Sal Frelick’s path back to the Brewers is coming into focus, even if the exact day isn’t.
The Milwaukee outfielder received a cortisone injection in his right shoulder last week, and the club is now viewing his return as something that should land in early-to-mid August, according to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Frelick has been sidelined since leaving Milwaukee’s 2-1 win over the Miami Marlins at American Family Field in the first game after the 2026 MLB All-Star break.
He exited that game in the fifth inning with right shoulder soreness, and the issue has lingered long enough to keep him out for an extended stretch. There still isn’t a firm return date, but the Brewers have a rough window now.
For Milwaukee, there’s no real need to force the issue. The team entered Tuesday with 66 wins, trailing only the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the win column. That gives the Brewers some breathing room to let Frelick heal properly instead of pushing him back before he’s ready.
The injury, though, has been another rough chapter in what has been a difficult season for the 26-year-old. In 90 games and 313 plate appearances, Frelick is hitting .236/.301/.330 with four home runs and 34 RBIs.
The Brewers’ schedule gives the timeline a little more shape. After their series against the San Francisco Giants ends Wednesday, they’ll play the Los Angeles Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates, Minnesota Twins and San Diego Padres over the first two weeks of August.
If Frelick remains out through all of that, the earliest he could return would be Aug. 13, when Milwaukee opens a rematch of last season’s National League Championship Series against Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
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