My Apologies To Brandon Lockridge

[Michael Trzinski]

Image courtesy of Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY

In agate font in newspapers across the country on August 1, 2025, the following transaction was whispered:

The San Diego Padres acquired LHP Nestor Cortes, SS Jorge Quintana, and cash considerations from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for OF Brandon Lockridge.

I'm not sure how anybody else felt about this, but my initial thought was 'meh.'

Lockridge appeared in 20 games (13 starts) in the month of August, posting a below-average slash line of .261/.308/.370 across 53 plate appearances before getting demoted to Triple-A Nashville in September. He reappeared in the playoff run against Chicago and Los Angeles but only batted twice, going hitless in four games.

During the offseason, Lockridge was considered to be in the outfield mix in Milwaukee, either as a possible starter or, most likely, the fourth or fifth OF. I was not a fan, but felt like he could get a couple of starts each week and enter contests as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement as needed. 

But as a full-time starter? No way.

Way.

Lockridge has played in three-quarters of the Brewers' games this season, starting 23 of the 28 games he has been involved in. His slash line (through May 8) reads like the line of a solid major league starter: .294/.368/.341. Lockridge will never be mistaken as a power hitter, but has been 'clutch' with two outs and runners in scoring position (RISP), slashing .533/.588/.667 in a small sample of 15 at-bats. To put it into perspective, those numbers are far better than the 'clutch' numbers this year of both Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, each widely considered as fearsome batters when the game is on the line.

But all that success has been temporarily put on hold after Lockridge suffered a horrific injury in Friday night's game against the New York Yankees at Uecker Field. Playing full-bore as he always does, Lockridge, playing left field, ran full speed in an attempt to corral a foul drive off the bat of Cody Bellinger in the fourth inning. Realizing he was rapidly running out of real estate, Lockridge dropped into a slide, which resulted in his slamming his right knee into the unpadded section of wall, one made of concrete.

Lockridge tossed off his glove and lay face down for a couple of moments before the training staff and manager Pat Murphy arrived to offer assistance. After being helped to his feet, Lockridge was carted off the field by medical personnel, disappearing through a gate in the left field fence. 

So what is known? Lockridge suffered a deep laceration down to the bone, as evidenced by blood on his sanitary sock. X-rays were negative for broken bones, but further tests will be performed as the swelling in his leg decreases. Saturday, the Brewers placed Lockridge on the 10-day injured list, recalling Blake Perkins from Triple-A Nashville to replace the fallen Brewer.

This injury begs the question: when will the Milwaukee Brewers organization pad the wall from top to bottom? I seem to remember this type of injury happening to a Brewer outfielder (Sal Frelick, maybe?) in right field foul territory not that long ago. C'mon, Mark Attanasio, spend a couple of grand to protect your players!

Brandon Lockridge, please forgive me for doubting you. I hope you can quickly return and keep up the great play that you have shown us for the first quarter of the season.

I want to dedicate this column to my good friend Bob Garski, who passed away on April 30 at age 69. He was a bigger Brewer fan than I am. Rest In Peace, Bob, and keep cheering on the Crew in Heaven.

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[Brian]

He has surprised me also and hoping for a quick 100% recovery. 

[Sugarrayray]

I think Corey Hart got hurt pretty bad by the unpadded section of the right field wall too. Not 100% sure.

It has baffled me for years that the Brewers think that bottom 15 inches or whatever of wall needs to be unpadded. Their refusal to address it is…..weird. Hard to believe it’s just about saving a few bucks. Maddeningly stupid.

[Brian]

35 minutes ago, Sugarrayray said:

I think Corey Hart got hurt pretty bad by the unpadded section of the right field wall too. Not 100% sure.

It has baffled me for years that the Brewers think that bottom 15 inches or whatever of wall needs to be unpadded. Their refusal to address it is…..weird. Hard to believe it’s just about saving a few bucks. Maddeningly stupid.

The only reason I can think of is the ball sometimes gets stuck under the padding. 

It supposedly changed an outcome of a world series a few years ago. 

[Michael Trzinski]

54 minutes ago, Brian said:

The only reason I can think of is the ball sometimes gets stuck under the padding. 

It supposedly changed an outcome of a world series a few years ago. 

I'm sure some smart person could figure out something to make it work...

[Brian]

54 minutes ago, Michael Trzinski said:

I'm sure some smart person could figure out something to make it work...

Really?

[Michael Trzinski]

59 minutes ago, Brian said:

Really?

You would think so...lol.

[Brian]

8 hours ago, Michael Trzinski said:

You would think so...lol.

Keep us posted on Lockridge updates, if you hear anything.

Just seen the replay, that was an ugly collision. 

[Michael Trzinski]

10 hours ago, Brian said:

Keep us posted on Lockridge updates, if you hear anything.

Just seen the replay, that was an ugly collision. 

will do!

[thebruce44]

I'm sorry, but the idea that MA is too cheap to pad the entire wall it a little ridiculous. I don't know all of the reasoning behind it, but it seems pretty common to have a gap in padding at the ground in all ballparks around the league. I assume this is because of rain water / mold and so the grounds crew don't snag the pads when raking the field.

With how smart the Brewers org is from top to bottom and always making moves to perform better than the competition, I have to think they are looking anything and everything they can do to keep their players healthy.

[Michael Trzinski]

15 hours ago, thebruce44 said:

I'm sorry, but the idea that MA is too cheap to pad the entire wall it a little ridiculous. I don't know all of the reasoning behind it, but it seems pretty common to have a gap in padding at the ground in all ballparks around the league. I assume this is because of rain water / mold and so the grounds crew don't snag the pads when raking the field.

With how smart the Brewers org is from top to bottom and always making moves to perform better than the competition, I have to think they are looking anything and everything they can do to keep their players healthy.

I didn't necessarily say he was too cheap, just that he should spend the money. A slight difference, but a difference nonetheless. 

But, I bet if players around the league start getting injured because of similar situations, something will get done. It wasn't that long ago that stadia did not have protective netting around most of the field. Because of several injuries and a death, now they do.