Andrew

Vaughn

Vaughn is sitting against the majority of righties while waiting for an opening in Milwaukee, but he’s batting an exceptional .364/.417/.557 with 17 RBI in 96 plate appearances when he gets to play. Tonight’s game was the first of his career with three extra-base hits and 10th with four RBI. He’d be a fine mixed-league first baseman as a regular, but things still need to work themselves out for that to happen.

It appears to be a routine off day for Chourio following a stretch of 24 starts over a 25-game span since returning from the injured list back on May 4. The 22-year-old franchise cornerstone is riding a four-game hitting streak that includes his second round-tripper of the season along with a pair of multi-hit performances. It’ll be Jake Bauers heading out to left field with Andrew Vaughn getting a chance to hit second in his place.

Vaughn has been a part-timer against righties since returning from a broken hamate bone three weeks ago, but he’s performing like someone who should be in there every day. He’s hitting .333/.424/.510 with just six strikeouts in 59 plate appearances.

Vaughn was part of a classic Brewers group effort to do away with Max Fried and the Yankees in this one. He scored runs in each of the second and third innings as they built their huge lead and has been swinging the bat well in his few games since coming off the injured list. He’s reached base safely in all four games to go along with one home run and four RBI.

Vaughn’s homer off Andre Pallente gave the Brewers a 4-0 lead in the first, and the Cardinals never managed to make things interesting afterwards. It was Vaughn’s first homer, as he was playing in just his second game back from a hamate fracture suffered on Opening Day. He should be locked in as an everyday player until Christian Yelich returns, at which point things could get a little complicated. Still, he’ll probably remain a regular if he produces.

Vaughn’s return figures to cut into playing time for both Jake Bauers and Gary Sánchez as he makes it back following a five-week absence recovering from surgery to repair a hamate fracture in his left wrist. He’s shown enough over-the-fence power to warrant a roster spot in deeper mixed leagues since arriving in Milwaukee last year as a reclamation project.

Vaughn will get a couple rehab games under his belt before returning to Milwaukee’s lineup in early May. The 28-year-old underwent surgery to repair a hamate fracture last month.

Fans of the Sounds will get a chance to see both Vaughn and Jackson Chourio (hand) in the lineup beginning Wednesday. Both will likely need a handful of games before being ready to return, but two of the more important hitters in the Milwaukee lineup have a chance to be back with the Brewers relatively early in May.

The 28-year-old slugger has a follow-up appointment scheduled on Tuesday where he’s hopeful to gain clearance to begin a minor league rehab assignment. It sounds like he’s ahead of schedule in his recovery and the Brewers are hopeful that he’ll be able to return in mid-May. He could be worth a stash in any deeper mixed leagues where he may have been dropped.

This likely means that Vaughn is working on his conditioning or even tracking pitches in the cages. The Brewers have said that they expect him back in mid-May, and he seems to be on track for that.