitzpatrick came in for Brandon Sproat in the sixth inning and threw one clean inning. He then returned to the mound for the seventh, only to be halted by the elbow injury while warming up. The sequence turned a routine bullpen move into a sudden roster problem for Milwaukee.
What comes next is the part the Brewers do not yet know. The club has not said how severe the injury is or how long Fitzpatrick may be out, and that leaves his attempt to establish himself in the majors hanging in the balance. For a pitcher who worked through five seasons in the minors to get here, the setback landed at the worst possible moment.
Joel Kuhnel was not the story on the field Friday, but Milwaukee’s bullpen picture now depends on how quickly the Brewers can absorb another loss of depth after Fitzpatrick’s abrupt exit.
