Brewers catcher Gregg Zaun was diagnosed Wednesday with a torn labrum in the front of his right shoulder and told MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy soon after that his chances of playing again this season are “50-50.”
Zaun will treat the shoulder conservatively for the next 2-4 weeks, then decide whether to have season-ending surgery or try to rehab his way back to full health. Either way, it sounds like George Kottaras is about to get the largest chunk of major league playing time in his career.
If a season-ending procedure is ultimately required for Zaun, the veteran isn’t sure whether he will ever return to baseball. He signed a one-year, $2.15 million contract with Milwaukee this offseason.
The 39-year-old was batting a respectable .265/.350/.392 with 14 RBI in 102 at-bats as the Brewers’ primary starting catcher this year. He’s a .252/.344/.388 career hitter over 15-plus professional seasons.
