2026 Injury Updates - Answering Your Questions When Possible (ARobsBrewCrew Thread)

[ARobsBrewCrew]

On 5/31/2026 at 8:35 PM, ARobsBrewCrew said:

I don’t have anything noteworthy on Payne.  He has been dealing with some lingering issues in his lower half throughout the year (calf and hamstring) and I’ve been told that a trip to the IL should not be necessary.  As for RHP Cole Phillips, he was originally scheduled to begin throwing bullpens in April and that was delayed.  He is still hoping for a midseason pro debut, but that timeline has likely been pushed from before the all-star break to sometime early in the second half.

Following up on this: Payne will return to the lineup on Wednesday.

[biedergb]

10 hours ago, ARobsBrewCrew said:

LHP Frank Cairone will begin throwing live to hitters starting next week and is expected to make his professional debut towards the end of the month.

That is absolutely amazing and to be honest/blunt surprising, but in such a good way.. I had assumed he would just redshirt this year and focus on his health. To potentially play organized baseball within 6-7 months of a severe injury is so great. I have very little expectations for him but to see or hear of him throwing in an ACL game this season would be all I need to hear.  Thanks for sharing ARobs!!

[MilwaukeeBeers]

I never have been so happy for a young man that I don't know personally. He didn't let his dream get taken from him. Really inspirational stuff that makes you think there is a grander plan because from what I heard it is nothing short of a miracle that he's even able to throw a ball. I cannot wait to follow him throughout his career no matter where it goes. 

[markedman5]

So do we have any update on why Lara continues to be out?

[ARobsBrewCrew]

1 hour ago, markedman5 said:

So do we have any update on why Lara continues to be out?

I will look into that, but I probably should have clarified much earlier that if a player has been out less than a week and has not been placed on the IL, that either means it’s just something that is day-to-day or the organization simply doesn’t know severity/what the plan is yet so I typically won’t have much info at this point in time either way.

[ARobsBrewCrew]

22 hours ago, ARobsBrewCrew said:

I will look into that, but I probably should have clarified much earlier that if a player has been out less than a week and has not been placed on the IL, that either means it’s just something that is day-to-day or the organization simply doesn’t know severity/what the plan is yet so I typically won’t have much info at this point in time either way.

No injury- perhaps look towards Cooper Pratt’s absence from 3/29-4/5 as a similar situation? (purely speculation)

[liveforoctober]

14 minutes ago, ARobsBrewCrew said:

No injury- perhaps look towards Cooper Pratt’s absence from 3/29-4/5 as a similar situation? (purely speculation)

Cooper signed his contract during this absence. If Lara signs a multi-year deal with us in the next 48 hours that would certainly be newsworthy. 

[wallus]

Lara sure sounds like an extension....

[MattK]

2 hours ago, liveforoctober said:

Cooper signed his contract during this absence. If Lara signs a multi-year deal with us in the next 48 hours that would certainly be newsworthy. 

I wonder. The thought I had about an extention now is that the team is out of town until the end of this week. But ... hopeful! 

[liveforoctober]

5 minutes ago, MattK said:

I wonder. The thought I had about an extention now is that the team is out of town until the end of this week. But ... hopeful! 

I am just now seeing that Spencer and Jim are talking about this on Twitter too ... I won't speculate anymore without more evidence beyond the cryptic messages Sweet offered. But if it looks like a duck..

[wiguy94]

15 minutes ago, MattK said:

I wonder. The thought I had about an extention now is that the team is out of town until the end of this week. But ... hopeful! 

Pratt signed his extension when the Brewers were on the road I believe.

[wibadgers23]

Signing Lara to an extension would be an unexpectedly nice surprise as to why he’s been absent!

[MattK]

22 hours ago, liveforoctober said:

I am just now seeing that Spencer and Jim are talking about this on Twitter too ... I won't speculate anymore without more evidence beyond the cryptic messages Sweet offered. But if it looks like a duck..

And I'm wrong! 

Cool ...!

[liveforoctober]

2 minutes ago, MattK said:

And I'm wrong! 

Cool ...!

Yeah fun day. I'm not going to believe I was the first one to think about it but when they said "non injury related absence" and didn't mention family matter, etc - the first thing that came to my head was Pratt.

I love how this FO is moving forward in philosophy.