The Brewers had not one but two catchers go down with injuries before lunchtime on March 5. First, prospect Angel Salome was sidelined with a back strain that had him listed as day-to-day.
Shortly after that news broke, backup catcher Mike Rivera strained his right hamstring during baserunning drills in the morning workout and received a cortisone injection. Rivera was projected to be sidelined for five to seven days.
With Vinny Rottino off to play for Italy in the World Baseball Classic, the Brewers were down to three healthy catchers -- Jason Kendall, Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Corporan.
Salome, considered the organization's top catching prospect, is slated to open the season as the starter for Class AAA Nashville. However, Brewers manager Ken Macha was hoping to get a decent look at him before the end of camp.
"We want to see what we've got here, what stage he is at in case something happens at the major league level with a catcher, where we are depth-wise," Macha said.
The news was better regarding right-hander Braden Looper and outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. but not so great involving reliever Eric Gagne.
Looper, sidelined with tightness in his left oblique, played catch off flat ground without problem. The hope now is that he won't be sidelined for as long as originally expected, giving him a shot to open the season on the active roster.
Gwynn met with team physician William Raasch to discuss the results of an MRI performed on his ailing throwing shoulder earlier in the week. Raasch gave Gwynn a cortisone injection and prescribed total rest for three to five days.
Gagne's chances of making the club in spring training were ruined when an MRI of his pitching shoulder revealed labrum and rotator cuff fraying. He was given the option of having an injection and trying rehab, or undergoing surgery immediately and possibly losing the 2009 season entirely.
At the start of camp, Gagne signed a minor league deal that required the Brewers add him to their roster by March 26 or he had the right to look for work elsewhere. Results of the MRI made that deadline moot.
"Whether he elects to rehab or have surgery, either way he's not going to make the deadline," assistant general manager Gord Ash said.